Divorce settlements. Estate filings. Winter market listings. Capital gains. Gifting and inheritance.

If you're wrapping up any of these before the year ends, there's one step that can save your clients stress — and save you time: a professional property appraisal.

Here’s your go-to checklist for when a year-end appraisal makes all the difference — and why acting now can pay off later.

📋 Who Should Schedule an Appraisal Before Jan 1?

✅ Divorce attorneys finalizing settlements
✅ Realtors pricing homes for the winter market
✅ Estate attorneys filing IRS forms or distributing assets
✅ Homeowners filing capital gains or gifting reports
✅ Financial advisors updating client portfolios
✅ Anyone needing court-defensible property documentation

1. Support Divorce Settlements

Divorces often stall over disagreements about property value. We've seen cases drag on for months due to outdated estimates or emotional pricing arguments.

A certified appraisal provides a neutral, court-ready value that speeds up negotiations and ensures fair division. It also protects attorneys from client disputes over perceived bias.

2. Price Smart in the Winter Market (and Win Seller Confidence)

Buyer activity slows in winter — and pricing mistakes can lead to longer days on market and price drops.

A pre-listing appraisal helps realtors:

• Set confident, data-backed listing prices

• Justify strategy to sellers with unrealistic expectations

• Reduce time on market during slower months

• Stand out in competitive listing presentations

  
  

For unique homes or challenging comps, an appraisal gives your pricing strategy added weight and credibility.

🧠 Realtor Tip:

Include the appraisal in your pre-listing package. It adds third-party validation to your pricing, helps overcome seller objections, and makes your strategy stand out from competitors who rely solely on comps.

3. Support Estate Filings, Asset Transfers & Trust Deadlines

Estate attorneys often need date-of-death appraisals to complete IRS Form 706, administer trusts, or divide assets among heirs.

Without a certified value, estate closings can stall — or trigger disputes among beneficiaries. Booking the appraisal before year-end ensures documentation is in place for 2026 deadlines and keeps the process moving.

“Authority Appraisals helped us close out a complex estate quickly and professionally. Fast, clear, and reliable.” — John H., Estate Attorney

4. Prep for Taxes and Financial Planning

If you sold, inherited, or gifted a property this year, chances are the IRS will want documentation of value.

A professional appraisal can help:

• Calculate capital gains

• Update net worth or estate planning documents

• Comply with IRS requirements for gifting and inheritance

  
  

This is especially important for financial advisors, CPAs, and clients with complex portfolios.

5. Document Gifting or Inheritance Transfers

If a property was inherited or gifted in 2025, it must be appraised as of the transfer date for IRS documentation. This is essential for establishing a step-up in basis or filing gift tax returns.

Waiting too long can delay estate administration or lead to costly tax miscalculations. A year-end appraisal ensures everything is squared away before filing season begins.

6. Avoid January Backlogs

January brings a wave of legal, tax, and financial filings — and with it, high demand for retrospective and legal-use appraisals.

Booking before December 20th ensures faster turnaround, avoids scheduling delays, and keeps your filings or client deliverables on track.

🧾 Common Appraisal Types You Might Need:

• Pre-Listing Appraisal – Helps price a home before it hits the market

• Date-of-Death Appraisal – Used in estate settlements for IRS and trust compliance

• Fair Market Value Appraisal – Needed for capital gains reporting or gifting

• Retrospective Appraisal – Determines value as of a past date (common in estates & divorces)

📅 Don’t Wait Until After the Holidays

Deadlines creep up. Courts close. Clients disappear on vacation. But those filings and listings will still be waiting in January. Now’s the time to wrap up loose ends — with confidence and clarity.

📍 Not sure if an appraisal makes sense before year-end?
Whether you're guiding a client through a sale, settlement, or estate process, we're happy to help you evaluate the need and timing for a certified valuation.

👉 Get in touch for a quick consultation or Get A Free Quote