I’m trying to get my son (deceased) house appraised.

See if you can get the deadline extended. Then call appraisers until you find one that can do it fast. Many states have lists of appraisers; you could start there.

Mattie, feel free to reach out and I can look into your case. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

I am very sorry for the loss of your son. Yes, there are professionals who can help, but because the appraisal is due August 18, I recommend acting today. First, contact the probate attorney handling the estate, or the court clerk if you do not have an attorney, to confirm exactly what type of valuation the court requires. You may need a licensed real estate appraiser to prepare a retrospective appraisal establishing the property’s fair market value as of your son’s date of death. A real estate agent can prepare a comparative market analysis, but that may not satisfy the court’s requirements. Once you have confirmed what is needed, contact a qualified appraiser immediately, explain that the appraisal is for probate, provide the required valuation date, and make them aware of the August 18 deadline. If the property is in the Tucson area, please let me know, and I would be happy to help you locate the appropriate professional.

I am very sorry for the loss of your son. Yes, there are professionals who can help, but because the appraisal is due August 18, I recommend acting today. First, contact the probate attorney handling the estate, or the court clerk if you do not have an attorney, to confirm exactly what type of valuation the court requires. You may need a licensed real estate appraiser to prepare a retrospective appraisal establishing the property’s fair market value as of your son’s date of death. A real estate agent can prepare a comparative market analysis, but that may not satisfy the court’s requirements. Once you have confirmed what is needed, contact a qualified appraiser immediately, explain that the appraisal is for probate, provide the required valuation date, and make them aware of the August 18 deadline. If the property is in the Tucson area, please let me know, and I would be happy to help you locate the appropriate professional.

Mattie, I'm sorry about your son. Nine days is tight, but this is fixable, so don't let it eat at you. The wording you use when you call an appraiser matters more than anything else here. Ask for a date of death appraisal for probate, not a current market value, because the court wants to know what the house was worth when he passed. Those are two different reports, and ordering the wrong one costs you time you don't have. Before you spend a dollar, call the probate court clerk or whoever is handling the estate and ask what form of valuation they'll accept and whether the deadline can be moved. Asking now is a far easier conversation than explaining later. If no one is guiding you through this estate, an hour with a Michigan probate attorney is worth it, and the estate can usually pay for it. I'm licensed in California, so a Detroit agent will know which appraisers work quickly. Alla Novytska, Realtor®, JohnHart Real Estate, DRE #02254775

Hi Mattie, I’m very sorry for the loss of your son. I understand that you need the house appraised for probate court by August 18, 2026, and I know that deadline is coming up quickly. What I suggest is making two phone calls as soon as possible. First, call the probate court clerk or the estate attorney and ask for an extension on the August 18 deadline. Ask whether an extension is available and what you need to do to request one. It is much better to address the deadline before it passes, so I would make this your first call. Second, call a licensed appraiser in the county where the house is and say: “I need a retrospective appraisal for probate, effective as of my son’s date of death.” That wording is important because probate may require the home’s value as of the date he passed, not its value today. Make sure the appraiser knows this is for a probate matter and confirm that they handle retrospective/date-of-death appraisals. Even if you can get the appraisal completed before August 18, I would still contact the court or attorney right away so you understand your options regarding the deadline.

Mattie, I am sorry about your son. Let me give you the short answer first, because you have eleven days and you do not need a lecture. You need two phone calls today, and one of them buys you time. Call one: the probate court clerk, or the attorney handling the estate if there is one. Tell them exactly what you told us, that the deadline is August 18 and you need more time. Courts grant extensions on inventory and appraisal deadlines routinely when you ask before the date passes and give a reason. Asking on the 8th is a simple request. Explaining on the 19th why you missed it is a much worse conversation. Do this first, today, even if you also manage to get the appraisal done. There is no downside to having the extension in your pocket. Call two: a licensed real estate appraiser in the county where the house is, and use this exact phrase when you call, because it is what tells them you know what you need. Say you need a retrospective appraisal for probate, with an effective date of your son's date of death. That wording matters more than anything else here. The court does not want to know what the house is worth today. It wants to know what it was worth on the day he passed. That is a specific type of report, appraisers do them all the time, and if you just ask for "an appraisal" you may get the wrong one and have to pay twice. A few practical notes that will speed this up: Ask for a rush or expedited fee. Most appraisers can turn a residential report around in well under two weeks, and many will do it faster for an additional fee. Say the words "I have a court deadline" when you call. It moves you up the list. Search for appraisers who list probate, estate, or date of death work. Call three, not one. Availability varies a lot week to week and the second or third call is often the one that can fit you in. Have ready: the property address, your son's date of passing, and whatever paperwork the court gave you showing you are the personal representative or executor. The appraiser will usually need access to the house, so know who has the keys. Keep the invoice. Estate administration costs are typically reimbursable from the estate. One thing to be careful about: a real estate agent's market analysis, sometimes called a CMA, is not the same as an appraisal, and many probate courts will not accept one in place of a licensed appraisal. Some will, depending on the state and the size of the estate. Ask the clerk which one your court requires before you spend money, because that one question can save you several hundred dollars or save you from filing the wrong document. I am a real estate professional, not an attorney, and probate rules differ by state and sometimes by county. If nobody is helping you with this estate, an hour with a probate attorney in your area is worth it. Many will do a short consultation at low or no cost, and if there is a house involved, the estate can generally pay for it. I am Zoltan Peresztegi and I work in Los Angeles and the South Bay, so I am not local to you, but if you tell me what county the house is in, I am glad to help you find a probate appraiser and an agent there who handles estate sales with some care. There is no charge for that and I am not trying to get the listing. Please make the call to the court first. Once you have the extension, the rest of this gets much easier to handle. Zoltan