Estate Inventory and Valuation Appraisals
An estate inventory and valuation appraisal creates an organized record of tangible personal property and, when requested, develops supported value conclusions for the assignment's stated purpose. Executors, trustees, attorneys, personal representatives, families, buyers, and sellers may use the service to understand what is present, where it is located, and how the property should be documented for the next decision.
Prestige Estate Services appraises tangible personal property. We do not provide real estate appraisals.
Meet Our Personal Property Appraisers
All Prestige Estate Services appraisers are in-house W-2 employees. We do not use contract appraisers as members of our appraisal staff. Each appraiser works directly for Prestige Estate Services and is IRS-qualified and USPAP-compliant.
Do You Need an Inventory, Values, or a Formal Appraisal?
An estate inventory may document property without assigning value, or it may combine identification and organization with researched value conclusions. The correct scope depends on who will use the report, the decision it must support, the effective date, and whether an outside party will rely on it.
| Option | What It Can Include | Typical Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Only | Room, location, item description, quantity, identifiers, and photographs as defined in the scope. | Organization, recordkeeping, administration, planning, or creating a clear contents list. |
| Inventory With Valuation | Inventory fields plus a defined value type, market research, value conclusions, and report totals when applicable. | Allocation, sale or consignment planning, family decisions, collection review, or other identified uses. |
| Formal Intended-Use Appraisal | Documentation, analysis, and reporting developed for a stated tax, court, insurance, donation, fiduciary, or other formal use. | Outside reliance, filing, claim support, legal review, or another purpose requiring a more specific reporting pathway. |
Start with the intended use. If the work will support Form 706 or another estate-tax purpose, review our estate tax appraisals for personal property. If the report is limited to internal planning or specifically identified users, a restricted-use personal property appraisal may be the better fit.
Prestige Estate Services Locations Map
Prestige Estate Services provides personal property inventory and appraisal support across the United States. Explore our locations to find the service area closest to the estate, residence, collection, or project.
What Personal Property Can Be Included?
The assignment can cover an entire residence, selected rooms, defined collections, or specific categories of tangible personal property. Before inspection or remote review begins, Prestige Estate Services confirms what should be included, what should be excluded, and the level of detail needed for the report.
Fine Art and Decorative Art
Paintings, prints, sculpture, works on paper, photographs, ceramics, glass, and decorative objects.
Furniture and Furnishings
Antique, vintage, designer, custom, and contemporary furniture, lighting, rugs, and household furnishings.
Jewelry, Watches, and Silver
Fine and costume jewelry, watches, silver, flatware, hollowware, and related personal accessories.
Collections and Collectibles
Coins, stamps, books, sports memorabilia, toys, militaria, records, ephemera, and specialty collections.
Vehicles and Recreational Property
Automobiles, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and other titled or specialty personal property when included in the assignment.
Everyday Estate Contents
Household goods, clothing, kitchenware, electronics, tools, equipment, and other contents needed for a complete record.
What Can the Inventory and Valuation Report Include?
The report is organized around the agreed scope and intended use. Depending on the assignment, it may identify each item or group, show its location, include photographs and descriptive details, record condition observations, present researched value conclusions, and summarize totals by room, category, or another useful structure.
Confirm Intended Use and Scope
We identify who will use the report, the decision it must support, the effective date, the property to include, and the required level of detail.
Select the Documentation Pathway
An appraiser determines whether on-site inspection, remote documentation, or a hybrid approach is appropriate for the property and intended use.
Identify and Organize Property
Items are documented by room, category, collection, or another agreed structure, with descriptions and photographs when included.
Research Relevant Markets
When valuation is part of the assignment, the appraiser researches appropriate markets and evidence for the defined value type and effective date.
Reconcile and Report
The appraisal findings are reviewed, reconciled, and presented in the agreed report format with applicable assumptions and limiting conditions.
Deliver the Final Record
The client receives the completed inventory or appraisal report and can direct questions about the documented scope and conclusions to the appraisal team.
What Should You Send Before the Project Begins?
A useful initial review begins with the purpose of the work and a practical picture of the estate's contents. You do not need to prepare a perfect inventory before contacting us; the following information helps the appraisal team evaluate scope and determine the appropriate next step.
Assignment Information
- Intended use and intended users
- Effective valuation date, when applicable
- City and state where the property is located
- Deadline and access considerations
- Any attorney, CPA, executor, trustee, or court instructions
Property Information
- General property categories and approximate volume
- Residence size, number of rooms, or collection size
- Existing lists, photographs, videos, receipts, or prior appraisals
- Known high-value, unusual, or condition-sensitive items
- Whether items are accessible, packed, stored, or distributed among locations
Estate Inventory and Valuation Appraisal FAQs
Can You Create an Inventory Without Assigning Values?
Yes. The scope can be limited to identification and documentation when the client needs an organized record rather than value conclusions. We confirm the required fields, photographs, grouping method, and report structure before work begins.
Can an Estate Inventory Be Used for Estate Tax Purposes?
An inventory can help organize estate contents, but a tax-related appraisal must be scoped and developed for that specific intended use from the beginning. Review the requirements and service pathway on our personal property estate tax appraisal page.
What If We Only Need Values for Internal Decisions?
A focused reporting format may be appropriate when use is limited to the client or specifically identified intended users. Learn how a restricted-use appraisal may support internal planning, inherited-property decisions, sale preparation, or collection review.
Can the Work Be Completed Remotely?
Remote documentation may be appropriate when clear photographs, measurements, marks, condition information, and supporting records are available. Larger, complex, or condition-sensitive assignments may require an on-site inspection. The appraiser determines the appropriate pathway after reviewing the scope.
What Affects Timing and Fees?
Timing and fees depend on the number and type of items, residence or collection size, documentation quality, location, access, inspection method, research complexity, report requirements, effective date, and deadline. Prestige Estate Services reviews those factors before providing the applicable engagement and project information.
Plan the Right Inventory and Valuation Scope
Tell us why the inventory is needed, where the property is located, the approximate volume of contents, and who will use the finished report. Our appraisal team will review the assignment and help identify the appropriate documentation and reporting pathway.
