Desktop Appraisal Services & Pricing
Complete residential valuations for the Coachella Valley — clearly explained, clearly priced, and delivered when we say they will be.
We are currently accepting desktop appraisals only
Because of exceptionally high demand, we are currently accepting desktop appraisal assignments only. Drive-by and full interior-inspection appraisals are not being scheduled at this time.
A desktop appraisal is a complete, USPAP-compliant valuation. The market research, the analysis, the report and the professional credibility are identical to an inspection-based report — what differs is the physical site visit.
Standard Pricing Structure
Over 90% of valley properties fall within this framework. An additional $100 applies when two separate clients are involved, such as in a divorce.
Add $100 when two separate clients are involved (for example, a divorce). Listed fees are starting prices; complex, high-value, or high-liability assignments are quoted before you commit.
What Drives Your Appraisal Fee
Property Complexity
How unique the property is relative to recent comparable sales. Custom architecture, unusual lots, country-club membership structures and mixed-use or agricultural adjacency all require more analysis time.
Data & Research
How much verification the assignment demands — property-rights research on lease land, permit history, association documents, and the depth of comparable research the specific submarket requires.
Liability & Use
The responsibility tied to the intended use. High-value properties, contested matters and reports prepared for court or the IRS carry additional professional considerations.
A complete appraisal, without the site visit
For most legal, estate and tax purposes the client already knows the property's condition and features. In those situations a desktop appraisal delivers the same analytical rigor and credibility as a full-inspection report. Since 2020 — made permanent in 2022 — major lenders have formally recognized desktop appraisals where adequate property data is available.
What stays the same: the certified appraiser, the market research, the analysis, the USPAP compliance, the report quality and its professional credibility. What differs: a physical site visit, and the chance to correct property details in person — which is why we ask you for photographs, a floor plan or a recent listing when you have them.
Desktop appraisals are ideal for
- Estate planning — Date of Death & Step-Up Basis
- Tax purposes — gift tax & assessment appeals
- Trust and probate valuations without physical access
- Divorce where property access is limited or contested
- Bankruptcy schedules with attorney approval
- Second opinions on an existing report
- Retrospective values as of a past date
What we need from you
- The property address and APN if you have it
- The intended use and the effective date of value
- Interior and exterior photographs, if available
- A floor plan, sketch or prior appraisal, if available
- Known improvements, additions and permit history
- HOA, club membership or lease documents where applicable
None of these are strictly required — supply what you have and we will tell you if anything material is missing.
What's Inside Your Report
Desktop Appraisal $449 · 30–35 pages
- Executive summary of findings
- Current market-conditions analysis with charts
- Detailed property description
- Comparable sales grid & market comparison
- Area maps & location analysis
- Property photographs (when available)
- Property history & professional disclosures
- Site sketch & client-data review (when applicable)
Basic Desktop Appraisal $299 · 20–25 pages
- Real estate valuation summary
- Essential property details
- Comprehensive property description
- Focused comparable sales analysis
- Market comparison
- Standard professional disclosures
- Client information review
Ideal for straightforward valuations where full supporting documentation isn't required.
Questions About Our Reports & Fees
What is the difference between the $299 and the $449 report?
The Basic Desktop Appraisal is a focused 20–25 page report covering the valuation, property description and comparable sales analysis — sufficient for most straightforward estate, family-transfer and second-opinion needs. The Desktop Appraisal is a 30–35 page report that adds a fuller market conditions analysis, area maps, expanded property history and additional supporting exhibits, which is the better choice when the report will be reviewed by an opposing attorney, a court or the IRS.
Why are you offering desktop appraisals only right now?
Demand in the Coachella Valley currently exceeds the schedule available for on-site inspections. Rather than quote turnaround times we cannot honor, new assignments are limited to desktop appraisals, which we can complete reliably and quickly. Drive-by and full interior-inspection appraisals are not being scheduled at this time.
What is actually inside the report?
A defined scope of work and intended use, the property rights appraised, a full subject property description, an analysis of market conditions for the relevant period, a comparable sales grid with each adjustment explained rather than asserted, reconciliation to a final value opinion, and the appraiser's certification and license. Every figure is traceable to its source, which is what allows the report to survive review.
Do you offer rush service?
Yes. When a filing deadline, hearing date or escrow timeline requires it, we can compress delivery below the standard 3–5 business days. Tell us the deadline when you request the quote and we will confirm in writing whether it can be met before you engage — we do not accept work we cannot deliver on time.
Why is there a $100 charge when two clients are involved?
In a divorce or a contested estate, two separate parties each become a client of record. That means two sets of communications, two delivery obligations and a materially higher liability exposure, since both sides may challenge the conclusion. The $100 addition covers that, and it remains far less than commissioning two independent appraisals.
What if my property is unusual, very high value, or the assignment is complex?
Published fees are starting prices. Estates spanning several parcels, properties with unpermitted improvements, tribal leasehold land, agricultural influence, or values well above the valley norm take more research and carry more liability, so they are quoted individually. You always receive the exact fee before you commit.
Ready to order your appraisal?
Tell us about your property and we'll respond with a firm quote and timeline — usually the same business day.