APPRAISALS

We are Certified Appraisers and can perform an appraisal of your contents at your home or in one of our offices. Our fee is $150 per hour for an on-site appraisal.

We perform appraisals for a number of different needs and disciplines. Each appraisal conforms to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). It is a full written report including digital print photos.

APPRAISALS FOR INSURANCE COVERAGE

Insurance Coverage Appraisals are necessary in the use in determining the level of insurance protection in your policy for your personal property.

By having sufficient insurance coverage, you are allowing yourself peace of mind in case of damage or theft. Should anything happen to your treasured items, an accurate appraisal may be one of your most sound and inexpensive investments.

Insuring your personal property can protect your best interest when moving, upgrading your insurance policy, or establishing a new policy. Upgrading your appraisal every 3 to 5 years is recommended to have the current valuation available to maintain the most effective coverage possible.

APPRAISALS FOR SETTLING INSURANCE CLAIMS

Insurance Claim Appraisals are used in determining the replacement value of damaged or stolen items that are involved in an insurance settlement claim. We work with individual clients or direclty with the insurance companies with the claims. This type of appraisal is essential to recovering the proper compensation for the damaged or stolen items. Unfortunately, some items are damaged beyond repair or the restoration exceeds the value of the items. We advise on whether restoration is plausible or recommended for damage claims.

We have worked with a number of insurance companies in settling damage claims. They include:

• State Farm Insurance
• Farmers Insurance
• USAA Insurance
• Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Allstate Insurance
• CSAA

APPRAISALS FOR PROBATE

A probate is the court process in which a deceased person's estate is administered, whether the person died with or without a will.

The process includes:

• the appointment of an executor or representative of the estate
• notifying the creditors
• inventorying the estate, and
• distributing the estate according to the deceased person's will or according to law if there is no will

E.A.L.S. offers professional appraisal assessments of probate cases. Our expertise include determining the fair market value* for estates in probate cases for the express function of determining Federal, State and or probate tax liability.

Some of our repeat probate clints include:

• First National Bank Trust Dept.
• Wells Fargo Bank Trust Dept.
• Albert Nicora, California Probate Referee
• Robert Biebermeyer, Attorney

*Fair market value: The price that an interested party but not desperate buyer would be willing to pay an interested but not desperate seller would be willing to accept on the open market assuming a reasonable period of time for an agreement to arise.

APPRAISALS FOR ESTATE PLANNING PURPOSES

As adults, we understand that we have responsibilities to not only ourselves, but to the people who are important to us. Planning an estate is often overlooked until it is too late. By planning your estate, you are able to be proactive in the decision-making process and it ultimately allows your loved ones peace of mind.

Our experienced appraisers can work directly with you, your insurance agent, attorney or trust officer, to insure the most accurate appraisal for your estate.

APPRAISALS FOR DIVORCE & EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION

When going through a divorce, you need to have qualified professionals working for you to make this process as simple as possible. You need someone who understands the level of confidentiality that you require not only for legal purposes, but for you own piece of mind as well.

At E.A.L.S., our appraisers are very experienced at working with divorce cases. We have done work for several law firms, providing appraisal reports for divorce cases and equitable distribution. When necessary, we also offer expert witness testimony in court.

We can work directly with you or your attorney. If you require an appraisal of the contents of your residence because of divorce or any other equitable distribution situation, please contact our office to speak to one of our appraisers for a futher discussion about your case.

APPRAISALS FOR CHARITABLE DONATIONS

When making a charitable donation, you must obtain the most accuratte appraisal possible. All of the appraisal reports prepared by E.A.L.S. are prepared using the standards set forth by The Appraisal Foundation's Uniform Standard's of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). This accuracy and professionalism is crucial to receive the proper compensation by the IRS and other taxing authorities.

If you are contemplating a donation and would like an appraisal, please contact our office for further discussion.