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Tool appraisals for probate, prepared in accordance with USPAP. AppraiseItNow provides defensible valuations covering hand tools, power tools, and specialty trade collections to support smooth estate administration.
They diligently researched both equipment items and provided well-documented reports
…the whole process was seamless… I am so glad I hired them
…I am looking forward to utilizing AppraiseItNow for many years to come
DEFENSIBLE, USPAP-COMPLIANT TOOL APPRAISAL REPORTS — QUALIFIED FOR THE IRS, PROBATE COURTS, AND ESTATE ATTORNEYS.
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Owner & CEO
Joe founded AppraiseItNow to make a certified, USPAP-compliant appraisal as simple to order as anything else online. A former Bain & Company strategy consultant, Joe leads the entire team and specializes in strategy, growth, and the firm's tech capabilities.
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
Third-generation auctioneer and CAGA Certified Appraiser with more than 20 years valuing machinery, equipment, vehicles, business assets, and estates for banks, attorneys, and trustees across the Carolinas.
Vehicle Appraiser
CAGA Certified Appraiser since 2014, covering vehicles, boats, equipment, fine art, and collectibles. A classic-car restoration background informs her vehicle work, with reports prepared for insurance, divorce, and charitable contributions.
Client Success Manager
Manages each engagement from the first enquiry to the delivered report, and keeps you posted at every step along the way.
Certified Appraisers Guild of AmericaCertified Appraiser
The Appraisal FoundationAuthorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standardsWhen a decedent's estate includes tools, whether a hobbyist's hand tool collection or a tradesperson's full complement of power equipment, those assets must be valued at fair market value as of the date of death before the estate can be administered. Courts require documented, independent valuations to approve inventories, support stepped-up basis claims, and prevent disputes among beneficiaries. If the gross estate exceeds the federal exemption, the appraisal must also satisfy IRS requirements for Form 706. AppraiseItNow's equipment valuation practice covers tools of every kind, from everyday hand tools to specialized trade equipment and collectible vintage sets.
We deliver appraisals both online and onsite across the United States, accommodating executors who need a remote review based on photos and serial numbers as well as those who require an in-person inspection of a large or complex collection. Our probate appraisal services are handled by credentialed appraisers with direct experience in retrospective valuations and court-ready reporting.
AppraiseItNow appraises a wide range of tools that commonly appear in probate inventories, including:
Our process and reporting are designed to meet the specific demands of probate proceedings:
What clients say we are known for
Across 80+ published AppraiseItNow reviews the picture is consistent: every one is from a client who paid us for an appraisal, and the three things they raise most often are that they would hire us again, how quickly we answer, and how much research is visible in the report.
I highly recommend the AppraiseItNow team. They were responsive and timely from start to finish, and the whole process was seamless. The final report was super detailed and gave me all the information I needed. I am so glad I hired them and would recommend them to anyone needing an appraisal!
Technology Equipment Appraisal for Divorce
AppraiseItNow did an outstanding job appraising my 1998 Bobcat Skid Steer and circa 2010 Yuchai Crawler Dozer. We could not locate a serial number on the dozer, and there were no online sales available, but they were still able to develop an accurate appraisal using known specifications for my dozer compared to other comparable make and model dozers. They diligently researched both equipment items and provided well-documented reports.
Machinery & Equipment Appraisal
From the start they were very responsive, price competitive, and had a quick turn around time. Thank you so much to Joe who was very sweet in responding to my emails; I am looking forward to utilizing AppraiseItNow for many years to come.
Very thorough and professional — great communication and outstanding service. Highly impressed with their work!
At open-market fair market value as of the date of death, in as-is condition, following the standard in Treasury Regulation 20.2031-6. Replacement cost overstates the estate; the question the court cares about is what the tools would realistically have brought if sold on that date.
Yes, and they can tip the outcome. Thresholds vary widely by state; Alaska, for instance, permits a small-estate affidavit covering up to $50,000 in personal property plus $100,000 in vehicles. A well-equipped shop can be the difference between a simplified procedure and full probate.
Not necessarily. Some states measure probate thresholds on gross values and others on net, and several instruct that personal property values not be reduced by liens at all. Assuming debts shrink the estate below the probate line is a frequent executor mistake with real procedural consequences.
Itemized, with identifying detail and a market-based value, while ordinary hand tools can usually be grouped. Courts question round-number estimates for significant equipment, and disputes typically erupt when one party cites retail asking prices and another cites auction results without a documented source for either.