Estate & Date-of-Death
Retrospective (date-of-death) or current values for estate settlement, probate and tax reporting needs.
Independent Residential Appraisal · Arizona
Credible, independent appraisals for life’s big decisions.
Estate and date-of-death, divorce, pre-listing, private sales, trusts and PMI removal. Serving Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties from the Phoenix / Anthem area.
No payment is taken when you submit a request. You’ll get a quote and engagement letter first.
Services
Private appraisal services
Appraisals prepared for you directly, not for a lender. Each assignment is scoped to its intended use and intended users, and developed in accordance with USPAP.
Divorce & Separation
An independent opinion of value for marital property division, for one or both parties or their counsel.
Pre-Listing
An independent market-value opinion before you list, to help sellers and agents plan with supported data.
Private Sales
For family transfers, for-sale-by-owner deals and other transactions between private parties.
Trusts & Attorney Use
Appraisals for trust administration, litigation support and other legal matters, at the attorney’s or trustee’s direction.
PMI Removal
Appraisals to support a request to remove private mortgage insurance. Check your servicer’s requirements first, as some require an appraiser they order.
Other Private Uses
Have a different need, such as a co-owner or partnership buyout, a family transfer or another non-lending purpose? Describe it in your request and Michael will confirm whether it’s a fit and how the assignment would be scoped.
How It Works
Simple, clear and paid before the inspection
- 1
Request
Submit the request form below. No payment is collected at this step.
- 2
Quote & Engagement Letter
You receive a written quote and an engagement letter that defines the scope, intended use and intended users.
- 3
Pay Before Inspection
After you sign, we schedule the inspection and send a secure, hosted payment link. Payment is due before the inspection. Paying cash? No link is sent; you pay at the inspection.
- 4
Inspection
Michael inspects the property on the scheduled date and time.
- 5
Report
Your completed appraisal report is delivered electronically by the agreed turnaround date.
About payment
- Payment is not collected when you submit a request.
- Card and online payments use a secure, hosted payment page from a major payment provider. Card numbers are never entered on this website.
- Payment is due before the inspection. If a balance is still open, you’ll get a friendly reminder the day before and the day of the inspection. The inspection is not put on hold.
- Paying cash? No payment link is sent. Payment is collected at the inspection.
Who We Serve
Built for professionals and families
Attorneys
Estate, probate, family law and litigation matters that need a clearly scoped, independent report.
Real Estate Agents
Pre-listing appraisals for sellers who want an independent opinion of value before going to market.
Homeowners
Private sales, PMI removal, divorce, inheritance and other personal decisions.
CPAs, Trustees & Executors
Date-of-death and current-value appraisals for trust administration and estate reporting.
About
Michael Swart
Arizona Certified Residential Appraiser · License CRA-22344
MFS Appraisal LLC is an independent residential appraisal practice serving Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties from the Phoenix / Anthem area. Michael provides independent, impartial and objective opinions of value, developed and reported in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
Michael’s practice focuses on private, non-lending assignments: estate and date-of-death values, divorce and separation, pre-listing, private sales, and trust and attorney matters. Every report is written for its stated intended use and intended users, with clear support that attorneys, CPAs, trustees and families can rely on.
An appraisal is an opinion of value as of a specific date for a stated intended use and intended users. The fee is never contingent on the value reported or on any predetermined outcome.
Request an Appraisal
Tell us about your assignment
No payment is collected here. Michael will review your request and reply with a quote and engagement letter. Card payments are made later through a secure, hosted payment link, due before the inspection.
FAQ
Common questions
When do I pay?
Not when you request. After you accept the quote and sign the engagement letter, we schedule the inspection and send a secure payment link. Payment is due before the inspection.
What if I haven’t paid by the inspection date?
You’ll get a reminder the day before and the morning of the inspection. The inspection goes ahead as scheduled and is not put on hold.
Can I pay cash?
Yes. Choose “Cash” on the request form. No payment link is sent, and payment is collected at the inspection.
Is it safe to pay online?
Card payments are processed on a secure, hosted payment page from a major payment provider. Your card details are never entered on or stored by this website.
Can you tell me what my home is worth before the appraisal?
No. An appraiser can’t promise or predict a value before completing the assignment. The value conclusion comes from the research and analysis, and the fee is never based on the value.
Can you do a date-of-death (retrospective) appraisal?
Yes. Retrospective appraisals estimate value as of a past date, such as a date of death. Please note the effective date in your request.
Who can rely on the report?
Only the intended users named in the engagement letter, for the stated intended use. Tell us everyone who needs to rely on it (for example, both spouses’ attorneys) so the scope is set correctly.
Can this appraisal be used for a mortgage?
Usually not. Lenders generally must order appraisals themselves. Private appraisals are intended for non-lending uses. Check with your lender or servicer.
How much does an appraisal cost?
Every assignment is quoted individually, based on the property, location, complexity and intended use. You’ll receive a written quote and engagement letter before the inspection is scheduled, and nothing is owed until you accept it.
How long does it take?
It depends on the property and scope. Your quote and engagement letter will include the expected delivery date.