KB Appraisal completes lender-ordered appraisals for purchase and refinance transactions following Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines. Reports include a full sales comparison approach, neighborhood analysis, site description, and improvements analysis — everything underwriters need to review and approve.
We are UAD 3.6 ready, ensuring a seamless transition for lenders and AMCs as the new reporting standards roll out. You won't need to find a new appraiser when the switch happens — we're already prepared.
Accepted through Appraisal Firewall, SharperLending, Reggora, and direct lender orders.
Pricing a home correctly from day one is one of the most important decisions a seller can make. List too high and you sit on the market, accumulate price reductions, and train buyers to think something is wrong with the property. List too low and you leave money on the table. A pre-listing appraisal from a certified, independent appraiser gives you a defensible, market-supported value before you ever go live.
What is a pre-listing appraisal?
A pre-listing appraisal is a certified appraisal completed before a home hits the market. Unlike a CMA or an automated valuation model like Zillow, a certified appraisal involves a licensed professional physically inspecting the property, analyzing comparable sales, and applying market data to arrive at a credible opinion of value. It holds up to scrutiny — from buyers, their agents, and their lenders.
Who it's for
Pre-listing appraisals are used by homeowners and realtors who want to price with confidence. They're especially valuable for:
Sellers who want to maximize their sale price without overreaching. Realtors who need an independent, third-party value to support their listing price recommendation to a client. Estate representatives pricing a property for sale. Homeowners considering whether to sell, renovate, or refinance. FSBO sellers who need a credible value without a realtor's CMA.
What to expect
Katie will schedule an on-site inspection of your property, typically taking 30 to 60 minutes. She will measure the home to ANSI standards, photograph the interior and exterior, and analyze recent comparable sales in your market area.
When a loved one passes, settling their estate fairly and accurately requires a certified, defensible value for any real property involved. Whether you need a current value or a retrospective date-of-death valuation, KB Appraisal provides certified estate appraisals that hold up to legal, tax, and IRS scrutiny.
What is an estate appraisal?
An estate appraisal is a certified appraisal completed for the purpose of settling a deceased person's estate. It establishes the fair market value of real property as of a specific date — either the current date or a retrospective date, such as the date of death. This value is used to divide assets among heirs, satisfy IRS requirements for estate tax purposes, or support the probate process.
Who it's for
Estate appraisals are used by executors, trustees, attorneys, and heirs who need a credible, documented property value for legal or financial proceedings. They're especially valuable for:
Executors and administrators settling an estate through probate. Attorneys handling estate litigation or disputes among heirs. Families dividing real property fairly among multiple beneficiaries. Trustees managing property held in a trust. Heirs who need to establish a stepped-up cost basis for tax purposes. Estate sales where an independent value is needed before listing.
Retrospective appraisals
If the date of death has already passed, KB Appraisal can complete a retrospective appraisal using the market data that was available as of that specific date. This is a specialized process that requires experience working with historical market data — it is not something every appraiser is equipped to handle properly.
A note on stepped-up cost basis
One of the most significant financial benefits of an estate appraisal is establishing a stepped-up cost basis for inherited property. When a property is inherited, the IRS allows heirs to reset the cost basis to the fair market value as of the date of death — rather than the original purchase price. This can dramatically reduce or eliminate capital gains tax if the property is later sold. A certified appraisal from a licensed appraiser is the documentation the IRS requires to support that stepped-up basis. If you are an heir, executor, or CPA navigating this process, KB Appraisal can provide the certified valuation you need.
What to expect
Katie will schedule an on-site inspection of the property and complete a full certified appraisal report. The report clearly states the effective date, the scope of work, and the value conclusion — everything an attorney, CPA, or court needs to rely on it with confidence.
Why KB Appraisal
Estate situations are sensitive. Katie understands that behind every assignment is a family navigating a difficult time, and she approaches every estate appraisal with the professionalism and discretion that moment deserves. Her reports are thorough, well-documented, and built to withstand scrutiny — so the last thing you need to worry about is the appraisal.
When a marriage ends, real property is often the largest and most contested asset in the settlement. A certified, independent appraisal from a neutral third party gives both spouses — and their attorneys — a credible, defensible value to work from, removing one of the most common sources of conflict in equitable distribution proceedings.
What is a divorce appraisal?
A divorce appraisal is a certified appraisal completed for the purpose of equitable distribution — the legal process of dividing marital assets. It establishes the fair market value of the property as of a specific date, providing an objective opinion that neither spouse can reasonably dispute. Unlike an online estimate or a realtor's CMA, a certified appraisal is completed by a licensed professional, follows USPAP standards, and is defensible in court.
Who it's for
Divorce appraisals are used by separating spouses, family law attorneys, and mediators who need an independent, certified value for real property. They are especially valuable for:
Spouses who cannot agree on the value of the marital home. Family law attorneys who need a certified appraisal to support their client's position in court. Mediators facilitating a settlement who need a neutral, third-party value. Cases where one spouse is buying out the other and both parties need to agree on a fair price. Situations where the property may be sold and proceeds divided, and an accurate value is needed before listing.
Retrospective appraisals
In some divorce cases, the court requires a value as of the date of separation rather than the current date. KB Appraisal can complete retrospective appraisals using market data from a specific prior date, providing the historical value your attorney needs for the proceedings.
What to expect
Katie will schedule an on-site inspection and complete a full certified appraisal report following USPAP standards. The report clearly documents the effective date, scope of work, methodology, and value conclusion — everything a family law attorney or court needs to rely on it with confidence.
Both parties can order a single appraisal together, or each spouse may order their own. If two appraisals come in at significantly different values, KB Appraisal's report will be thoroughly documented and supported by market data — built to hold up to scrutiny.
Why KB Appraisal
Divorce is one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through, and Katie approaches every divorce appraisal with the professionalism and discretion the situation demands. She has no stake in the outcome — her only obligation is to the data and to delivering an accurate, unbiased value. Attorneys and mediators trust KB Appraisal because the reports are thorough, well-supported, and ready to stand up in court if needed.
If your property tax assessment seems too high, you have the right to appeal it — and a certified appraisal is the strongest evidence you can bring to that process. KB Appraisal provides certified appraisals specifically for homeowners and property owners who believe their assessed value doesn't reflect the true market value of their home.
What is a tax appeal appraisal?
When your county assesses your property for tax purposes, they are estimating value using mass appraisal techniques across thousands of properties at once. Those estimates are often inaccurate — especially for properties with unique characteristics, deferred maintenance, or in rapidly shifting markets. A certified appraisal completed by a licensed appraiser gives the appeals board an independent, data-driven opinion of your property's actual market value.
Who it's for
Tax appeal appraisals are used by homeowners, landlords, and property owners who believe their county assessment is higher than their home's true market value. They are especially valuable for:
Homeowners whose assessment increased significantly after a county revaluation. Properties with condition issues, deferred maintenance, or functional obsolescence the county didn't account for. Unique or non-conforming properties that don't compare well to the county's mass appraisal model. Landlords and investors disputing assessments on rental or investment properties.
What to expect
Katie will complete a full certified appraisal of your property establishing its fair market value as of the assessment date. The report is formatted to meet the documentation requirements of the appeals process and provides the comparables, adjustments, and value conclusion your appeals board needs to consider your case. Reports are typically delivered within 3 to 5 business days of inspection.
Important timing note
Tax appeal deadlines are strict and vary by county. In Wake County, appeals must typically be filed within 30 days of receiving your assessment notice. Don't wait — contact KB Appraisal as soon as you receive your notice so we can get your appraisal completed before your deadline.
Why KB Appraisal
Katie has appraised hundreds of properties across Wake, Johnston, Durham, Franklin, and Granville Counties. She knows these markets, knows how county assessors approach valuation, and knows where the gaps are. A well-supported certified appraisal from a local expert is your best shot at a successful appeal.
Ready to get started? Contact us for a quote. We respond within one business day.
Accurate square footage matters more than most homeowners realize. An incorrect measurement can affect your listing price, your appraisal, your tax assessment, and your buyer's financing. KB Appraisal provides certified ANSI home measurements for homeowners, realtors, and anyone who needs an accurate, documented square footage for their property.
What is an ANSI measurement?
ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute. The ANSI Z765 standard is the nationally recognized methodology for measuring residential properties — it defines exactly what counts as living area, how to handle finished basements, bonus rooms, and multi-story spaces, and how measurements must be documented. Since 2022, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have required all appraisers to measure homes using ANSI standards. KB Appraisal has been ANSI compliant from day one.
Who it's for
ANSI home measurements are used by anyone who needs an accurate, certified square footage. They are especially valuable for:
Realtors who need a certified measurement before listing to avoid discrepancies with the appraisal. Homeowners who suspect their tax record square footage is wrong. Sellers who have finished additional space — a bonus room, sunroom, or basement — and want to document it correctly. Buyers who want to verify the square footage before closing. Builders and contractors documenting final square footage on new or renovated construction.
What to expect
Katie will complete a full exterior and interior measurement of your property following ANSI Z765 standards, including a hand-drawn floor plan sketch with dimensions. The deliverable includes the total gross living area calculation, room-by-room breakdown, and a to-scale sketch — everything a realtor, lender, or appraiser needs to use and verify the measurement.
Why it matters
A difference of even 100 square feet can mean thousands of dollars in listing price, appraisal value, and tax liability. Getting the number right — and having it documented by a certified professional — protects you in every transaction.