Written by Russell Harrist
Colorado Certified Residential Appraiser · Certified Probate Expert (CPE) · 25 Years of Experience
Published August 27, 2026
A section-by-section look at what a completed appraisal report actually contains, so you know exactly what you're paying for before you order.
If you’ve never ordered an appraisal before, it can feel like you’re paying for something you can’t quite picture. This page walks through exactly what arrives in your inbox when a Great Estates appraisal is complete, section by section.
The report is delivered as a single electronic PDF, typically running 25–40 pages depending on the property and assignment type, and organized in a standard, professional sequence.
Broker Price Opinions follow a similar structure but omit the formal USPAP certification, since a BPO is not prepared in the role of a certified appraiser. See how a BPO compares to a full appraisal →
It’s tempting to skip past the certification and limiting conditions pages as legal filler, but for estate purposes they are often exactly what a probate court or the IRS is checking for. The signed certification is what distinguishes a USPAP appraisal from an informal opinion of value; it’s the appraiser putting their license behind the number.
The limiting conditions and any extraordinary assumptions disclose exactly what the appraiser did and didn’t verify, for example, the standard assumption that a property’s condition at the date of death matched its condition at the time of inspection. This transparency is part of what makes the report defensible if it’s ever questioned.
Complete report with interior and exterior photographs, full USPAP certification, and all standard limiting conditions and assumptions.
Same full USPAP structure, with exterior-only photographs and an added extraordinary assumption regarding unobserved interior condition.
Similar analysis and photographs, but without the formal USPAP certification, since a BPO is a market analysis, not a certified appraisal.
A completed full appraisal report can be submitted directly to the probate court as part of the estate inventory, provided to the estate’s CPA to support stepped-up basis documentation, or included with a federal estate tax filing if one is required. It’s a self-contained document; nothing further needs to be requested or assembled once it’s in hand.
Now that you know what to expect, ordering takes about two minutes. Choose the scope that fits your situation, or contact Russell if you’re not sure which one applies.