Estate Appraisals: How To Get Referrals From Attorneys And CPAs
October 30, 2026 · 5 min read
Estate work is steady, it isn't tied to interest rates, and it usually comes through a handful of professionals: estate planning and probate attorneys, CPAs, trust officers and financial planners. Win a few of them and the work keeps coming.
Why they need you
When someone passes away, the family often needs a value for the home as of the date of death (or another date the advisor picks). It matters for taxes, for dividing property among heirs, and for selling. The advisor's problem is simple: they need an appraiser who answers the phone, explains the process to a grieving family, and delivers on time.
How to reach them
- Start local and small. Pick 10 estate attorneys and 10 CPAs within your coverage area.
- Send a short, personal note. Two or three sentences: you do date-of-death and estate appraisals, your usual turn time, and that you're glad to talk with their clients.
- Offer something useful. A one-page "What to expect from an estate appraisal" they can hand to families.
- Make the next step easy. A web page where the family can request a quote, sign the engagement letter and pay without phone tag.
What keeps them sending work
- Speed and updates. Tell the family and the advisor when you're scheduled, when you inspected and when the report is ready.
- Kindness. These clients are grieving. Clear, patient answers matter as much as the report.
- Consistency. Same process, same paperwork, every time.
- Easy payment. Families often pay from the estate account; let them pay online before you inspect.
Retrospective dates
Many estate assignments have an effective date in the past. Make sure the engagement letter states the effective date clearly, and keep your notes and data for that date in the workfile.
Where Go1000.ai fits
Go1000.ai gives you a website with online quotes, engagement letters, payment before the work and a client portal where families see where their order stands, so you look organized to every attorney and CPA who refers to you. Start a free trial.