Tool Appraisals

Tool Appraisal for Estate and Probate

Tool appraisal services for estate and probate matters, establishing date-of-death fair market value for shop equipment, hand tools, and power tools, prepared in accordance with USPAP. Tool Appraisals supports executors, heirs, and estate attorneys with valuations of machine shop equipment, woodworking machinery, and full tool collections nationwide.

Tool Categories Covered in Estate and Probate Valuations

  • Assorted wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers arranged on a wooden workbench

    Hand Tools

    Wrenches, saws, chisels, and measuring tools valued individually or as a set.

  • Hands using cordless drill on wooden board at workbench near window light

    Power Tools

    Drills, sanders, grinders, and other powered equipment from the estate.

  • Worker adjusting controls on industrial lathe in factory setting with row of milling machines

    Machine Shop Equipment

    Lathes, mills, presses, and metalworking machinery.

  • Woodworker's hands guiding wooden plank through table saw with wood shavings in workshop

    Woodworking Machinery

    Table saws, planers, jointers, and shop-built equipment.

  • Pegboard wall displaying organized specialty trade tools in natural daylight

    Specialty Trade Tools

    Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC tool sets and equipment.

How We Complete a Tool Appraisal for Your Estate

  1. 01

    Inventory Review

    We review the estate's tools and equipment and confirm the date-of-value needed.

  2. 02

    Documentation

    Photos, records, and any prior documentation are gathered to support the valuation.

  3. 03

    Valuation

    Our appraiser determines fair market value using accepted USPAP methodology.

  4. 04

    Report Delivery

    You receive a report ready for the executor, attorney, or probate court.

CREDENTIALS

Credentials Behind Every Estate Valuation

Framed appraisal certificate and magnifying glass on wooden desk next to antique vase
American Society of Appraisers

ASA

Certified Appraisers Guild of America

CAGA

NEBB Institute

Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraiser (CMEA)

ESTATE & PROBATE QUESTIONS

Tool Appraisal for Estate and Probate: Common Questions

What is a date-of-death tool appraisal?

It's a valuation that establishes fair market value for tools and equipment as of the date the owner passed away, used for estate settlement and probate filings.

Who typically requests a tool appraisal for an estate?

Executors, estate attorneys, and heirs request these appraisals to support probate filings and equitable distribution among beneficiaries.

Do you appraise a full shop or garage inventory?

Yes. We appraise everything from a single specialty tool to a complete machine shop or garage inventory.

Is the report suitable for probate court and tax filings?

Reports are prepared in accordance with USPAP so the reviewing court, attorney, or tax authority receives a standards-compliant valuation.

How long does an estate tool appraisal take?

Turnaround varies by project. We confirm timing up front, including any deadline tied to a probate filing.

Tool Appraisals Also Values Estate Tools Donated to Schools, Trade Programs, and Nonprofits

When an estate donates a workshop or a collection of tools to a school, a trade program, or another nonprofit rather than selling or dividing the equipment among heirs, that gift follows different IRS rules than a probate inventory. Once the claimed deduction for a tool or a group of similar tools exceeds $5,000, the IRS requires a qualified appraisal for Form 8283. Our tool appraisal for charitable donation service establishes the fair market value that filing needs, prepared in accordance with USPAP by the same credentialed appraisers who handle estate and probate valuations.

Settling an Estate That Includes Tools or Equipment?

Get a USPAP-compliant valuation built for probate.

Request a Tool Appraisal