Bankruptcy & Financial Planning Appraisals

Independent residential appraisals for bankruptcy and insolvency files, asset division and financial planning. The report gives you and your advisers a supported value to work from.

When an appraisal helps

If your Licensed Insolvency Trustee asks for an appraisal, we confirm the intended use, effective date and report requirements before we start.

For financial planning, an appraisal gives a current value for a net-worth review, retirement planning, or a decision about whether to sell or keep a property.

For asset division, it gives owners and their advisers an independent starting point for a buyout or the division of real estate.

The appraisal provides an opinion of market value as of a stated date. Your trustee, lawyer, accountant or financial planner then uses it, along with your other financial information, to advise you.

Who we work with

We work with homeowners, Licensed Insolvency Trustees, lawyers, accountants and financial planners. When you order, tell us who will rely on the report so we can confirm the intended users and scope.

We serve Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Hamilton, Brantford, Port Rowan and surrounding regions. Additional travel is considered based on the property and assignment. See the service area map.

What to have ready

• The property address, and the name and phone number of the person who will provide access
• The purpose of the appraisal, the valuation date required and any deadline
• Your adviser's written instructions, contact information and report requirements, if you have them
• Any property records you have, such as a survey, floor plans, renovation details, prior reports, leases or condominium information

You can attach documents to the online order. If you are not sure what is needed, call us first and we will tell you what the file requires.

How the appraisal works

• We review the property, purpose, intended users, effective date and fee, and confirm the assignment.
• For a full appraisal, we arrange interior and exterior access, inspect the property and research comparable sales.
• You receive a written report explaining the evidence, the reasoning and the effective date. With your authorization, and consistent with the agreed intended use, we can deliver it to your adviser.

Fees and timing

Private and legal appraisals start at $450, plus disbursements and HST, and larger or more complex properties are quoted individually. We confirm the fee in writing before the inspection is scheduled. See our pricing page.

Typical turnaround is 2–3 business days after the inspection and receipt of all required information. Retrospective and complex assignments can take longer, and we confirm timing with your quote. Let us know about any filing or planning deadline when you order.

Common questions

Should I speak to my trustee before ordering?

Yes. Check with your trustee whether a formal appraisal is required, what valuation date to use and who needs to rely on the report. Your Licensed Insolvency Trustee advises on bankruptcy and consumer-proposal options and requirements, and the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy explains the trustee's role.

Does the appraisal show how much equity I will retain?

No. The report gives the property's value. Your adviser then looks at mortgage balances, other claims, ownership interests and the applicable rules to work out what that value means for you.

Can you value the property as of a past date?

It depends on the records available. We first confirm that reliable sales data and condition records exist for the requested date. See Capital Gains & Retrospective Appraisals.

Can I use the report for refinancing later?

Each report is prepared for a stated purpose and intended users. If you will also need it for financing, tell us before you order so we can check the lender's requirements and whether a separate assignment is needed.

If you are considering a sale, see Pre-Listing Appraisals. For a separation or divorce, see Separation & Divorce Appraisals.