Get reliable home appraisal services in Ann Arbor, MI from Day Appraisal Company. Accurate valuations for selling, divorce, estates, trusts, and tax appeals.
If you are buying, selling, divorcing, settling an estate, or fighting a property tax bill in Washtenaw County, one thing you cannot afford to guess on is your home’s value. You need a clear number that will stand up to lenders, courts, and tax authorities.
So, who actually offers reliable home appraisal services in Ann Arbor, MI?
In this market, a strong answer is Day Appraisal Company, a local, state-licensed residential appraiser led by founder Todd Day, serving Ann Arbor and surrounding communities from Jackson to Detroit with honest, unbiased valuations and quick turnaround times.
Below is a full breakdown of what they do, how the process works, and why using a licensed appraiser matters if you want decisions based on real numbers, not guesswork.
Why Reliable Home Appraisal Matters in Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor and the surrounding metro area are competitive, fast-moving real estate markets. Prices can shift quickly, and online estimates are often unreliable.
A professional home appraisal gives you:
- A defensible opinion of value, not a rough estimate
- A report that lenders, attorneys, and tax assessors actually respect
- A neutral third-party view when emotions are high (divorce, inheritance, disputes)
Day Appraisal Company focuses on residential real estate, using the property’s location, condition, size, age, and recent comparable sales to determine value, rather than relying on generic automated tools.
Common situations when you need a home appraisal
You may need a licensed appraiser in Ann Arbor, MI when you:
- Plan to list your home for sale and want a realistic price
- Are involved in a divorce and must divide property fairly
- Need an estate valuation for probate or inheritance
- Are working with a trust and must document asset values
- Believe your property tax assessment is too high
- Are considering a home equity loan or refinance and need solid value support
In each case, the right appraisal can either save you money or prevent costly conflicts.
Meet Day Appraisal Company: A Local, Licensed Home Appraiser
Day Appraisal Company is based in Ann Arbor, MI, and is owned and operated by Todd Day, a state-licensed real estate appraiser with over 20 years of experience.
Instead of dealing with a big, impersonal firm where your file is passed around, you work directly with the owner. Todd personally handles every appraisal from start to finish, which means:
- One point of contact
- Consistent quality
- Clear communication
- Accountability for the final value opinion
The company was built around a simple mission: deliver independent, accurate, and timely home appraisals that help people make confident decisions about their property.
State-licensed and dedicated to residential work
Because Day Appraisal Company focuses on residential properties, you are working with someone who understands:
- Local neighborhoods and micro-markets in and around Ann Arbor
- How school districts, commute times, and amenities affect value
- Real-world buyer expectations in southeast Michigan
That local context is what separates a good appraisal from a generic report.
Types of Home Appraisal Services Offered
Day Appraisal Company offers a focused set of residential appraisal services designed around the situations owners most often face.
Divorce appraisals: bringing objectivity to emotional situations
Divorce is stressful enough without fighting over numbers. A divorce appraisal provides an unbiased opinion of your home’s market value so each side and the attorneys are working from the same, professionally supported figure.
This can help:
- Avoid endless arguments about “what the house is worth”
- Support negotiation or mediation
- Provide a credible value if the matter goes before a judge
Pre-listing appraisals: pricing your home correctly from day one
Guessing at a list price can leave money on the table or scare off buyers. A pre-listing appraisal gives you a data-backed value opinion before your home hits the market.
That helps you:
- Set a realistic asking price
- Justify your price to buyers and agents
- Adjust your expectations based on current market conditions in Ann Arbor and nearby areas
Estate appraisals: supporting probate and inheritance
When a loved one passes away, the estate often needs one or more real estate appraisals to determine property value for probate, tax reporting, and asset distribution.
Day Appraisal Company handles estate appraisals with attention to:
- Date-of-death valuations (retrospective value when needed)
- Clear documentation that executors and attorneys can rely on
- Sensitivity to families working through a difficult time
Trust appraisals: documenting value for trustees and beneficiaries
Trusts frequently hold real property, and trustees must document the value of those assets. Trust appraisals from a licensed appraiser help:
- Provide transparency to beneficiaries
- Support decisions about selling, holding, or refinancing property
- Reduce disputes about whether distributions are fair
Tax assessment appraisals: challenging an inflated property tax bill
If you suspect your home has been over-assessed for property taxes, a professional appraisal can give you the evidence you need to challenge the assessment.
By comparing your home to recent sales and adjusting for differences, Day Appraisal Company can provide a supportable opinion of value that shows whether your tax value is realistic or overstated.
Other common uses: refinance, home equity, and financial planning
While the website highlights divorce, pre-listing, estate, trust, and tax assessment work, the same valuation skills apply to:
- Refinancing a mortgage
- Applying for a home equity loan or line of credit
- Long-term financial and retirement planning
- Dividing property informally within families
Any time you need a clear, well-supported value for your home, a licensed appraisal is the safest way to get it.
What the Home Appraisal Process Looks Like
A lot of people feel nervous when they hear “home appraisal,” mostly because they do not know what to expect. Day Appraisal Company keeps the process simple, structured, and efficient.
Before the visit
First, the appraiser will talk with you about the basics:
- Property type and size
- Location and neighborhood
- Any major updates or repairs
- The reason you need the appraisal (sale, divorce, estate, etc.)
This context helps shape the scope of the assignment and ensures the report answers the right questions.
During the on-site inspection
Next comes the on-site inspection. In most cases, this takes about 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the size and complexity of the home.
During the visit, the appraiser will:
- Walk through every accessible room
- Take measurements and notes
- Observe condition, quality of finishes, and any upgrades
- Note external factors such as lot size, view, and external structures
This is not a home inspection looking for code violations; it is a value-focused inspection designed to understand how your home compares to others in the market.
After the inspection
Once the visit is complete, the appraiser researches:
- Recent comparable sales in your area
- Active and pending listings, when relevant
- Market trends in your neighborhood and county
They then reconcile that data with what they observed at your property and prepare a written appraisal report.
Day Appraisal Company is known for fast turnaround, typically delivering completed appraisals within two business days after the inspection in many cases.
Why Homeowners Choose Day Appraisal Company
Plenty of people can call themselves “real estate professionals.” What makes this company stand out?
Over 20 years of focused appraisal experience
With two decades of experience in residential real estate appraisal, Todd Day has seen a wide range of properties and market cycles. That history helps him read the local market more accurately than someone who only recently started working in the area.
Independent, unbiased valuations
Day Appraisal Company is built around delivering independent, unbiased reports. When you are negotiating a divorce settlement, handling an estate, or disputing a tax bill, that independence carries weight.
Because Todd runs his own firm and personally signs each report, he is staking his professional license and reputation on the accuracy of every opinion of value he issues.
Fast turnaround and weekend availability
Real estate decisions often come with deadlines. One of the biggest advantages of working with this firm is responsiveness:
- Business hours: Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Willingness to work with clients on appointment times
- Fast delivery of completed reports, often within two business days after inspection
That speed matters when a closing date or court date is already on the calendar.
Trusted by local realtors and recommended in the community
Day Appraisal Company works with some of the top realtors in the region and is regularly recommended as a reliable residential appraiser in Washtenaw County and surrounding areas.
Satisfied clients highlight the company’s professionalism, efficiency, and quick turnaround in public reviews and community recommendations.
How to Prepare Your Home for an Appraisal
While the appraiser’s job is to be objective, there are a few simple steps you can take to make the visit smoother and help your home show its true condition.
Tidy and make things accessible
You do not need a full renovation, but it helps to:
- Clear clutter from floors, hallways, and major rooms
- Make sure the appraiser can access each room, including the basement and attic if applicable
- Unlock gates or outbuildings that need to be viewed
This speeds up the inspection and ensures nothing important is missed.
Gather basic information
It is useful to have:
- A rough list of recent improvements (roof, windows, kitchen, bath, HVAC, etc.)
- Dates and approximate costs for major upgrades
- Any prior appraisals or surveys, if available
You are not trying to “sell” the appraiser, just making sure they have accurate information.
Take care of obvious minor repairs
Small issues like missing outlet covers, loose handrails, or obvious damage can give the impression of poor maintenance. If easy fixes are within reach, it is worth addressing them before the appraisal visit.
When Should You Schedule an Appraisal in Ann Arbor, MI?
If you are on any of these paths, it is a good time to schedule:
- You are planning to list your home in the next few weeks or months and want the price to be grounded in reality, not guesswork.
- You have started or are about to start a divorce and need a fair basis for dividing real property.
- You are acting as an executor or trustee and must document the value of real estate for legal and tax purposes.
- You received a property tax assessment that looks too high and need evidence to support an appeal.
- You are considering refinancing or tapping equity and want a realistic sense of what your home is worth before you commit.
In each case, hiring a state-licensed residential real estate appraiser gives you a report that others are more likely to accept without a fight.
Final Thoughts
If you want a local, state-licensed residential appraiser with over 20 years of experience, fast turnaround times, and a reputation for honest, unbiased work across Ann Arbor and the broader southeast Michigan region, Day Appraisal Company is a strong choice.
Whether you are selling, divorcing, planning an estate, managing a trust, or challenging your tax assessment, an accurate home appraisal is one of the smartest investments you can make before big decisions.
How to Get Started With Reliable Home Appraisal Services in Ann Arbor, MI
If you are ready to move from “I think my home is worth…” to “I know my home is worth…”, reaching out is straightforward.
You can:
- Call (734) 274-0526 to speak directly with Day Appraisal Company
- Use the contact form on their website to request an appointment and describe your situation
You will be asked a few basic questions about your property and your reason for needing an appraisal. From there, you can set a time for the on-site visit that fits your schedule.