What changed? I've been reading posts that you replied to in the past on the same subject and you mentioned that within 6 months is okay. The problem is now paying for someone to appraise it to "roll the dice" on what they come up with. It could really hit us tax wise if the person has a low number. The house was paid off by my father-in-law and my wife was the sole executor but we could not do anything regarding the sale of the house until the cleaning was done and we received the death certificate. The things you stated, I'm confused with. I apologize but don't understand why they would be "unusual". I don't understand that.
If audited, you don't think we have enough information or supporting documentation that we couldn't do anything regarding the house until we received the death certificate as well as the restoration part? Sounds to me the IRS just wants to tax everyone then because if the house was up for sale the day after the death and took 1 month to sell it but the price went up, you owe taxes.
Sounds like a big risk in getting an appraisal, especially if it doesn't go in the right direction. They allow you a deduction if the market falls but could care less if the market goes up. I'm not trying to do anything illegal but it seems very unfair that we had no control over getting ownership of the house (death certificate required) until 7 months after the passing and we literally had the house for sale within a few months of getting the death certificate.
