Ian Bryzek, CPA
What if improvement costs cannot be found?
Lost renovation receipts call for careful reconstruction, not a convenient estimate added to a tax return.
Kitchen and roof projects are often remembered clearly while the invoices disappeared during moves or estate cleanup.
The most credible file identifies source documents and distinguishes confirmed work from family recollection.
What to gather
- Permit history
- Contractor or architect archive request
- Home-equity loan records
- Before-and-after photos
- Written notes identifying uncertain facts
Who usually handles what
- Ian can organize the tax reporting question and the supporting records.
- James Valdez can provide an independent residential fair-market-value appraisal.
A practical next step
Build a source list that shows the evidence behind each claimed improvement.
When a property value is part of the picture
When residential real estate needs a supported fair market value as of a relevant date, an independent appraiser may be part of the documentation process. Ian does not determine fair market value.
Related guides
This is general tax information, not tax or legal advice. Outcomes depend on the documents, ownership, timing, and law that apply to the particular facts.