Appraisers: scheduling inheritance inventory home visits

Schedule an inheritance inventory as a long home visit, booked by one contact for the family, with its length estimated room by room before the day. Ask in the booking note for the address, the size of the home, the rooms with the most contents and which heirs will be present, split very large homes over several visits, and book the report meeting at the end of the last one. An inventory follows a death in the family: a clear slot, a known length and one point of contact take a lot of stress out of it.

An inventory can be booked by one heir, the executor, a notary's office or a relative living nearby. The booking form takes one person's first name, last name, email and phone, plus an optional note. Say in the service description how to fill it in: the contact's own details, the name of the deceased if they wish, and in the note who will be present on the day. Several heirs may want to attend; agree in advance who has the keys and who speaks for the family, so the visit doesn't stall on decisions.

A flat with ordinary furniture and a house full of collections don't take the same time. Before the day, call the contact or ask in the note:

From that, choose the right service: a half-day visit for a small flat, a full day for a house, several visits for a large property. Offer them as separate services, so the length is set when the slot is booked and nobody is surprised on the day.

Durations and prices are examples: set your own. On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page, and each slot belongs to one service and sits within one day. A two-day inventory is booked as two slots on two days.

When one day isn't enough, book the next visits yourself from your calendar right after the first booking comes in, on dates that suit the contact, in the additional visit service. First and last name are required, email and phone optional; enter the contact's email so they receive a confirmation with a calendar file for each date. Keep the visits close together, so the house stays as you found it and you don't lose the thread.

Start with a walk round all the rooms with the contact, to agree the order and see where the important pieces are. Work room by room, photograph and note as you go, and keep the heirs informed without making them wait beside you. Leave time at the end of the slot to say what comes next: the written inventory, the timing of the report and any objects that need further research.

Some families want the inventory done quickly for a notary's deadline, others need time before entering the home. Let them choose the date: open your inventory slots a few weeks ahead so they can pick one that suits, and keep a phone number in the description for those who prefer to talk first. Avoid putting valuations into the conversation on the spot when heirs disagree; keep figures for the written report.

Book the report meeting at the end of the last visit, in the report service, on a date that leaves you time to write. It can take place at your office, at the home or by video. Heirs who can't attend in person can join by phone; say so in the description. Clients can't move bookings online: they contact you, and you reschedule from your bookings list and tell them yourself, since Book doesn't email clients about changes. Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract.