DepreciMax vs. Cost Segregation

The $99 cost seg estimate — before you make an offer.

A formal cost segregation study costs $5,000–$8,000 and can't happen until after closing. DepreciMax gives you the same engineered-quality bonus depreciation breakdown — calibrated to Closely calibrated to formal cost seg of formal studies — for $99, before the offer is even written.

DepreciMax
$99
Pre-purchase, in minutes
Formal Cost Seg
$5k–$8k
Post-closing, weeks of work
Calibration
Close
Vs. formal cost seg studies
Side-by-Side

Better than free. Way cheaper than formal.

Generic calculators apply one-size-fits-all percentages. Formal studies require physical access and arrive months too late to inform your offer. DepreciMax sits in the gap that matters most: pre-purchase intelligence at a price point that justifies running it on every deal you're seriously considering.

  Free Tools$0 DepreciMax$99 Formal Cost Seg$5k–$8k
Available before you close ✓ ✓ After closing
Market & property screening ✓ ✓ —
AI photo analysis — every finish classified — ✓ ✓
5-yr / 15-yr / 39-yr line-item breakdown — ✓ ✓
County assessor land value data — ✓ ✓
IRS-defensible for tax filing — Estimate only * ✓
Typical cost $0 $99 $5,000–$8,000
* DepreciMax is a pre-purchase estimate closely calibrated to formal cost seg studies. For IRS-defensible tax filing, commission a formal cost seg study after closing — DepreciMax tells you whether it's worth doing so before you spend $5,000 to find out.
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Why Pre-Purchase Matters

The decision that costs you tax savings happens before closing

Formal cost seg studies are accurate — but they happen after the deal is done. By then, you've already committed at a price that may or may not have made the tax math work. DepreciMax flips the timeline.

1

Factor it into your offer

If a property projects $120k of Year 1 depreciation at your bracket, that's real cash on your post-tax return. Knowing this before the offer means you can bid more confidently, or walk away earlier.

2

Brief your CPA before the contract

Your CPA needs to know what to expect for Q4 estimated tax planning. Walking in with a $99 line-itemed estimate lets them confirm the math instead of building it from scratch on your dime.

3

Skip the $5k surprise

A formal cost seg costs $5k–$8k and you commission it after closing. If the property turns out to have a 50% land ratio, the formal study confirms what DepreciMax would have flagged for $99 a month earlier.

Frequently Asked

Cost segregation, simplified

The same questions every STR investor asks before paying for a $5k formal study.

How much does a cost segregation study actually cost?
For short-term rentals, formal cost segregation studies from established providers (KBKG, Engineered Tax Services, Capstan Tax) typically run $5,000–$8,000 per property. Larger commercial properties can run $10,000–$15,000+. Most STR investors don't realize the price until they're already under contract.
Can a cost segregation study be done before closing?
No — formal studies require physical property access and an engineering inspection, which means they happen after closing. DepreciMax was built specifically to fill the pre-purchase window. We estimate your Year 1 bonus depreciation from listing photos and county assessor land value data so you can factor the tax savings into the offer itself.
Is DepreciMax a replacement for a formal cost segregation study?
No. DepreciMax is a pre-purchase planning estimate closely calibrated to formal cost seg studies. For IRS-defensible tax filing, you still commission a formal study after closing. The DepreciMax report's job is to tell you whether the property is worth pursuing in the first place — and what to brief your CPA on before the offer.
How accurate is DepreciMax compared to a formal cost segregation study?
DepreciMax is calibrated against completed cost segregation studies on benchmark short-term rentals. The accuracy target is closely calibrated to formal cost seg studies. The model is intentionally calibrated to land slightly on the optimistic side — within tolerance, but never overstating margin to the downside.
Why not just use a free bonus depreciation calculator?
Free calculators apply generic percentages (typically 20–30% of purchase price) that don't reflect the actual property. DepreciMax classifies each visible finish from listing photos — appliances, countertops, lighting, outdoor amenities — and maps them to 5-year personal property, 15-year land improvements, or 39-year structural. The output is a line-itemed breakdown that mirrors the structure of a formal cost seg study.

Know the tax math before the offer.

Run a DepreciMax report on a specific property in under five minutes. $99 one-time, closely calibrated to formal cost seg studies, available the moment you're considering a deal — not three weeks after you've closed.

Get Your $99 Report  →