Appraisal Services

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What is the value of my item?

Do you ever find yourself wondering the value of a particular item or of a collection you’ve inherited? If so, an appraisal of your object(s) may be in order.

A USPAP-Compliant appraisal report provides in-depth information on your item(s) including the monetary value of your object(s).
Each report is tailored specifically to your situation and needs. Please read below to learn more about the appraisal process - the types of items I appraise and more!
Click the link below to request additional information and a quote for your object(s).
Request an appraisal report
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Insurance Claim Settlement
  • Division of Assets
  • Probate, Trust or Bankruptcy
  • Collateralized Lending
  • Appraisal Review

Ready to learn more?

Read below for additional information regarding different scenarios where appraisals are key, the appraisal process, and FAQs.

Insurance Coverage

Are your antiques, fine art, collectibles, and custom made furniture properly and correctly insured in the event you suffer a loss?

  • An appraisal report establishes the existence, condition, and the value of your personal property
  • Clearly identifies and documents the item(s) you are insuring with a detailed written description and visual documentation of your items/collection through detailed photographs of the item(s), including the item's condition, any artist’s signatures, maker’s marks, etc.
  • Provides a firm statement of value (not a range)
  • Provides a Replacement Value of your item(s) based on today’s market and costs

Request an appraisal report

Insurance Claim Settlement

Elizabeth works with insurance companies, public adjusters, restoration companies, individuals, and more when art, antiques, vintage, and household items require an appraisal for an insurance claim settlement.

Obtaining an appraisal report of item(s) damaged, assists in the
insurance claim process by ensuring that an item is not undervalued in
the settlement process.  Additional acquisition costs in the replacement
of damaged items such as shipping costs are also considered when it is
possible for shipping costs, etc. to be accurately determined.

  • An appraisal report provides an unbiased, third-party statement of value on the item(s) damaged
  • In an insurance claim situation, an appraisal report can assist in the claim process by ensuring that the insured is made whole to the greatest extent allowed by their individual insurance policy.  This includes additional acquisition costs that can be encountered in the replacement of damaged items such as shipping & delivery costs, etc. when additional costs can be accurately calculated.
  • Provides a firm statement of value (not a range)
  • Provides a Replacement Value of your item(s) based on today’s market and additional acquisition costs* that can be utilized by the insurance company in the settlement process (*If additional costs can be accurately determined.)
Request an appraisal report

Division of Assets

Division of assets appraisals play a key role in the division of assets in situations such as divorce, the dissolution of a business, and the division of an estate among heirs.

A division of assets appraisal provides a firm value that can be used by individuals, attorney’s, personal representatives, and more in the process of equal division of property amongst multiple people.

The types of values researched and determined for an equitable distribution appraisal can be one of several different values such as fair market value, orderly liquidation value, market value, value in place, and more depending on the client specific situation. 

A division of assets appraisal assists in the process of equal division of assets in a multitude of situations and could be an appropriate fit for an estate when the appraisal will not be used in conjunction with any IRS  or state level filings.

  • An appraisal report provides an unbiased, third-party statement of value on the item(s) to be divided 
  • In an equitable distribution scenarios, an appraisal report can assist in the division of assets by ensuring that each individual or party involved receives an equal share of the assets being distributed.  
  • Provides a firm statement of value (not a range)
  • Provides a Value of your item(s) based on a specific definition of value such as fair market value dependent on the client specific situation.  (*Depending upon the definition of value utilized for a division of assets appraisal report, additional deaccessioning costs can be included in the final statement of value if they can be accurately determined at the time of the writing of the appraisal report.)

Request an appraisal report

Probate

Elizabeth partners with executors, personal representatives, administrators, attorney’s, trust officers, trust departments, banks, private wealth departments, family offices, banks, wealth/asset managers & brokers, individuals, and more when art, antiques, vintage, and household items of a recently deceased individual items go through the probate process.

  • An appraisal report provides an unbiased, third-party statement of value on the item(s) in the decedent’s estate for the purposes of probate court.
  • An appraisal report assists in the identification, cataloging, and valuing of assets that are included in the decedent's estate.
  • Provides a firm statement of value (not a range)
  • Provides a Value of your item(s) based on a specific definition of value such as fair market value with the value dependent on the client specific situation. 
Request an appraisal report

Trust

Elizabeth partners with attorney’s, trust officers, trust departments, banks, private wealth departments, family offices, banks, wealth/asset managers & brokers, individuals, and more when art, antiques, vintage, and household items are held in the name of a trust.

  • An appraisal report provides an unbiased, third-party statement of value on the item(s) to be sold 
  • An appraisal report establishes the existence, condition, and the value of your personal property
  • Clearly identifies and documents the item(s) you are insuring with a detailed written description and visual documentation of your items/collection through detailed photographs of the item(s), including the item's condition, any artist’s signatures, maker’s marks, etc.
  • Provides a firm statement of value (not a range)
  • Provides a Value of your item(s) based on a specific definition of value such as fair market value or division of assets distribution dependent on the client specific situation. 

Request an appraisal report

Collateralized Lending

Elizabeth works with commercial & consumer lenders, private wealth departments, family offices, attorney’s, banks, private lenders, wealth/asset managers & brokers, individuals, and more when art, antiques, vintage, and household items require an appraisal for a collateralized lending situation.

The types of values researched and determined for a collateralized lending situation can be one of several different values such as fair market value, orderly liquidation value, market value, value in place, and more depending on the client specific scenario. 

Elizabeth is a former banker with over fourteen years of experience in the industry, including consumer and small business lending.

  • An appraisal report provides an unbiased, third-party statement of value on the item(s) to be held/pledged as collateral 
  • Provides a firm statement of value (not a range)
  • Provides a Value of your item(s) based on a specific definition of value such as fair market value dependent on the client specific situation.  (*Depending upon the definition of value utilized for this type of appraisal report, additional deaccessioning costs can be included in the final statement of value if they can be accurately determined at the time of the writing of the appraisal report.)
Request an appraisal report

Bankruptcy

Elizabeth works with attorney’s, creditor’s, banks, private lenders, individuals, and more when art, antiques, vintage, and household items require an appraisal for a bankruptcy situation.

  • An appraisal report provides an unbiased, third-party statement of value on the item(s) to be sold. 
  • An appraisal report assists in the identification, cataloging, and valuing of assets that are included in the bankruptcy filing. 
  • Provides a firm statement of value (not a range)
  • Provides a Value of your item(s) based on a specific definition of value such as forced or orderly liquidation sale value dependent on the client specific situation. 
Request an appraisal report

Appraisal Review

Elizabeth works with insurance companies, public adjusters, restoration companies, attorney’s, family offices, individuals, personal representatives, and more when a previous appraisal the client has commissioned from another appraiser requires a second opinion.

An appraisal review is the review of the originally commissioned appraisal report by Elizabeth as an appraiser reviewer.  As an example, a situation that could benefit from an appraisal opinion + a new opinion of value by the reviewing appraiser is one in which a homeowner has suffered a loss of their home through fire, smoke, and water damage, and the insured and their insurance company hire an appraiser to complete an appraisal of selected artwork.  The appraiser hired completes the appraisal report, submits it to the insurance company, and the insured homeowner does not agree with the values stated in the appraisal report (they felt they were too low).  By hiring a different appraiser to complete an appraisal review + new opinion of value, the insured homeowner can be more confident in the insurance settlement process that they are receiving the appropriate settlement/payout amount for their personal belongings.

Obtaining an appraisal review report assists in a variety of scenarios by ensuring that an item is not undervalued or overvalued**, proper appraisal methodology has been employed by the appraiser of the original report, USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, a set of ethical and performance standards for appraisers in the United States) standards have been followed, all ancillary costs (if applicable) have been accounted for in an item(s) final statement of value, and more.  

*Note:  An appraisal review can be a review of the original appraisal report for methodology and USPAP compliance only or can be an appraisal review + new opinion of value by the reviewing appraiser.

**Note:  A new opinion of value may or may not be a higher value than the original appraisal report that is under review by the reviewing appraiser.

Request an appraisal report

FAQs

Frequently asked questions regarding an appraisal report

I appraise artwork (specifically 19th and 20th century art) including paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, mixed media works and more; decorative arts and accessories, sterling silver flatware sets, furniture, studio ceramics, and general household contents.

I do NOT appraise firearms, stamps, or coins.

Professional time is billed at $150.00 per hour *

Additional fees encountered such as expert consultation fees, billed at cost **

Travel expenses billed at cost **

* Appraisal minimum of $500.00 with a retainer/deposit due at the time of appraisal contract signing.

**Additional costs and fees will be approved by the client prior to the appraiser engaging the services of another professional.  Payment for these services may be requested at the time of engagement, travel, etc. subject to the appraiser’s discretion. 

I accept the following forms of payment: credit card, debit card, check, and wire transfer.

Appraisal Process

Learn the steps of having an item(s) professionally appraised

Initial Consultation

We will start with a 30-minute complimentary phone call, email, or virtual video meeting to discuss if a USPAP-compliant appraisal report is the correct fit for your item(s) and objective. 

We will discuss details such as your reason for inquiring about an appraisal, what the best options for your scenario are, and cover any other questions you may have about the appraisal process.

Engagement & Retainer

If the client would like to move forward in the appraisal process, an estimate of hours required to complete the assignment will be provided for the client’s review and approval.  Once an estimate of hours has been approved by the client, a formal written letter of engagement/statement of work, terms & conditions, and the estimate of hours required to complete the assignment will be provided to the client for their signature.  Upon acceptance (signed documents) of the letter of engagement/statement of work, a retainer fee of 50% of the low estimated fee will be due at the time of signing the letter of agreement.  Work will not begin until the retainer fee has been paid.

Data Gathering + Client Responsibilities

The appraiser will be in touch with the client(s) to gather information that will inform the appraisal.  This could include information such as original purchase receipts of items, prior appraisal reports completed of the item(s), and any other relevant additional information.  If the appraisal will be completed remotely, it will be the client’s responsibility to provide the appraiser with sufficient information to complete the appraisal such as clear photographs of each item(s), measurements, condition, etc. of each item being appraised.  If the appraiser will be in-person to document and inspect each item(s), the appraiser and appraiser’s assistant will take photographs of the items, measurements, take condition notes, etc. 

Research & Report Writing

The appraiser will conduct market research of each item(s) in the appraisal report in the process of value determination.  Market research includes analyzing market data, as well as making adjustments as necessary for differences in value characteristics between the item(s) being appraised and appropriate comparable properties based on the function of the appraisal report and value being researched.  The appraiser will reconcile the data researched and arrive at a final opinion of value.  A formal appraisal report will be written to the standards of Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and the International Society of Appraisers Appraisal Report Writing Standard and Code of Ethics.  

Delivery & Review

Upon completion of the appraisal report, the client will be notified and final payment will be due prior to receiving the completed appraisal report.  Should the client(s) have questions, would like to review the report with the appraiser, a time can be scheduled for a review of the report. 

Timeline

A timeline for the appraisal report’s completion will be discussed with the client in the initial consultation. 

Billing & Professional Fees

Professional time is billed at $150.00 per hour *

Additional fees encountered such as expert consultation fees, billed at cost **

Travel expenses billed at cost **

* * Appraisal minimum of $500.00 with a retainer/deposit due at the time of appraisal contract signing.

**Additional costs and fees will be approved by the client prior to the appraiser engaging the services of another professional.  Payment for these services may be requested at the time of engagement, travel, etc. subject to the appraiser’s discretion.