Know Your Appraiser - Demystifying Appraiser Credentials: Part II

Not all appraisers are created equal. Do your homework. Make some phone calls to check on the credentials of your appraiser to see if they are accurate and current. Association websites list who are credentialed. Don’t rely on a resume, as they can be misleading and outdated. Look for an appraiser who actually has “hands on” experience such as a former art dealer, curator, gallery owner or director. Appraisers who know the inner workings of the wholesale and resale side of business, as well as gathering years of contacts, will prove to be fruitful.

Look for qualified appraisers who have the expertise in the particular area you need. Gems and Jewelry is a specialty as well as Stamps and Coins. Furniture and Decorative Art and Fine Art are all subsets under Personal Property. A generalist is just that. Someone who “says” they appraise everything. That is not a good fit for today’s appraisal needs as one person cannot cover centuries of art or objects much less have a specialty in every field.

An appraisal is a legal document and can and is used in many cases in law suits pertaining to loss claims, divorce, trusts and estates, the IRS, as well as family disputes.

In the case of valuing your possessions, homework is not so "yesterday" but an important criteria for uncovering the true net worth of your assets for all intended uses, by using the appropriate appraiser for your assignment.

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