Do Appraisers charge for services?
Are personal property appraisers licensed?
What is an appraisal?
I am interested in purchasing an antique and a painting; can I have them appraised before I purchase them?
How can I find values to insure my antiques, art and collectibles?
I inherited a sizeable collection of art and antiques, and a local dealer has offered to purchase them. How do I know if their offer is a fair price?
When should I have my antiques, art and collectibles appraised?
Can I get a verbal appraisal?
I just purchased some items from a gallery, and the dealer has offered to appraise them. Why then would I need an independent appraiser?
I have items I wish to sell. Can the appraiser purchase the items after he/she has appraised them?
What if I misplace my copy of my appraisal?
My business has a collection of Asian ceramics and original artwork. We have not had them appraised in ten years. Is our appraisal still valid?
Can you assist me in the donation of part of my collection to a charity?
Do you specialize?
What types of items should I have appraised for insurance purposes?

Do Appraisers charge for services?
Professional appraisers charge for their services, like in any other profession. Fees can be by the hour, by object or by flat rate for a grouping of items. Fees should NEVER be charged as a percentage of the valuation, as this would be an unethical practice.
[back to top]

Are personal property appraisers licensed?
Professional appraisers are certified and/or accredited only by the following professional organizations: The International Society of Appraisers, The American Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers' Association of America. Beware of individuals who represent themselves as appraisers, but are not credentialed by one of these three organizations. Since personal property appraisers are not licensed by most states or the federal government, your selection of an appraiser should be made very carefully.
(See the Appraiser Selection of our website.)
[back to top]

What is an appraisal?
An appraisal is a written legal document that provides the valuation of an item or items, and includes the definition of the type of market valuation provided. It is an unbiased estimate of value developed by an appraiser who is trained in appraisal theory and research analysis, who is knowledgeable of the property and who acts in accordance with accepted professional standards of appraisal practice.
[back to top]

I am interested in purchasing an antique and a painting; can I have them appraised before I purchase them?
At Authentic Appraisal and Estate Services, we can provide assistance through our buying and selling consulting services with a pre-purchase evaluation. For major art and antiques purchases, a pre-purchase evaluation can protect you from overpaying for an item, and can reduce your risk of intentional or unintentional fraud.
[back to top]

How can I find values to insure my antiques, art and collectibles?
We at Authentic Appraisal & Estate Services, L.L.C. can appraise your collection and furnish you and your insurance agent with an appraisal that contains appropriate documentation of the replacement cost and evidence that the item exists. In addition, we are willing to defend our appraisals in a court of law.
[back to top]

I inherited a sizeable collection of art and antiques, and a local dealer has offered to purchase them. How do I know if their offer is a fair price?
You should consult with a personal property appraiser before you sell your items. Beware of individuals who go door to door offering to buy personal possessions, especially from estates. They're often opportunists who assume you do not know the value of some of your possessions, and they may offer you prices well below market value.
[back to top]

When should I have my antiques, art and collectibles appraised?
There are a variety of reasons for having items appraised, including insurance purposes, estate settlement or planning purposes, charitable contribution purposes, desire to sell an item, or just wanting to know the value of items. Insurance appraisals establish value as well as provide proof of ownership. Before donating any item, we suggest you consult with a personal property appraiser in order to insure you meet IRS charitable contribution requirements.
[back to top]

Can I get a verbal appraisal?
At Authentic Appraisal and Estate Services, LLC, we do offer verbal approximations of value. Depending on your intended use of the value, a verbal approximation of value may be appropriate.
[back to top]

I just purchased some items from a gallery, and the dealer has offered to appraise them. Why then would I need an independent appraiser?
The dealer you purchased an item from has an interest in that item, and that opens a window for conflict of interest in valuing that item. An independent appraiser has no interest in that item, and therefore can provide an unbiased opinion of value. Additionally, the dealer may not know how to evaluate the item for its appropriate worth. Dealers are not trained in the variety of marketplace definitions that are used to determine the appropriate value you are seeking.
[back to top]

I have items I wish to sell. Can the appraiser purchase the items after he/she has appraised them?
An appraiser should be an unbiased professional who has no interest in the property. It would be unethical for the appraiser to buy items which they have appraised. However, Authentic Appraisal & Estate Services, LLC offers consulting services which can provide suggestions designed to help you sell your items in an appropriate market.
[back to top]

What if I misplace my copy of my appraisal?
As required by law, Authentic Appraisal & Estate Services, LLC, retains copies of your appraisal for five years or two years after the conclusion of legal litigation which involves your appraisal.
[back to top]

My business has a collection of Asian ceramics and original artwork. We have not had them appraised in ten years. Is our appraisal still valid?
Qualified appraisers base their replacement cost calculations on current market trends. As the market changes every year, it is suggested that a professional appraisal be updated periodically to reflect current values. Given recent trends in the market, we believe that a ten year old appraisal is inadequate to protect your interests. In addition, many businesses and foundations often overlook the value of their collections, especially when they have items displayed in many locations or items placed in long term storage. An appraisal will include item descriptions, their location, their condition as well as their replacement cost.
[back to top]

Can you assist me in the donation of part of my collection to a charity?
We can provide you the fair market value and the documentation required by the IRS to support your charitable contribution. In 2006, new appraiser qualification criteria were adopted by the IRS and we meet that criterion for the appraisal of antiques, residential contents, art, and collectibles.
[back to top]

Do you specialize?
As a professional appraisal firm, our appraisers have been trained and tested in appraisal theory, residential contents and fine art. As a result of that training, we are generalist appraisers qualified to value the types of items normally found within homes and private collections. In addition, Vicky Nash Shaw has had specialty training in several disciplines, including American period furniture, French furniture, Asian ceramics and furniture, American silver and Japanese Woodblock prints. Wayne Shaw is qualified to appraise automobiles, trucks, classic cars, and farm equipment.
[back to top]

What types of items should I have appraised for insurance purposes?
Your most valuable possessions are candidates for insurance appraisals. In the event of a loss, it is your responsibility to prove the value of the items in your home and an appraisal document is typically accepted by adjusters and insurance companies. Sterling silver, period furniture, one of a kind item, custom made items, items with historical significance and large collections of any type are all candidates for insurance appraisals.
[back to top]