Why
can’t you just tell me what my antiques are worth?
It is unethical, misleading and
potentially risky for an appraiser to offer you unconsidered appraisals. In order to determine the worth of any object, the appraiser
must first understand the purpose and intended use of the appraisal. Will
you be insuring your property? Donating it to a charity? Selling it?
The market conditions and final appraised value may differ in each
case. You’re paying the
appraiser to research the appropriate market and to give you an informed,
professional opinion of value.
What
does an appraisal cost?
Appraisers charge by the hour, by the
day, or by the assignment. It
is also customary for appraisers to charge for expenses incurred during
the completion of the assignment. Routine
expenses include, but are not limited to, research, travel, photographic
copies, and report preparation. It
is unethical for an appraiser to charge a fee that is based on a
percentage of a value, or to charge a fee that is contingent upon the
successful sale of a property. The
IRS will not accept percentage or contingent fee appraisals.
What
do I get for my money?
You should receive two copies of a
written appraisal report that includes the following:
-
A statement of the purpose and intended use of the appraisal.
-
A detailed description of the subject property including the age,
history, construction, materials, dimensions, and condition.
-
An explanation of the methodology employed by the appraiser.
-
A list of comparable objects used in the appraisal.
-
A statement, signed by the appraiser, that he has no current or
future interest in the appraised object and that the appraisal report
conforms to the standards and procedures of the Uniform Standards of
Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
-
A clearly defined appraised value.
-
The effective date of the appraisal.
-
The appraiser’s professional qualifications.