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The Appraisal Alliance is a leading Nationwide provider of personal property appraisals.Our carefully selected certified/accredited appraisers deliver,complete, concise, and carefully researched reports that provide our clients an independant and accurate representation of the value of their personal property. We provide 50 state uspap compliant appraisal services,and only appraisal services.In order to maintain complete independance,we do not Buy,Sell, or have any direct affiliation with Estate services or brokers. Occasionaly,we are able to make some recomendations to extremely reputable firms that specialize in these types of services but we do not recieve any type of renumeration for referrals of any kind.

If you are looking for an appraisal of any kind, it is always in your best interest to seek out an independant licensed,certified,or accredited appraiser utilizing the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice(USPAP) to ensure that you recieve a report that is truly accurate to market conditions, and has not been provided by an individual or company that may have a vested interest in any potential outcome of the appraised value.(Dealers new/used, estate services,consignment houses,and independant brokers.Or any party directly affiliated to these types of services.)

While there are plenty of dealers,brokers,sales outlets etc. that offer appraisal services etc. Please keep in mind that these should be considered as an "opinion of value," and are likely not going to be acceptable for most insurance,IRS,or legal situations. Please always check to make sure.

We are a 50 state family of "independant,"Personal property appraisers that have extensive experience with over 200 areas of specialty knowledge.areas of personal property valuations. Our appraisers are supported by the most knowledgable and friendly customer service managersin the industry who can assist you in determining which of our extensive line of valuation services might best serve your needs.

Perhaps you may have stumbled across an item in a boutique or a garage sale,and you just want to get a feel for whether or not this is an item that is of collectible value, or you need a comprehensive current market valuation for insurance purposes or charitable donations.You can rest assure that the Appraisal Alliance accredited appraiser family can provide you with the highest level of service,and a fee structure that makes it a non issue to ensure your security/protection We offer the most extensive of variety of appraisal services for every type of property accross the country.

Do not hire a personal property appraiser who charges a percentage of the appraised value or charges a "contingency" fee. These practices are clearly conflicts of interest and may result in biased values. The IRS will not accept an appraisal done with such fee arrangements.

For a list of our extensive variety of personal property valuation services
Please click here.

What is a personal property appraisal?
A personal property appraisal refers to the appraisal of identifiable,typically portable and tangible objects considered by the general public as being "personal," for example, artwork, furnishings, antiques, collectibles, and residential contents.Keep in mind that "personal property," can also be items that are located within a business,and are used as a regular function of business.In other words, personal property is all tangible property that is not classified as real estate

What is the function of a personal property appraisal?
There are different functions for personal property appraisals. The function of an appraisal directly identifies how an appraisal is to be used. It is the way you, the client, will use the report.

You may want to obtain insurance coverage, determine a casualty loss deduction, determine loan collateral, determine proceeds from a liquidation, establish an amount for a non-cash charitable contribution, determine a fair asking or buying price, or determine federal or state estate tax liabilities.

But did you know that the same item may have many different appraised values depending on how you intend to use the appraisal? For instance, a value for insurance may be very different than a value for estate tax, consumer resale, or charitable contribution.

For a list of our extensive variety of personal property valuation services
Please click here.

Can more than one value apply to the same item?
Absolutely, the same item may have different appraised value approaches depending on the intended use of the appraisal. For instance, a determined value for insurance coverage may be quite different than the determined value for estate tax, charitable donation or consumer resale.

A Qualified educated appraiser should understand the many different types of values, assigned uses, and market levels and consult with you to determine the proper type of value so that you can use the appraisal correctly and effectively.

Keep in mind that often times it may be prudent and cost effective to present multiple approaches within the same report so that the appraisal can be used for multiple functions simultaniously or for future use.

As always, a friendly,experienced Appraisal Alliance account manager can work with you and the appraiser to ensure that you recieve the appraisal that best suits your immediate requirements, as well as any future requirements a that might arise.

What Do the Different Values Mean?
After the "function,"or "purpose," of the personal property appraisal has been decided, your appraiser will provide the appropriate values. For instance, insurance appraisals are written to provide replacement cost should a disaster occur and estate settlement appraisals are written to provide fair market value to satisfy the courts and IRS.

Qualified, appraisers understand the many different types of values, assigned uses, and market levels. A trained appraiser can work with you to choose the proper type of value so that you can use the appraisal correctly and effectively.

What if the Item(s) I recently purchased came with an appraisal from the dealer?
Many items of value (Jewelry,Fine Art etc.)Will often come with a dealer provided appraisal. It is important to keep in mind that dealer you purchase an item from has an interest in that item.Or,at the very least it is an extremely effective tool for making the sale,and that opens a potential window for conflict of interest in valuing that item.

Expertise on a particular type of property is not enough: if the "expert," does not know how to evaluate an item for its appropriate worth.

Without thorough appraisal training, (i.e. more than a weekend course), these "experts" have no way of understandingthe complicated variety of marketplace definitions that are used to determine appropriate values for appropriate uses.

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. Without appraisal training on appraisal principles and procedures, he/she may not understand the complicated variety of marketplace definitions that are used to determine appropriate values for appropriate uses.

So whether you are buying,have recently bought,or are interested in liquidating some personal property, It may be wise to have an independant valuation done by an accredited personal property appraiser to ensure that an accurate,independant, and defensable valuation is determined. Independant certified appraisals can be surprisingly affordable,and as you likely already have a significant financial and/or emotional attachment to the items it would certianly make sense to explore whether or not a certified appraisal makes sense for you.

For a list of our extensive variety of personal property valuation services
Please click here.

Do Personal Property Appraisers have specialities,or are they all the same?

A good personal property appraiser should claim expertise in everything. The International Society of Appraisers (ISA) recognizes over 200 areas of specialty knowledge.

An experienced independant appraiser knows their limits and is expected declare their expertise clearly.They should refer a client to an appropriately experienced appraiser or consult with and reference other experts when necessary.

For the most accurate, professional, and credible appraisal, the wisest choice is to hire an appraiser who has formal education in appraisal theory, principles, procedures, ethics, and law, who conforms to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), has ample experience, and is an accredited member of a professional appraisal association, an organization dedicated to upholding the highest standards of accuracy, competency, and integrity in the appraisal profession.

For a list of our extensive variety of personal property valuation services
Please click here.

I am not sure if I really need a Personal Property Appraisal?

Just give us a call! We Offer a wide variety of personal property valuation services. Our experienced staff can answer all of your questions regarding whether or not a Personal Property Appraisal makes sense for you. We will take as much time as you need to discuss the "Ins and Outs,"of the appraisal process with you and give you straight answers as to which of our personal property services will best meet your immediate needs.If there is a better solution to accomplish your goals we will be candid and will be thrilled to point you in the appropriate direction.All initial consultations are complimentory.Give us a call at:1-800-604-2032