Need to insure your silver treasures?

 No.  Appraising is a professional discipline with distinct qualification criteria.  Many "Art Appraisers" have not completed any professional education or testing in appraisal development or methodology, and many sell art with a bias to a particular market.  Your appraiser should be willing to verify their professional standing by their listing on the website of one of the three recognized national professional appraisal organizations that trains, tests, and requires continuing education.  

 Our appraisers have been trained, by the Appraisal Association of America (AAA). Membership in an appraisal association is important because it shows that the appraiser is involved with the profession, has peer recognition, has access to updated information, and is subject to a code of ethics and conduct.  

 Good questions! No appraiser can have a depth of knowledge to know about everything. At Tailored being a part of a nationally recognized appraisal organization allows us to tap into the knowledge of experts in other appraisal categories.  Sometime, we will partner with another appraiser ( always with your knowledge) to ensure you receive the most up to date, reliable appraisal report possible 

Qualified Appraisers:

• Have formal education in appraisal theory, principles, procedures, ethics, and law.

• Are up to date on the latest appraisal standards.

• Participate in continuing education and have been trained and tested to ensure their competence. 

• Have knowledge of the type of property that you would like appraised and know how to value it properly. 

It is common that we are familiar with an artist's work and therefore able to estimate fairly accurately.  However, insurance industry standards and IRS requirements dictate that appraisers conduct recent market research on every item appraised and retain this information in the work file. This is not only good appraisal practice but allows for dynamic changes in the marketplace and ensures that the comparable sales records that were used to determine value are available should your appraisal be challenged for any reason by an insurance company, the IRS, or any other third party. 

 We recommend every 5 years, markets can change significantly in that time. Your insurance company may require updates more often. You may want to consider and update if you have a significant life change such as retirement, downsizing, death of a spouse. And of course remember to get an appraisal for any significant piece of art or object that you add to your collection. 

 Except in very rare instances, art appraisers are not qualified to authenticate.  Generally, there are a handful of recognized experts, often scholars or panels of scholars, who are recognized as "expert" in the work of a particular artist.  These professionals have often dedicated their entire careers to the work of a particular artist, and are truly qualified to offer an opinion of authenticity.  Within the context of a formal appraisal assignment, if there is a question of authenticity, we are happy to consult on your behalf with the right professionals. 

At Tailored Appraisal and Advisory, we believe that we can best serve our clients by providing written formal appraisal reports researched and developed according to strict professional standards. That said, if you are looking to sell your art we can often provide limited valuations and point you in the right direction to affect a sale of your item(s). 

 Our hourly fee for formal appraisal work is $250-300.  We pride ourselves on serving our clients efficiently.  Meticulous time logs are kept of time spent and an itemized accounting will accompany your final invoice.  We will estimate all projects prior and discuss the project in detail with the client.  This estimate includes a personal inspection of your artwork, photography of the item or items, travel time, market research, and generation of the certified Appraisal Report.  We look forward to discussing your specific appraisal needs and goals.  We do not provide informal or verbal opinions of value.