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Appraisal Associations

The professional appraisal associations listed below can help you locate an appraiser from their membership base who best fits your needs either from a specific expertise or knowledge base, or geographically, i.e. an appraiser near where you live.

American Society of Appraisers

The American Society of Appraisers is an organization of appraisal professionals and others interested in the appraisal profession. The only major appraisal organization representing all of the disciplines of appraisal specialists, the society originated in 1936 and incorporated in 1952. The society is dedicated to the benefit of the appraisal profession.

When you hire an ASA-accredited appraiser, you are assured the best valuation expertise on the market. Each accredited member of the ASA has earned a professional designation in one or more specialized areas of appraisal. To receive the accreditation, the appraiser must pass intensive written examinations, submit representative appraisal reports for peer review and be screened for his or her ethical behavior.

To find an ASA appraisal expert visit their database at: http://www.appraisers.org/findappraiser/

Appraisal Institute of Canada

The Appraisal Institute of Canada grants professional designations in real estate appraisal. The AIC is a self-regulating body and, maintains the highest standards, practices and professional conduct in real estate appraisal to protect the public interest. Although the AIC is primarily involved with real estate appraisers rather than personal property appraisers, they are a good appraisal resource.

Appraisers Association of America

This is the oldest nonprofit association of personal property appraisers with approximately 1,000 members in more than 600 subspecialities in all areas of fine art, antiques, and insurance appraisals.

It is important for the appraiser, on behalf of the client, to be aware of what legal and ethical issues may affect the legitimacy of the client's insurance claim, estate settlement or tax return. The Appraisers Association of America offers its members continuing educational opportunities, informing them of important valuation developments and providing an extensive network of experienced colleagues who can offer advice on common legal questions as well as insight into groundbreaking developments in significant court cases. The Association's officers, members of the Board of Directors and executive director work closely with government-related agencies such as the IRS and the Appraisal Foundation.

Access the online searchable database of members of the Appraisers Association of America. http://www.appraisersassoc.org/directory/search.cfm

Appraisers National Association

ANA is a nonprofit professional association dedicated to personal property appraising. The association conducts educational seminars for appraisers, dealers, and collectors. Free referrals to an Accredited Appraiser for art, antiques, collectibles and residential contents.

Through continued education of its membership, the development of professional fellowship, the oversight and development of appraisal standards, and the ongoing exchange of information among its professional and associate members, the ANA continues to foster the professional development of its membership and expand the standards and requirements of its practicing members.

Association of Online Appraisers, Inc

AOA is a not-for-profit international association for personal property appraisers who are involved in offering online written appraisal reports (either as individuals or via an appraisal management company) through the use of digital images and Internet online reporting. With the advent of the Internet comes new technology and new methods of conducting personal property appraisals. The traditional societies focus primarily on the traditional, offline appraisals - thus the need for a new association, the AOA, that provides standards and guidance in preparing personal property appraisals online.

Only a relatively small number of appraisers belong to the traditional professional appraisal societies. Many appraisers have no societal affiliation at all. With the anticipated growth in popularity of online apprisal services, a significant number of aligned as well as non-aligned appraisers will be participating in providing online appraisal services. The AOA provides all appraisers, whether or not they belong to a traditional appraisal society, with a method and opportunity to become proficient in online appraisals.

The AOA is taking the leading role in providing the basic knowledge, standards of practice and a Code of Ethics to ensure that the public is served in the most professional manner possible by the online appraiser.

Canadian Association of Personal Property Appraisers

Membership consists of appraisers covering most areas of personal property appraising.

International Society of Appraisers

ISA is the largest professional association of appraisers whose members specialize solely in personal property, with over 1,400 members specializing in all areas of antiques & residential contents, gems & jewelry, fine art, machinery and equipment.

Referrals to professional appraisers may be found directly through the ISA website: appraisers.org/database/ISA_form.html

The Appraisal Foundation

The Appraisal Foundation is a non-profit education organization dedicated to the advancement of the appraisal profession. The Foundation is charged with the development and promulgation of professional appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications. The Foundation accomplishes this mission by serving as the parent organization for the Appraisal Standards Board and the Appraiser Qualifications Board. In addition, the Foundation has affiliations with over 80 organizations, companies and government agencies through Sponsoring Organizations and various Advisory Councils.

The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers

The United States Internal Revenue Service's website contains a wealth of information relating to income tax questions & situations and provides the latest news on changes in tax laws.

International Valuation Standards Committee

The IVSC is an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) member of the United Nations and works cooperatively with member States, organizations such as the World Bank, OECE, International Federation of Accountants, International Accounting Standards Board, and others including valuation societies throughout the world to harmonize and promote agreement and uinderstanding of valuation standards.

Object ID

Object ID(TM) is an international standard for describing cultural objects. It has been developed through the collaboration of the museum community, police and customs agencies, the art trade, insurance industry, and valuers of art and antiques. The Object ID(TM) project was initiated by the J. Paul Getty Trust in 1993 and the standard was launched in 1997. It is being promoted by major law inforcement agencies, including the FBI, Scotland Yard and Interpol; museum, cultural heritage, art trade and art appraisal organizations; and insurance companies.

Values & Appraisals Resources

The following resources offer both price values and appraisal information on antiques and collectibles. Some of the appraisal services utilize certified appraisers while others make use of highly knowledgable collectors or dealers in specific collecting areas. The sites offering price values have gathered their information in a variety of ways including auctions, dealer sales and specialists or collecting authorities.

Please visit the websites and read the information over carefully. Some "systems" are more complicated than others. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Most of these services are very happy to assist in any way they can to make a visitor or potential customer feel at ease.

WhatsItWorthToYou

An online appraisal service, the value of your item is determined by a professional online appraiser and is based on the information that is submitted. Your appraisal will indicate Current Fair Market Value and Replacement Value. The appraisal cost at WhatsItWorthToYou is $9.95. WhatsItWorthToYou is an NAC Partner and offers NAC members a special discount rate of $8.95 when appraisal is submitted through the NAC website link.

ArtPrice.com

This is an extensive database search of artwork by artist name, offering values of their works.

Maine Antique Digest

The website of the monthly publication, Maine Antique Digest, includes a database of 7,500 prices with pictures distilled from articles in the publication. You must register before using the database, however it is free to all site visitors that are current MAD subscribers.

Instappraisal.com

Determining the value of an antique or collectible is one of the most difficult aspects of collecting. Choosing the correct online appraiser isn't an easy task; Instappraisal.com was the first company to offer appraisals on the Internet and their base of satisfied customers continues to grow. Price for an appraisal is $17.95

Hummel Collector's Club

The "Hummel" Collector's Club, Dorothy Dous, President, offers certified appraisals of M.I. Hummel collectibles. The certified appraisers form and information is available on the website.

i-Find+

Search the world's auction catalogues from this website. The database includes current auction catalog items from the top 1,000 auction houses in the world including a fully integrated auction calendar and directory. This is a subscription service, however i-Find+ offers a one-month trial use free of charge.

Kovels

Kovels Online has a database of more than 450,000 actual prices of antiques and collectibles. You have to sign-up including a password, but it a good resource to use over and over.

Ask the Appraiser

This Internet appraisal service is operated by CollectingChannel.com, a subsidiary of Sales Online Direct. The services has a network of experts covering more than 170 different categories, including movie memorabilia, vintage toys, art glass, Steiff bears, Asian art and baseball cards, among others. "Ask the Appraiser provides novice and experienced collectors with a valuation and history of items they own or are considering buying or selling," said company spokeswoman Julie Shepherd. She said online auction sellers can integrate an ATA appraisal into their own online auction listings. The ATA is available on eBay.com or through the co-branded site at www.collectingchannel.com/cMart/cesATEIndex.asp. The company charges $19.95 for each appraisal. For more information call Dave Maloney, vice president of publications and appraisal services at 301.228.2279.

eBay

Searching the completed auctions on eBay can usually turn up dozens of items in any given category. eBay retains the prices realized on items sold for one month on the site. This is not only a good way to check out values but to see firsthand the wide range in prices realized on the very same item, a phenomenon which happens on a regular basis.

Overture

One of the easiest databases to use, Overture provides values on a large selection of antiques and collectibles.