FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

What is an appraisal?
What kinds of property get appraised?
Do I need an appraisal?
How is value estimated?
How much does an appraisal cost?
Are appraisers licensed?
Who does the appraiser work for?
What is USPAP?
Where can I get information about becoming an appraiser?

What is an appraisal?
An appraisal is an estimate of the value of a property, such as a home, factory, gem or art work, as of a specific date. Prepared by a qualified appraiser, it represents an independent and impartial analysis of all the relevant data. Because value is not apparent just by inspection, an appraisal is usually required when a property is sold, taxed, insured, financed, or inherited. More info  Top

What kinds of property get appraised?
Almost anything that can be owned by a person or company can be appraised. Property can be categorized according to the main appraisal disciplines: gems & jewelry, machinery & technical, personal property, real property, and business valuation (intellectual and intangible property).

Gems & jewelry is self-descriptive. Machinery & technical includes such specialties as agricultural, computers & high tech, cost surveys, machinery & equipment, mines & quarries, public utilities, and railroads. Personal property includes American folk art, antique furniture, audiovisual media recordings, books, ethnographic art, fine arts photography and oriental rugs, to name some. Real property includes residential, rural and urban real estate as well as others. Business valuation includes not just businesses but all intellectual and intangible property from poems to bonds, such as patents, trademarks, software, stocks, franchises, etc.

Appraisers are trained and accredited in one or more specialities (say antique firearms, armor & militia, and antique guns) within a discipline (personal property) and restrict their practices accordingly. Top

Do I need an appraisal?
You do if you're buying or selling, making a tax-deductible property donation, insuring or making a claim, financing, grieving property taxes, probating a will, settling a lawsuit or divorce, involved in bankruptcy, dissolution, or other litigation. In other words, if you need an estimate you can rely on. You don't if all you want is a rough ballpark estimate to satisfy your curiosity. You can get that from a neighbor, the newspapers, a book, a real estate broker, your banker or by searching the web.  Top

How is value estimated?
There are three primary approaches. Roughly speaking, the Cost Approach is what it would cost to replace or reproduce the property (home, farm, machinery, jewelry). The Sales Comparison Approach compares the property to similar ones that have sold recently. The Income Approach looks at what a prudent investor would pay for the property based on the net income it produces. Sophisticated variants of these approaches may also be used, as in appraising intellectual property. The appraisal should document the approach(es) used and the selection criteria.  Top

How much does an appraisal cost?
There is no fixed price. An appraisal can cost less than a hundred dollars for a simple piece of jewelry to many thousands of dollars for a business valuation. The cost, quoted in advance, will either be a fixed fee, e.g., $75 for a strand of pearls, or an hourly rate, e.g., $150/hour for a vacant factory building. An ethical appraiser never works "on commission" and never charges according to the value of the property.  Top

Are appraisers licensed?
Since the Savings & Loan debacle of the 1980s, many states, including California and Nevada, have licensed real estate appraisers. However, other appraisers are generally not licensed. This makes it very important for consumers to seek out appraisers certified by a recognized professional organization such as The American Society of Appraisers (ASA), which sets rigorous standards of experience, education, methodology and ethical conduct.  Top

Who does the appraiser work for?
If you mean "Who can influence the outcome?" the answer is no one. Professional ethics (USPAP) demand the same outcome -- an unbiased, independent and accurate appraisal -- no matter who orders or pays for it. If you mean, "Who does the appraiser report to?" the answer is the party who ordered the report, regardless of who pays for it. Moreover, the appraiser will not discuss the appraisal with anyone other than the person who ordered it, unless otherwise instructed.  Top

What is USPAP?
USPAP is the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, the code of ethics written by the Appraisal Foundation, which Congress authorized as the source of appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications. By relying on USPAP, an appraiser can produce appraisals -- analyses, opinions, and advice -- that are meaningful to you and not misleading in the marketplace. The current USPAP is available online. ASA accreditation requires knowledge of and adherence to USAP.  Top

Where can I get information about becoming an appraiser?
We have three resources for anyone considering a career in the valuation professions. Our page for prospective ASA members should be your first stop. Then browse some of the sites listed on our weblinks page. And finally, curl up with a good book on your chosen field. Good luck!  Top