Last updated on July 12th, 2023 at 08:21 pm
When you are planning to have an estate sale, it can be difficult to tell whether items are worth selling, keeping, or giving away. Luckily, there is a professional who can help: your local Seattle appraiser.
What an Appraiser Does
Appraisers help you find the financial value of your belongings, from antique items or art to an entire estate. If you need to plan for an estate sale, divide up your assets, buy insurance, or determine the worth of charitable tax deductions, it’s critical to know the value of your assets.
Many people hire an appraiser to help with estate sale services after inheriting property from a family member who has passed away. It can be difficult to tell what everything is worth and whether it would appreciate in value.
Art is often particularly difficult to appraise since each piece is unique. The value may depend on the artist, signature, period, condition, and a host of other factors. An expert art appraiser can help you determine whether your art is worth selling.
With an estate appraiser’s help, you can decide what’s worth keeping or selling.
Qualifications of an Expert Appraiser
When choosing an appraiser, it is important to choose someone with years of experience in the type of items you have. Many professional appraisers belong to an expert appraisal society, like the International Society of Appraisers. These professional societies offer courses and other information to keep appraisers in the know.
Besides membership in an appraisal society and a Washington State business license, look for an appraiser with insurance. A small error on the appraiser’s part can have huge consequences — for them and for you. A responsible appraiser will have insurance covering both physical and financial risks.
The Estate Appraisal Process
The actual appraisal process varies widely depending on the item, but will generally involve determining the item’s condition, its history, and related sales information. From there, an expert appraiser will provide a report with photographs that will be accepted by your insurance company, estate attorney, the IRS, or potential buyers.
A Few Tips on Antique Value and Estate Sales Services
Keep in mind that your belongings likely have multiple values that depend on the valuation context. Items appraised for insurance purposes are assigned a value based on the cost of replacing the item, while items appraised for sale or donation purposes are assigned their fair market value.
On the other hand, you may find out that something you thought was valuable isn’t after all. You might find out that your coin collection has a few fakes in the mix, or that your vintage clothing isn’t in good enough condition to sell.
Experienced Seattle Appraiser
Fruitcocktail offers nearly 20 years of experience helping clients from around the Pacific Northwest with estate sales, consignments, and expert appraisals. We’re comprised of trusted Seattle appraisers who understand that clients’ needs can vary, and we do our best to accommodate every unique situation.
As an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers, we guarantee we’ll meet every requirement to accurately determine the value of your belongings. Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation.