Why You Should Consider Getting an Appraisal for Your Valuables and Collections

Whether it’s sports memorabilia, watches, jewelry, fine art, one-of-a-kind musical instruments, or something else, your valuables each come with a story and have been carefully curated over time. Whether you’ve been gifted something truly special, inherited it from a relative, or gathered the items yourself, your collection can hold a variety of sentiments and emotions.  

Whenever you own a valuable collection, it’s a wise choice to consider getting the items appraised for a number of reasons.

Inherited Pieces

If you have inherited an item, you may want to have it appraised to help determine the “date of death” value. That value will be needed to determine your tax basis in the item in the event that you later decide to sell it.

Insuring Your Collection

Your standard homeowner’s policy will most likely not cover the full value of your special collections. At Cross Private Client Insurance, we can help you protect high value items with a valuables policy. A proper appraisal can help your insurance agent know how much your property is worth to see what levels of insurance should be considered.

Our team works with the top personal lines carriers who concentrate on the private client market. If you have questions or want to talk about your insurance coverage, reach out to our team and we would be happy to listen.

Deciding to Sell

If you wanted to sell part or all of your collection, would you know how much to charge? Typically, a buyer would want to know how the item’s value was determined. Having an appraisal in hand can help you establish a fair sales price.

Finding a Professional Appraiser

There are a number of associations that accredit appraisers. Some of these include:

• The American Society of Appraisers
• The Appraisers Association of America
• The International Society of Appraisers

When narrowing your search for an appraiser, look for one that has been accredited and specializes in the item(s) you collect. It is wise to get an appraisal from someone who has no active interest in purchasing your items. Your insurance carrier may also provide a list of appraisers.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Appraiser

Here are some steps that you can take before settling on an appraiser for your collection:

• Confirm the appraiser specializes in the items you collect
• Know what they will provide in your appraisal report
• Learn how the appraiser bills for services
• See if you can contact former clients or references
• Know if they belong to any appraisal societies that require ongoing education

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.