The International Society of Appraisers (ISA) is one of the three primary professional organizations recognized by The Appraisal Foundation.

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Personal property appraisers are not licensed. Unfortunately, this means anyone can claim to be an appraiser. However, a professional appraisal for insurance coverage, courts, the IRS and others should be performed by a professional appraiser who is trained in appraisal theory, principles, methodology, ethics, research analysis and reporting, and who has knowledge of the type of items being appraised. They should also adhere to the Uniform Standards Of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). USPAP-compliant appraisal reports meet specific, comprehensive standards that insure independent, consistent and objective appraisals.

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ABH charges an hourly rate for each piece of art. Larger collections or archives may be quoted a flat fee. The final quote includes an on-site inspection, assessment, research time, and the final appraisal report.

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Your insurance company, attorney, accountant or financial advisor may recommend an appraisal based on insurance needs, estate matters, donations, financial considerations or other factors. Or you may want to know the value of an item prior to buying or selling.

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There are multiple reasons someone would need an appraisal. Most likely, the biggest reason for an art appraisal is insurance against damage or theft, settlement of an estate, or wanting to know an accurate market value before selling a work. Additional situations can include ​

• Estate tax liability or equitable distribution

• Estate planning and gifting

• Divorce

• Non-cash charitable donation

• Liquidation of a partial or complete collection

• Bankruptcy 

• Collateral for financing              

As an accredited member of the ISA I maintain current compliance with the Uniform Standards Of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). I have been trained in appraisal theory, principles, methodology, research analysis, report writing and adhere to strict standards of conduct, ethics, competency, methodology and reporting.

 

My accredited member status with USPAP enables me to stay current with market trends, research sources, appraisal-relevant legislation, industry information and educational resources.

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To achieve this status, one must:

• Fulfill all requirements set for a Member-level position.

• Accumulate 700 hours of experience relevant to appraising.

• Present evidence of having completed 30 semester hours at an accredited institution, such as a college, junior college, community college, or university.

• Within 45 days following the completion of the course or the approval of their application, submit an Insurance Appraisal that includes five items from their selected area of expertise.

The standard wait time is 2-4 business days for an average appraisal. This may change based on the needs of the client and the size of the collection. ABH may expedite an appraisal work if a situation is time-sensitive. 

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USPAP stands for the Uniform Standards Of Professional Appraisal Practice and sets specific standards for ethics, process, values, and content that guides appraisers for performing professional appraisals. The objective is to insure that appraisals are independent, consistent and objective. Created and updated by The Appraisal Foundation, the nation's foremost authority on the valuation profession, USPAP Professional appraisers maintain USPAP compliance with a trained review every two years.

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ABH concentrates primarily on the different facets of fine art.

• Decorative Arts

• Prints

• Folk Art

• Americana

• Mid-Century Modern

• Sculpture

• Photography

• Vintage Collectibles                           

Depending on the needs of the client, an appraisal could be updated as often as every six months or as long as five years. Numerous factors can determine the need for an appraisal. For example, since art prices fluctuate over time, it is important to update appraisals for accuracy and insurance purposes. A client may want to know the value before buying or selling. Additionally, insurance companies, attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors may recommend an appraisal based on policy needs, estate matters, donations, or financial considerations.

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