Appraisal Services Directory
Personal Property Appraisal Types and Services
Meet Prestige Estate Services
An introduction to Prestige Estate Services and our nationwide personal property appraisal services.
Our Appraisers. Our Standards. Our Name on Every Report.
Our in-house appraisers are W-2 employees and dedicated members of the Prestige Estate Services team. Every appraisal carries our name and our reputation.
Personal property appraisal types are organized by the reason a value is needed. Prestige Estate Services provides appraisals for estate matters, tax reporting, property division, insurance, collections and business assets. Use this directory to find the service that fits your purpose.
We appraise art, antiques, furnishings and other tangible personal property. We do not provide real estate appraisals.
One Firm Behind Your Appraisal
All Prestige Estate Services appraisers are in-house W-2 employees. We do not use contract appraisers as members of our appraisal staff. Each appraiser works directly for Prestige Estate Services and is IRS-qualified and USPAP-compliant.
Our firm manages your project and performs quality assurance and quality control in-house. A specialist may assist with a defined part when needed. Formal appraisal work follows the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
Appraisals for Estate and Tax Matters
Estate administration, a historical valuation date and a tax filing can involve the same belongings. Select the service that answers the specific question your executor, attorney or tax advisor needs addressed.
Probate Appraisals
For executors and estate representatives who need supported values for belongings during probate. The appraisal helps document estate contents for the inventory, counsel or court requirements, using the date and scope confirmed for the estate.
Estate Tax Appraisals
For personal property values needed in estate tax reporting, including IRS Form 706. The appraisal addresses estate contents and the relevant valuation date. Your legal or tax advisor confirms the filing and report needs.
Date-of-Death Appraisals
For a retrospective opinion of what personal property was worth on a person’s date of death. This identifies the valuation date; the report’s purpose may involve estate administration, tax matters or another stated need.
Estate Inventory Appraisals
For families and fiduciaries who need an organized record of belongings and their values. Begin here when identifying and documenting contents is the main need. Tell us if a separate formal report is required for court or tax purposes.
Charitable Donation
For donors contributing art, antiques, furnishings or other noncash property. The appraisal develops fair market value for the donation’s stated tax use and supports the relevant Form 8283 documentation when required. Ask your tax advisor which rules apply to your gift.
Tax documentation: IRS Form 706 and IRS Form 8283. Appraisal services provide valuation support; they do not replace legal or tax advice.
Appraisals for Legal and Family Decisions
These services support different decisions about value. Divorce concerns marital belongings, family distribution concerns shared or inherited property, and appraisal review examines work already completed.
Divorce Appraisal Services
For spouses and counsel who need independent values for tangible marital assets during settlement, mediation or divorce proceedings. The appraiser values the included belongings. Attorneys and the court decide ownership and how the belongings will be divided.
Equitable Distribution
For heirs, beneficiaries, trustees, families and co-owners dividing inherited or jointly owned belongings outside a marital dispute. A consistent valuation basis can help participants compare proposed allocations before making their decisions.
Litigation Appraisal Review
For attorneys or clients who need another personal property appraisal examined. The review considers its methods, evidence, analysis and reporting. Confirm whether the project calls for a review alone or also an independent opinion of value.
Insurance Coverage and Loss Claim Appraisals
Choose the insurance service when documenting belongings before a loss. Choose damage and loss support when an event has already occurred and the property’s value must be addressed.
Insurance Appraisals
For documenting art, antiques, jewelry, furnishings and collections for insurance coverage. The report identifies the included items and provides values appropriate to the policy’s purpose. Share any insurer instructions before the work is scheduled.
Damage and Loss Appraisals
For personal property affected by damage, theft, destruction or another loss. Available photos, item lists, purchase records and condition notes help support the analysis. The appraisal addresses value and documentation; it does not decide policy coverage.
Government and Business Asset Appraisals
Some projects concern agency-controlled property or the physical assets used in a business. Identify the assets, their condition and the decision the valuation will support.
Government Appraisals
For agencies and authorized staff managing seized, forfeited, surplus or other public assets. The scope may cover item identification, inventory checks, market research and a report for the agency’s stated purpose.
Business FF&E Appraisals
Furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) appraisals address tangible business assets such as office furnishings, tools, machinery and equipment. These assignments value the included personal property. The scope excludes real estate and the value of the business itself.
Art, Antiques and Collection Appraisals
Art and antique appraisals describe what is being valued. The reason for the appraisal still determines the appropriate research, value definition and report. These specialties can form part of a larger estate or collection project.
Art Appraisals
For paintings, sculpture, works on paper and other fine art. Share artist information, dimensions, condition details and any ownership records. Share how the report will be used before the project starts.
Antique Appraisals
For antique furnishings, decorative arts, silver, ceramics and other period objects. Identification, maker’s marks, age, condition and relevant markets inform the research. An object’s age alone does not establish its value.
Informal Estimates and Formal Appraisal Reports
An informal estimate, a formal appraisal and a restricted report serve different needs. The amount of information in a report and the way an item is inspected are separate decisions.
Online Photo Appraisals
For personal curiosity about an item and an informal estimate of its value. One of our staff appraisers evaluates the supplied photographs and information. This is not a formal appraisal report for legal, court, IRS, fiduciary, insurance-claim or other formal purposes.
Restricted Appraisal Reports
For a formal appraisal with a concise reporting format and specifically identified intended users. A restricted report is not an informal estimate. The appraiser must confirm whether this reporting option suits the purpose and the people relying on it.
How Does a Formal Remote Appraisal Differ?
Remote describes how evidence is gathered without an on-site inspection. A formal remote appraisal still requires sufficient documentation, research, analysis and a report suited to its purpose. Photos alone do not make an informal estimate suitable for a formal need. The appraiser determines whether a remote approach can support credible results.
What Should You Prepare Before Contacting Us?
Start with the reason you need a value. Then tell us what is included, where the property is located and when the work is needed. You do not need to select the final report format before contacting us.
Prepare Project Details
Send the property’s city and state, a general item list, available photographs and your deadline. Include any requested valuation date and instructions from an attorney, tax advisor or insurer. These details help us identify the appropriate service and next step.
Appraisal Fee Factors
Project cost depends on the quantity and complexity of the property, access, available records, research and reporting needs. Review our appraisal fee schedule for current billing information, then contact us to discuss the scope.
Before engaging our firm, you can also review our bonded and insured information and learn more about selecting personal property appraisers.
Questions About Choosing an Appraisal
Which Appraisal Type Fits?
Start with the decision the value will support: estate administration, tax reporting, insurance, property division or another need. The property category and valuation date help define the scope. Our firm can help you select the right service.
Can Appraisals Include Several Property Categories?
Yes. One project may include household contents, art, antiques, jewelry, collections or business equipment. The scope should identify the categories and any specialist research needed. Share the full property list so the project can be planned as a whole.
Can One Report Be Reused?
A report is developed for a stated purpose and identified users. An insurance value may differ from the fair market value needed for another matter. Tell the appraiser about each proposed use before relying on a report for a different decision.
Does an Appraisal Mean I Owe Tax?
No. An appraisal provides an opinion of value. A date-of-death appraisal identifies what the belongings were worth on that historical date. Your attorney or tax advisor determines whether any tax or filing obligations apply.
Can You Help Me Choose?
Yes. Describe why you need a value, the belongings involved and any deadline. Include instructions from your professional advisor when available. Our firm can help you identify the service to discuss before an appraiser confirms the scope.
Personal property appraisers near me: what to confirm
A nearby provider is only part of the selection. The right personal property appraiser must also understand the belongings and the reason the value is needed. Compare service fit before arranging access to the property.
Match the Property and Purpose
Ask whether the firm handles the relevant property categories and the type of assignment. A collection of paintings, a household inventory and a group of business assets can require different research and documentation.
Confirm the Appraisal Requirements
Explain who will rely on the report and share any instructions from counsel, a tax advisor or an insurer. Discuss the relevant valuation date, professional qualifications and reporting needs before work begins.
Discuss Access and Documentation
Identify where the items are located, which records are available and whether inspection is practical. The appraiser can assess on-site, remote or combined documentation methods for the project. An informal photo estimate remains a separate service.
Find the Right Appraisal Service
Tell us what needs to be appraised and the decision you need to make. Share the property location, approximate number of items and any deadline. We will help you identify the appropriate next step.
Find a Personal Property Appraiser by Location
Prestige Estate Services provides personal property appraisal services across the United States. Explore our locations for regional information, then contact our firm about your property and the service you need.
