Personal Property Appraisers in Chicago, Illinois
Meet Your Personal Property Appraisal Team for Chicago, Illinois
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.
What type of appraisal service are you looking for?
Prestige Estate Services provides personal property appraisals in Chicago, Illinois, for art, antiques, furniture, jewelry, musical instruments, collections, and suitable business equipment. Our reports help owners, families, and their advisers with estate tax, probate, insurance, gifts to charity, and divorce. Tell us why you need a value, and we can discuss the service and written report that fit your purpose.
You can start with a few photos and a short list of belongings, along with the name of the person who needs the report. Tell us whether it must show values from a past date so we can plan the work around that need. A single collection and a whole home may need different research, but you do not need a finished inventory before you call.
We serve Chicago and nearby cities, including Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, Cicero, Naperville, Schaumburg, Des Plaines and Park Ridge. Within Chicago, our coverage includes the Loop, Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast, Hyde Park and Wicker Park. Share the address where the items are kept so we can plan the work. We do not provide real estate appraisals.
Meet Our Personal Property Appraisers
The appraisers you work with are in-house W-2 employees of Prestige Estate Services, not independent contractors.
We match the work to the types of property in your project because a guitar, a photograph, and a dining set each call for different knowledge. Our team brings that research together and prepares the agreed report. We also review the work in house, so the facts, values, and reasons form one clear record for the people who need it.
At the start, tell us what you know about the items and what you need to learn, and share any instructions from your attorney, tax adviser, or insurer. We can then explain which items the work will cover and what the report will provide. You have a clear starting point for discussing the project, even if many belongings are unfamiliar.
Understanding Personal Property Value
Personal Property Appraisals in Chicago
What does a personal property appraisal tell you? It gives you a researched opinion of what the included belongings are worth for a stated purpose. We identify the items, study the right market, and explain the values in a written report, giving you more than a price alone to discuss with your family or adviser.
A guitar may be one item you want valued or part of a larger collection, so tell us why you need its value and the date it must reflect. Our personal property appraisal work can cover selected pieces or mixed household contents. We agree on the items and report needs first, so the work answers your question.
For a guitar, we look at the model, age, parts, and condition, including repairs or changes that could affect which sold instruments offer a useful comparison. Repair bills and older photos can help explain a replaced pickup or repaired neck. The report connects these facts to the research, allowing you to see why the chosen sales are relevant to your instrument.
Tangible Personal Property Appraisals in Chicago
Which belongings count as tangible personal property? These are physical items you can touch, such as furniture, art, jewelry, collections, and equipment. We agree on which belongings to include and how to describe them, whether a typewriter is a single collectible or one entry in a full contents list. The right approach depends on what you need to know.
The item itself may be separate from rights linked to it: a typewriter appraisal concerns the machine, for instance, rather than an author’s copyright. Our tangible personal property appraisals make the included items clear. This helps you see which belongings the report covers and discuss any other types of value with the right adviser before the work begins.
We use maker names, model numbers, parts, and condition to describe each important item, which for a typewriter may include its case, keys, and known repairs. Tell us whether it has been tested and what that test showed. The report explains what we could check and which facts came from records, so you can follow the basis for the value.
Fair Market Value Appraisals in Chicago
What does fair market value mean? It is the price a willing buyer and seller would agree to when both know the relevant facts and neither must act. We research sales in the right market for the required date, looking beyond an average because similar-looking items can differ in ways that matter to buyers.
A boxed pen set gives a useful example: one set may retain its original pen, nib, and case, while another has mixed parts. We check those details, along with wear and repairs, before comparing sale prices. The report explains which sales help support the value and how the differences between those sets affect our reasoning.
The question behind the report guides the type of value we use, and our personal property valuation service explains that basis and the date it applies to. Fair market value may differ from what you paid, what a dealer offers, or what replacement would cost. Knowing which figure you need helps you avoid using an old report for a purpose it did not address.
For executors, trustees, attorneys and CPAs
Estate Tax, Form 706 and Date-of-Death Personal Property Appraisals in Chicago
Estate Tax Appraisers in Chicago
How do you help an executor obtain estate values? We appraise the belongings that the estate’s adviser asks you to have valued, after confirming the property, purpose, and required date. We then research values and prepare the agreed written record for the professional handling the estate’s tax work. The report explains what was included and how the evidence supports its findings.
We decide which objects need individual research and which may fit into suitable groups, taking account of features that affect their values. A silver tray may deserve its own entry because its maker, material, and condition matter, and our team’s specialist background in silver research supports that work. We examine marks and other details to distinguish solid silver from plate and choose useful examples for comparison.
Organizing Values for the Estate File
You do not have to decide how to group every item before contacting us, since an overview of the rooms and collections helps us explain the proposed work. Share the adviser’s instructions and deadline early. We can plan the contents appraisal around those needs while the estate’s advisers decide what must be filed and how the tax rules apply.
IRS-Qualified Form 706 Appraisers in Chicago
How does an appraisal support Form 706 work? It links the reported values to clearly described property, a stated value date, and the research behind each conclusion. Form 706 is a federal estate tax return, and our personal property appraisal support helps the preparer match the report’s entries to the estate’s own records.
The IRS Form 706 instructions explain how to report household goods and personal effects in the Schedule F material and address supporting appraisal records. Your return preparer decides which instructions apply to the estate. We supply the agreed values and their support, so the preparer can review the contents information alongside the other parts of the estate file.
A mantel clock shows why a clear description matters: its case may be old while the movement inside was replaced later. We look at both parts and research sales that fit the clock as it exists. The report explains important changes so the preparer can follow the value of that clock instead of relying on a broad label.
Qualifications and Reporting Evidence
Ask about experience with the property and the kind of report you need, as a credential by itself does not guarantee that a value will be accepted. USPAP sets standards for appraisal work and reporting; it does not mean the IRS has approved an appraiser or a value. We explain the research and reasons behind our opinion so the preparer can assess its support.
The supporting file should be easy to follow, with item references linking the clock’s description to its photos and repair bills. If a bill belongs to a different clock, we keep that distinction clear. This helps the preparer ask a focused question about the right object and reduces confusion between similar pieces in the estate.
Date-of-Death Personal Property Appraisals in Chicago
Can you value belongings as of the date someone died? Yes, when enough reliable information is available to support research into the property and market as of that past date. The visit and report can take place later. If an accordion was repaired after the owner died, we need to understand its condition before those repairs.
Start with a simple timeline of when the item was used, moved, damaged, or repaired. We compare that account with the records and what we can see now. A current visit helps identify the accordion, while earlier records may show which parts were present and how it worked at the date being valued.
Dated photos, service bills, and earlier descriptions can each answer part of the question; a photo may show the accordion in use, while a bill identifies parts fitted later. Tell us where each record came from. We weigh what it can show and explain important gaps, rather than assume that the item’s present condition matches its past condition.
Researching the Earlier Market
We also study the earlier market because today’s asking prices do not tell the whole story of what buyers would have paid then. We seek relevant sale records and consider the model, condition, and timing. The report states the date of value and explains any needed assumptions, keeping the past value separate from the date we completed the work.
Probate and Estate Contents
Probate Appraisals in Chicago
What does an appraisal add to a probate inventory? An inventory lists the estate’s belongings, while an appraisal adds researched values for the probate task your attorney or estate representative has described. We confirm which items need that work and prepare the agreed report. The representative receives a supported value record that can be used for the stated estate purpose.
Share any written instructions, required dates, and deadlines from the person handling the estate, along with a family list if one is available. We review those records to plan which belongings need research and how to present the results. The attorney or representative decides which assets belong in the estate; our role is to value the property included in the appraisal.
An old trunk and the objects inside it may need separate entries because a single total could leave the reader unsure whether the trunk itself was valued. Our team’s experience organizing mixed household property helps organize these distinctions. Clear descriptions let the representative connect each important object to its value and see what is included in a group of contents.
Estate Inventory and Valuation Reports in Chicago
How do you make an estate inventory easy to follow? We use clear descriptions and item references to keep the same belongings linked across the file, adding researched values when requested. A table radio, for example, should be easy to match to its photo, list entry, and any records that explain its history or condition.
Useful details let someone identify the radio after it leaves its old shelf, such as the maker, model, case style, and other clear features. The same item reference can appear beside its photos, while descriptions of grouped contents explain what each group includes. This keeps an ordinary household list useful when several people need to read it.
Decide whether you need an inventory alone or one with values: a photo list records what is there, while valuation adds research for a stated purpose and date. We explain those options when planning the work. When values are included, the entries should relate clearly to the totals, so the person managing the estate can understand how the contents are recorded.
Keeping the Same Item Record
Charitable Donation Appraisals
Charitable Donation Appraisals in Chicago
How do you value a planned gift to charity? We identify the property and research its fair market value for the agreed donation purpose. What you paid is useful background but may differ from the value now, so for a wool rug we study size, construction, condition, and the facts that support its origin.
Speak with your tax adviser before transferring the gift or choosing a service, and share the planned donation date, recipient, and a description of the property. The IRS instructions for Form 8283 explain the reporting and appraisal rules. The form and appraisal are separate documents, and your adviser determines which requirements apply and what amount, if any, may be deducted.
A rug’s weave, edges, backing, worn areas, and repairs can help us choose sold rugs that offer useful comparisons. Our team’s knowledge of historical textiles and textile design supports that research. Close views and reliable records can help, and we discuss whether a visit is needed to examine details that a room photo cannot show clearly.
Records for the Proposed Donation
The finished appraisal connects the gift to its description, value date, and market research, helping the donor and adviser see which rug or group it covers. Tell us about changes to the planned gift before the report is complete. We can then discuss whether the agreed appraisal still fits the property and purpose.
Insurance and Damage Documentation
Insurance Appraisals in Chicago
How can an appraisal help before an insurance loss? It records the belongings and the values needed for your insurer’s review. After confirming the type of value required, we research the items and prepare the agreed report. For a saxophone, the model, age, and condition help explain what a suitable replacement would involve.
A useful instrument description may include its serial number, finish, repairs, and changed parts, checked against the saxophone and any earlier records. This can reveal when an old appraisal no longer describes the same instrument. Accurate item details give you and the insurer a clear basis for discussing the property you want covered.
The replacement market matters because buying a comparable vintage saxophone may be a different task from buying a new model. We explain the value basis used and the sales or other market information behind it. The insurer decides policy terms and limits, while our report supplies property information for that discussion without promising what the policy will pay.
Keep the appraisal with your insurance records, and ask whether it needs updating if you replace the instrument, make major repairs, or add pieces to the collection. The aim is to keep the item list tied to the belongings you own. Your insurer can then tell you whether the changes also call for a review of your coverage.
Damage and Loss Appraisals in Chicago
How do you appraise an item after damage or loss? We start with the question the report must answer and the records available before and after the event. A framed print may have damage to the paper, frame, or both, so we examine what the records show and research the effect on value within the agreed work.
Save earlier photos, current views, and treatment records so we can identify the same print and compare its condition over time. A stain in the mat, for example, may not reach the printed image. When the damage cannot be judged from the available views, a trained conservator may need to inspect it before the value question can be answered.
Our team’s background in claim inspections and condition records supports this work, helping us separate what the records show from what remains uncertain and explain why that matters to value. You can then discuss the findings with the professionals handling the loss. The insurer determines coverage, and a treatment expert addresses what repair work may be possible for the damaged object.
Repair cost and the effect on value are different questions: a treatment quote explains the proposed work and cost, while an appraisal examines the relevant market and the agreed value question. A repaired print may still have a condition history that buyers consider. We explain that relationship when it matters, so the report does more than repeat a repair total.
Family Decisions and Legal Support
Divorce and Marital Asset Appraisals in Chicago
What should be agreed before appraising belongings for a divorce? Start with the items, date, and type of value needed so we can provide an independent appraisal for that purpose. A lounge chair and ottoman may need values as a set or as separate pieces. Clear instructions help both spouses understand what the report will address.
A shared list gives both parties the same starting point by identifying the chair and ottoman and showing which parts belong together. We look at their maker, condition, and relevant sales before reaching a value. The descriptions let each spouse recognize the property under discussion, even if they disagree about which pieces they would like to keep.
An old insurance schedule may use replacement values that do not fit settlement talks, so your attorneys can help define the value needed for the case. We research that basis and date, then explain how the actual furniture compares with relevant sales. Receipts can help identify a piece, but its original price alone does not answer every later value question.
Access and a Shared Item Record
Agree on how both sides will share records and raise factual questions while keeping the appraisal independent. A wrong model number or missing accessory can be checked without asking the appraiser to favor one spouse. The parties and their attorneys address ownership, marital property rules, and settlement terms, using the appraisal for the agreed purpose.
Equitable Distribution Appraisers in Chicago
How can heirs compare belongings before dividing them? We value the included property on a consistent basis, giving the family a common record for its choices. Some objects need attention as a group, such as two porcelain figures that form a matching pair. Their relationship can matter when heirs consider keeping them together or placing them in separate shares.
Tell us whether the family needs values for a full set, separate pieces or both. We research how those choices affect the relevant market. The report makes its treatment clear, so family members can compare proposed groups without guessing which pieces a value includes. Personal attachment remains part of the family’s decision; the appraisal supplies the agreed financial reference.
Use values prepared for a common date and purpose when comparing shares. Mixing a current replacement figure with an old market value can make the groups hard to compare. We can explain those differences and develop the values requested. The family and its advisers decide who receives each item, while the report helps them see the values behind their proposed choices.
Litigation Appraisal Review in Chicago
What can an attorney learn from an appraisal review? We examine another appraisal to see whether its research and reasoning support its conclusions. The review can focus on the full report or an agreed question. For a copper printing plate, that question might concern who made it, which market was used or whether the cited sales offer useful comparisons.
Send the complete report and its supporting pages, along with the issue counsel needs addressed. A value can look different when its date or purpose is taken into account. We read that context before assessing the work. This helps separate a true gap in the reasoning from a difference that the report already explains or an assumption it clearly states.
Review work does not always include a new value opinion. If counsel needs us to value the printing plate as well, that work must be part of the agreed assignment. We explain the difference before starting so you know what the review will provide. Prestige Estate Services reviews personal property appraisals only. We do not review real estate appraisals.
The findings explain each important issue and why it matters to the conclusion. A wrong description may affect the choice of sales; a judgment about condition may call for a different discussion. We identify those distinctions and any limits in the available material. Counsel can use that explanation to understand the appraisal issues relevant to the legal matter.
Restricted Appraisal Reports in Chicago
Would a shorter formal report fit your needs? A Restricted Appraisal Report may be an option for a suitable assignment. We first discuss why you need the value and who will rely on the report. The format uses concise reporting, but the value still needs sound research. An appraisal of one microscope may call for this approach when the use permits it.
The research must still identify the microscope and study the right market. Its maker, lenses, parts and condition can affect the comparison. A shorter report does not make those questions less important. We explain what the reporting option will provide and its limits, so you can decide with the intended recipient whether that format suits the work you need.
Tell us at the outset if you plan to share the report with another person or organization. That can affect which reporting option is suitable. If the purpose changes later, ask us to review the new need. A report written for a specific planning decision may need further work before it can serve a different purpose or audience.
Government and Commercial Personal Property
Government and Seized-Asset Appraisals in Chicago
How can an agency obtain values for equipment it holds? We identify the included assets and research values for the agency’s stated purpose. The work may concern surplus equipment or seized personal property. For an electronic testing instrument, we need a clear model and parts list. That lets us compare the right equipment and explain the value in the report.
Provide the agency’s item list, asset numbers and any test or service records. For each instrument, note which parts and accessories are included. A service record can help explain known condition, while an asset number links the unit to the agency’s file. We keep those roles clear so the report shows what was valued and what information supports it.
Explain whether the agency needs values for a planned sale, internal records or another task. Tell us about any rules that limit how the equipment can be transferred. Those conditions may affect the market we need to study. Our report supplies values for that defined use. The agency retains responsibility for its legal authority, approvals and handling of the assets.
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment Appraisals in Chicago
What does an FF&E appraisal cover? It values the included furniture, fixtures and equipment used by a business or institution. We identify the physical assets and research the market for the agreed purpose. For a drill press, the model, capacity and included parts help us select useful comparisons. The report links each value to the equipment or group it covers.
A clear equipment list helps the work begin. Record the drill press’s model, size, attachments and known service history. Tell us whether it is in use, idle or missing parts. We compare those records with the inspection findings. If we cannot test a function, the report explains how that limit affects the work and any assumptions about the machine.
The conditions of a business transaction also shape the value question. A machine left in place may need different research from one removed for sale. Agree on those conditions before the appraisal begins. FF&E work concerns the physical business assets in the assignment. It does not value the whole business, its goodwill or its real estate.
An asset schedule lets a buyer or manager connect the numbers to the right machines. It can show model details, quantities and values for the units or groups included. That makes it easier to compare the report with a proposed purchase list. If the list changes, you can identify the affected entry and ask what further appraisal work is needed.
Art, Antiques and Furniture
Art Appraisals in Chicago
Why can prints of the same photograph have different values? The prints may come from different dates, processes or editions. Their size, condition and ownership history may also differ. We research those features before choosing sales for comparison. A print made early in the photographer’s career may belong in a different market from a later print of the same image.
Useful records may include a gallery receipt, an edition note or labels on the back. These can help establish when and how the print was made. Our team’s experience with artwork records and historical research supports that inquiry. We assess the records alongside the work itself and discuss any need for further expert input when a question about its maker or history affects the value.
The report describes the actual print and explains why the selected market fits it. If an edition or date remains uncertain, that point stays clear in the research and conclusion. The owner can then see which facts support the value. This is useful when several versions share the same image but differ in the features buyers consider important.
Antique Appraisals in Chicago
How do repairs affect an antique appraisal? We examine the object to understand which parts are original and which have changed. Then we research how those features relate to the market. A coffee grinder with an old mechanism and a newer drawer needs a description of both. That gives us a sound basis for comparing it with other examples.
Maker marks, materials and the way the grinder was built can help tell its story. Older photos and repair bills may explain changes that are hard to date by sight. Share what you have without trying to restore the piece for the appraisal. Marks, surfaces and wear can provide useful clues that cleaning or refinishing might remove.
We connect those findings with sales of relevant antiques. The age of an object is one factor; buyer interest, condition and the features of the model also matter. An online asking price can point to a possible comparison, but it is not proof of a sale. We consider the quality of the market information before using it to support a value.
Repairs do not all affect value in the same way. A changed drawer may matter differently from a damaged grinding mechanism, depending on the object and its market. We explain the features that drive the comparison. This helps you understand how the work and repairs relate to the conclusion, without treating every change as having an equal effect.
Furniture Appraisals in Chicago
Can you appraise furniture from different periods in one home? Yes. We can assess suitable antique, vintage, designer and newer furnishings within the agreed work. Each piece needs research that fits its maker, materials and condition. A bentwood rocking chair, for instance, may share a style with many others while its labels and construction point to a more specific identity.
We examine details such as joints, labels, cane and finish to understand the chair. Repair records may explain a changed seat or strengthened frame. Those features help us compare the actual piece with relevant sales. The report gives the reader enough detail to recognize the chair and follow the reasons for its value, even among similar furnishings.
Tell us whether you need furniture values for insurance, an estate, a family decision or private planning. The purpose helps define the value basis and date. A full household can include both individual pieces and suitable groups. We discuss that treatment before starting, so the report’s level of detail fits the way you and your adviser will use it.
Online Guidance and Appraisal Planning
Online Photo Appraisals for Chicago Owners
Can photos help you learn about an unfamiliar item? Our Online Photo Appraisal offers an informal value estimate from the images and details you send. It can help answer a focused question about an object such as a cut-glass dish. Clear views of the base, rim, pattern and lid give the reviewer more to assess than a single room photo.
Take photos in even light from several sides. Include close views of marks or damage, the size and any parts that go with the dish. Say whether the lid fits and what you know about the piece. You do not need to guess its maker. If a seller supplied a pattern name, share it as a lead for the reviewer to assess.
The Online Photo Appraisal is an informal estimate of value. It cannot be used for formal, legal, court, insurance, charitable donation or IRS purposes. Tell us about any such need before ordering. A formal remote appraisal is a separate service, with its own research and report requirements. We can discuss whether the available photos and records are enough for that work.
A useful photo request includes the question you want answered. You may want to understand what the dish is or its likely value for general knowledge. When a key mark or repair remains unclear, the response can explain what more is needed. That helps you decide whether the informal guidance answers your question or whether to discuss a formal appraisal.
Personal Property Appraisal Fees in Chicago
What affects the cost of an appraisal? The cost depends on the work needed to identify, inspect, research and report on the property. Tell us what you have, why you need values and where the items are kept. An architectural model with few records may need more research than its size suggests. A small object does not always mean a small task.
The visit is only one part of the work. We also research markets, compare relevant sales and write the report. A project with several addresses takes more planning, while unusual objects may need deeper study. We use the property overview to explain these needs before setting the scope, which is the agreed description of the work to be done.
Ask how the estimate handles added items, another address or a change in report purpose. Those changes may call for more work, so discuss them before expanding the project. Current prices are on the central Fee Schedule. The project discussion explains how the work applies to your belongings and what information would help us prepare a useful estimate.
Documentation for Attorneys, CPAs and Insurers
Start with the instructions from the person who needs the report. An attorney, CPA or insurer may need different information for a different purpose. Send those instructions with the required value date and deadline. We can then plan the appraisal around that use, making it clear what the report must help the recipient understand about the belongings.
Next, gather a rough item list and the records you already have. Receipts, past appraisals and dated photos can help us identify the property and plan the research. We review how each record fits the task. The Appraisal Foundation’s explanation of USPAP describes the ethical and performance standards for appraisal work, including personal property. The standards guide the work; the agreed purpose guides what you need from it.
Keep each important item’s photos and records together under one clear reference. For a visit, tell us about building access and any separate storage areas included. Name the person who can let us in and answer questions about the property. If the item list or report purpose changes, tell us promptly so we can discuss the effect on the work.
Online Photo, Formal Remote or In-Person?
Online Photo Appraisal is the informal option for learning about an item from photos. It cannot serve legal, court, insurance, charitable donation, IRS or other formal needs. If an adviser or insurer requires a report, tell us at the start. That lets us discuss the formal service that fits the use instead of starting with the wrong product.
A formal remote appraisal gathers information without an appraiser visiting the property. We assess whether the photos and records can support the required research and report. Some items need a direct look at their construction, condition or parts. In that case, an in-person visit may be needed. Either formal approach includes work beyond simply viewing the belongings.
Our guide to remote versus in-person appraisals explains these choices. Send an overview of the items and say who needs the report. We will discuss what the available records can support and whether a visit would add needed information. You can choose the next step with a clearer understanding of the work, rather than having to select a report type on your own.
Choosing an Appraiser for Your Chicago Assignment
Personal Property Appraisers Near Me in Chicago
Ask how the appraiser’s experience fits your belongings and the reason for the report. A clear answer should explain the proposed work, the value basis and what you will receive. Our personal property appraisal service connects those parts of the assignment. You can start that discussion with photos and a brief description; you do not need to know every item’s maker or age.
IRS-Qualified Form 706 and Estate Tax Appraisers Near Me in Chicago
For estate tax or Form 706 work, share the preparer’s instructions early. Ask how important objects and groups of contents will appear in the report. Our personal property estate-tax appraisals provide the agreed research and value conclusions for that use. Clear entries and supporting reasons help the preparer connect the appraisal to the estate file and raise questions about specific items.
Areas Served Around Chicago
We serve Chicago and surrounding cities, including Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, Cicero, Naperville, Schaumburg, Des Plaines and Park Ridge. Our Chicago coverage includes the Loop, Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast, Hyde Park and Wicker Park. Tell us where the belongings are now. That may be different from the owner’s mailing address or the home where the items were first kept.
For a high-rise visit, check the building’s entry and appointment arrangements. Let us know who can grant access and whether the project includes a locker or storage unit. If the building needs advance notice for a visitor, include that information when we plan the visit. These details help us arrange access to the property we have agreed to appraise.
A project may cover a Chicago home and items at another address. Tell us about both sites when discussing the report. We can review how to coordinate the work and whether any part is suitable for a formal remote appraisal. If an important object has moved, explain where it is now so it remains clear which belongings the project includes.
The Appraisal Services guide explains the available services. Use it to find the purpose closest to yours, then tell us about the property and the decision ahead. If several services seem relevant, we can discuss the differences. A clear explanation of your need is enough to begin; you do not have to choose every detail of the appraisal before contacting us.
Personal Property Appraisal Questions
What access details matter for a Gold Coast condo inspection?
Tell us how to enter the building, where visitors can park and who can grant access. Include any appointment rules and storage areas that form part of the project. These details help us plan a Gold Coast condo visit around the belongings included. You can send the arrangements with your item overview when discussing the work.
Can you value musical instruments kept in a Chicago home?
We can assess whether the instruments fit the appraisal you need. Send full views, labels or serial numbers and any repair records. Include the cases and accessories that belong with them. You do not need to play a fragile instrument for photos. We use the available details to discuss identification, condition and the research the project may require.
Can one estate inventory include Chicago and Evanston addresses?
Yes, if both sites and the relevant belongings are included in the agreed work. Give each address a clear label and note any items moved between them. Photos and item numbers help distinguish similar objects. The executor should also flag belongings owned by someone else, so the instructions are clear before we develop the estate’s inventory and values.
Does furniture from an older Oak Park home count as antique?
The home’s age does not establish the age of its furniture. An older Oak Park house may contain pieces from many periods, including recent purchases. We examine the actual items and their labels, materials, construction and condition. That research helps us identify the furniture and compare it with the right market for the purpose of your appraisal.
Can you appraise equipment when a Loop office is closing?
We can discuss an appraisal of suitable furniture, fixtures and equipment at a Loop office. Share the asset list, model details and known condition. Identify anything leased or excluded. Tell us why you need the values and whether the assets will stay in place or be removed, so we can agree on the right basis before the work starts.
Will an informal photo estimate work for an insurance claim?
No. An informal Online Photo Appraisal cannot be used for an insurance claim. Ask the insurer what formal report and records it needs, then share those instructions with us. We can discuss whether a formal remote or in-person appraisal fits the property and the claim’s value question. The insurer remains responsible for its own coverage decision.
How are Chicago appraisal fees planned?
We plan the work around the items, research, visit arrangements and report purpose. Send a few representative photos, the property locations and your deadline. Current pricing is on the linked Fee Schedule. Once we understand the project, we can explain the tasks involved and discuss an estimate that reflects what you need appraised and why.
Do you appraise Chicago buildings or real estate interests?
We appraise personal property such as art, antiques, jewelry, furniture, musical instruments, collections and suitable equipment. We do not provide real estate appraisals. If an item is attached to a building, tell us about it when discussing the project. The appropriate advisers can then clarify whether it belongs in the personal property work or a separate real estate assignment.
Schedule Your Personal Property Appraisal
Tell us what you need appraised, where the belongings are and who needs the report. Include the date the values must reflect and your deadline. A short list, a few photos and any adviser instructions give us a useful starting point. We can then discuss the research, visit options and next steps for your Chicago personal property appraisal.
