What is an IRS Qualified Appraiser?
March 12, 2026
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If you’ve been researching appraisals for estate tax, charitable donation, gift tax, or another tax-related purpose, you’ve likely encountered the
When personal property is damaged, destroyed, or stolen, a professional appraisal is often the key to a fair insurance settlement.
When personal property is lost or damaged, the appraisal question is rarely simple. Depending on the circumstances, what’s needed may be a pre-loss fair market or replacement value, a salvage value, a restoration estimate, an assessment of diminution in value, or a combination of levels of value.
Our insurance claim appraisals are conducted and signed by an ISA Certified Appraiser of Personal Property. Our reports, however complex, explain every aspect of our methodology and conclusions clearly, so that the findings are transparent, understandable to all parties, and leave no room for misinterpretation. Our role is to establish a credible and substantiated objective basis for resolution.
We recommend acting promptly after a loss — documentation prepared close in time to the claim carries the most weight.
When personal property is damaged, destroyed, or stolen, a professional appraisal is often the key to a fair insurance settlement. Here’s what to expect from the process.
Q: What is an damage claim appraisal?
A: An insurance claim appraisal documents the value of personal property that has been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. It provides objective, defensible evidence of value to support a claim with your insurance company, and, if needed, in dispute or litigation contexts. The levels of value provided for damage claims can by varying, and often broad evidence appraisals are best practice. Examples of value which may be provided include Replacement Value via purchase or reproduction, Fair Market Value, Restoration Cost, Diminution in Value, and/or Salvage Value.
Q: When should I hire an independent appraiser for a damage claim?
A: You should consider an independent appraiser when the items involved are fine art, antiques, collectibles, or other tangible assets that require specialized expertise, when there is a dispute about value, or when significant sums are at stake. An appraiser who works independently of the insurer provides an objective third party opinion.
Q: Can you appraise damaged items, not just total losses?
A: Yes. We can assess property which is damaged to any degree. We can assess the pre-loss value, salvage value, replacement value, restoration costs, and diminution in value (the permanent reduction in worth caused by the damage after hypothetical repairs are made). This is particularly important for fine art, antiques, and items with historical significance.
Q: What types of property do you appraise for insurance claims?
A: Fine art, antiques, furniture, decorative arts, jewelry, silver, ceramics, collectibles, rugs, and other significant tangible assets.
Q: How does the appraisal report help in a claim dispute?
A: A USPAP-compliant appraisal report prepared by a credentialed appraiser carries significant weight in disputes with insurers, in arbitration, and in litigation. It provides documented methodology, comparable sales evidence, restoration and reproduction quotes, and professional opinion of various levels of value that are far more defensible than an informal estimate.
Q: Will you communicate with my insurance company directly?
A: We can provide reports and documentation directly to your insurer or their adjuster if you authorize it. In complex or contested claims, we may also be available to answer questions from adjusters or legal counsel.
Q: What if I no longer have the item to inspect?
A: In total loss or theft situations, appraisals can generally be conducted using pre-loss photographs, receipts, prior appraisals, auction records, dealer invoices, or other evidence which helps identify property. The more documentation you can provide, the stronger the report.
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