Tips for Hiring an Appraiser

• Ask any appraiser you're considering if he or she is either a member of a certified or accreditied organization like the Certified Appraisers Guild of America or has passed the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) test.  Adherence to these performance and ethics standards, which are generally accepted for professional appraisal practice in North America, adds to the professional's credibility.

• Ask for references and check them out!

• Get a written estimate of the cost of the appraisal before you hire someone.  Insist on a contract.

• Never hire an appraiser that charges based on a percentage of the appraised value of your item(s) or someone who wants to buy or broker the item for you.  It is not considered ethical and makes it difficult for the appraiser to be objective.

• If you need the appraiser for legal purposes such as divorce, estate settlement or as proof for the IRS, confirm that the professional you hire is willing to stand by the appraisal if required to appear in court as an expert witness.