FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do all art appraisers have similar qualifications?
No. Appraising is a professional discipline with distinct qualification criteria. Many "Art Appraisers" have not completed any professional education or testing in appraisal development or methodology, and many sell art with a bias to a particular market. Your appraiser should be willing to verify their professional standing by their listing on the website of one of the three recognized national professional appraisal organizations that trains, tests, and requires continuing education.
Do you belong to an appraisal society that rigorously trains and tests its members?
Red Feather Advisory and Appraisal, LLC appraisers have been trained, tested and accredited by the Appraisal Association of America (AAA). Membership in an appraisal association is important because it shows that the appraiser is involved with the profession, has peer recognition, has access to updated information, and is subject to a code of ethics and conduct.
How will you handle items outside your area of expertise?
No appraiser should claim expertise in everything. A good appraiser knows his or her limits. Red Feather Advisory & Appraisal, LLC recognizes many areas of art appraisal specialty knowledge. Ms. Getzfrid's expertise is in late 19th and early 20th Century Paintings. Our firm also employs a wide variety of expert art consultants that are specialists in decorative arts, silver, and other fine arts. If there is any question whether we can provide the appraisal of your valuables, we will discuss this with you.
What are your qualifications to appraise my property?
AAA Qualified Appraisers:
• Have formal education in appraisal theory, principles, procedures, ethics, and law.
• Are up to date on the latest appraisal standards.
• Participate in continuing education and have been trained and tested to ensure their competence.
• Are specialists in the type of property you want appraised and have the expertise to know how to value it correctly.
Do all art appraisers have similar qualifications?
No. Appraising is a professional discipline with distinct qualification criteria. Many "Art Appraisers" have not completed any professional education or testing in appraisal development or methodology, and many sell art with a bias to a particular market. Your appraiser should be willing to verify their professional standing by their listing on the website of one of the three recognized national professional appraisal organizations that trains, tests, and requires continuing education.
Why do I need to pay an appraiser to conduct market research? Shouldn't art appraisers be familiar with the value of the work of most artists?
It is common that we are familiar with an artist's work and therefore able to estimate fairly accurately the value of many of your items without conducting market research. However, insurance industry standards and IRS requirements dictate that appraisers conduct recent market research on every item appraised and retain this information in the work file. This is not only good appraisal practice, but allows for dynamic changes in the marketplace and ensures that the comparable sales records that were used to determine value are available should your appraisal be challenged for any reason by an insurance company, the IRS or any other third party.
Will you authenticate my work of art?
Except in very rare instances, art appraisers are not qualified to authenticate. Generally, there are a handful of recognized experts, often scholars or panels of scholars, who are recognized as "expert" in the work of a particular artist. These professionals have often dedicated their entire careers to the work of a particular artist, and are truly qualified to offer an opinion of authenticity. Within the context of a formal appraisal assignment, if there is a question of authenticity, we are happy to consult on your behalf with the right professionals.
Do you provide "verbal" appraisals?
At Red Feather Advisory and Appraisal, LLC, we believe we best serve our clients by providing written formal appraisal reports, researched and developed according to strict professional standards. Many appraisers legitimately run second businesses such as brokering or auction services. These professionals are more likely to be willing to provide free estimations of value for those who are interested in selling, or simply are curious about the value of their artwork. If you do not need a formal written report for insurance, estate tax or another formal function, we suggest consulting with a reputable auction house.
What is your fee structure?
Our hourly fee for formal appraisal work is $250-300. We pride ourselves on serving our clients efficiently. Meticulous time logs are kept of time spent and an itemized accounting will accompany your final invoice. We will estimate all projects prior and discuss the project in detail with the client. This estimate includes a personal inspection of your artwork, photography of the item or items, travel time, market research, and generation of the certified Appraisal Report. We look forward to discussing your specific appraisal needs and goals. We do not provide informal or verbal opinions of value.