Prime Auction Solutions · Personal Property Appraisals
USPAP-compliant appraisals of household contents, collections, and individual objects for divorce, estates, insurance, tax, donation, and legal matters.
Purpose is not paperwork added at the end. It determines the value question, effective date, research, analysis, and level of reporting required from the beginning.
An impartial personal property appraisal can help spouses, attorneys, and mediators work from a documented value opinion when dividing household contents, collections, and individual objects. The value definition and effective date are confirmed from the assignment requirements.
Executors, trustees, families, and counsel may need an inventory and fair market value opinion as of the current date or a retrospective date of death.
Appraisals may support coverage scheduling, claim documentation, replacement-value questions, or a retrospective opinion as of a documented date of loss.
Fair market value research may support a donation or other tax-related matter. Your tax adviser determines the filing, form, and qualified-appraisal requirements that apply.
Attorneys, trustees, banks, families, and advisers may need a clearly scoped report for planning, administration, dispute resolution, or another defined use.
Appraisals may support estate administration, insurance coverage, family-law matters, charitable gifts, and financial planning.
An assignment may cover a single object, selected categories, a collection, or defined household contents. The included property is confirmed before inspection and research begin.
Case furniture, seating, tables, lighting, and household furnishings.
Paintings, prints, works on paper, sculpture, and decorative art.
Hand-knotted rugs, carpets, tapestries, and selected textiles.
Fine and estate jewelry, gemstones, precious metals, and watches.
Collections of wine and spirits, crystal, decanters, and barware.
Pianos and selected string, wind, and other musical instruments.
Sterling, coin silver, silver plate, serving pieces, and flatware services.
Porcelain, ceramics, glass, clocks, objets d’art, and collectibles.
A defined room, selected categories, or the contents of an entire residence.
Illustrative scenes show the kinds of property and decisions an appraisal may involve; they are not Prime client assignments or current auction lots.
Inspection + Documentation
Marks, materials, dimensions, construction, condition, provenance, photographs, and assignment limits create the factual record for the research that follows. A credible report explains what was examined, how the relevant market was analyzed, and why the conclusion fits the defined appraisal question.
The same property can have different relevant value conclusions under different assignments. Prime defines the value premise and date in the engagement rather than treating every appraisal as the same exercise.
Generally, the price at which property would change hands between a willing buyer and willing seller, neither under compulsion and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts. The assignment identifies the exact definition used.
The cost to replace property with an item of comparable quality and utility in the relevant market. It is commonly used for insurance planning and is not the same as an expected auction result.
An opinion developed for an earlier effective date, such as a date of death or date of loss, using market evidence and assignment conditions relevant to that date.
For charitable contributions, review the current requirements with your tax adviser and consult the IRS guidance in Publication 561.
The scope varies, but the work follows a defined path so the property, research, value conclusion, and assignment conditions are documented.
Confirm the intended use and users, property scope, value definition, effective date, deadline, and report requirements.
Examine the included property, record identifying characteristics and condition, and note relevant limitations or access conditions.
Create assignment records, photograph the property, review available provenance, and identify questions that require additional research.
Study the appropriate market, analyze comparable evidence, make supported adjustments, and reconcile the value conclusion.
Provide the agreed report with scope, methods, assumptions, item information, value conclusions, and supporting explanation.
01 Assignment
02 Inspection + photographs
03 Market analysis
04 Reconciled conclusion
This branded sample shows the structure and level of explanation a written personal property appraisal may contain. The sample uses fictional property, dates, market evidence, and values.
Sample visual · Illustrative only · Not for reliance. It is not a completed appraisal, a value opinion, or a template for every assignment.
Prime serves clients from McLean and Palm Beach, with personal property appraisal assignments across Northern Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, and South Florida. Availability depends on location, scope, timing, and travel requirements.
Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Great Falls, Tysons, Vienna, Reston, Fairfax, Leesburg, Ashburn, Middleburg, Round Hill, Manassas, Gainesville, Warrenton, Winchester, Berryville, Front Royal
Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, Bowie, Columbia, Ellicott City, Frederick, Hagerstown, Annapolis, Severna Park, Baltimore, Bel Air, Kent Island, St. Michaels, Easton, Chestertown, Cambridge
Washington, DC
Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Miami Beach, Stuart, Naples, Key West, Port St. Lucie
Purpose, value basis, effective date, property scope, and intended users should be settled before the inspection and research plan is finalized.
Read Every Appraisal QuestionYes. Prime prepares personal property appraisals in compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Each assignment identifies its intended use and users, value definition, effective date, scope of work, research, analysis, assumptions, and reporting requirements.
Fair market value addresses a hypothetical exchange between informed and willing market participants under the definition adopted for the assignment. Replacement value addresses the cost to replace an item with property of comparable quality and utility in the relevant market. They answer different questions and can produce different conclusions.
Yes, when the assignment calls for a retrospective effective date. The report develops an opinion as of that earlier date and relies on market information and assignment conditions relevant to it.
The appraiser examines the property included in the assignment, records relevant identifying characteristics and condition, takes photographs, reviews available records or provenance, and notes limitations that may affect the analysis.
No. Prime’s personal property appraisal practice does not include stamps or documents. The initial conversation can identify whether another specialist should be considered.
No. Appraisal and auction services are distinct. An appraisal may inform a later decision, but a sale or auction is evaluated and agreed separately.
Share why the appraisal is needed, who will rely on it, where the property is located, the categories involved, the relevant date, and your deadline. Prime will identify the right next conversation.
