From individual items to large libraries and archives: appraisals tailored to meet specific needs
appraisals for
Estate Tax
Insurance
Charitable Donation
Fair Market Value
Financial Planning
Institutional Loan and Indemnification
Appraisals adhere to current principles and practices, and follow IRS and insurance-industry guidelines. Tom is certified in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) which sets minimum standards for appraisal practice. USPAP is set and promulgated by The Appraisal Foundation in Washington, D.C., a congressionally sanctioned, not-for-profit organization established in 1987 and dedicated to the advancement of professional valuation for appraisers and users of appraisal services to encourage public trust in the work performed by appraisers.
FEES
There is no charge for the initial consultation. After our preliminary discussions, a proposal and an agreement are submitted that define the fees and the projected timeline.
initial consultation
An appraisal is a collaboration that starts with a conversation: We will discuss the scope of the project and prioritize your needs in order to tailor an approach to the specifics at hand.
Private individuals and fiduciaries face a variety of issues of inheritance, estate settlement, and financial planning — and each client requires unique, personalized service. It is critical to appreciate the sensitive issues inherent to every situation, and Tom brings this understanding to his work.
Discretion and professionalism form the foundation of any appraiser’s practice, and Tom works confidentially and closely with clients to manage their needs.
archives and donations
Tom has evaluated archives for an array of notable people: artists, poets, novelists, politicians and public figures, journalists, composers, and scientists. He has liaised with the creators of these important groups of papers and the institutions endeavoring to acquire, catalogue, and preserve them for the future. During his long career, Tom has developed a specific set of skills to manage the appraisal process, from sorting and general organization to inventorying of the contents, describing the range of materials, and writing an appraisal inventory.
Charitable donation appraisals must adhere to strict IRS rules and regulations, as they will be reviewed and audited for tax purposes. Tom prepares appraisal reports that stand up to this scrutiny, and he has worked on donations to a wide array of prestigious institutions, from Ivy League universities to leading research centers, renowned art museums, state archives and historical societies, private clubs and libraries.
understanding and interpreting the market
Appraisers, collectors, and market watchers now have unprecedented access to sales data. The market is ever-expanding, the result of thirty years of global growth through the internet. This growth has brought transparency, a leveling of the market, and an often confusing and misleading ocean of information made possible by aggregating websites that share dealers’ stocks around the world, online catalogues, collaborative research on listservs and message boards, and auction records not just from the “big” houses but from every firm that sells via the many online auction portals now available. Interpreting this data in the context of an appraisal report that will face outside review requires careful study and analysis. Tom’s experiences at auction and in the private market give him unique perspective on how to appropriately understand this oversaturation of information. Tom also has access to private sales records, which are particularly important in the evaluation of archives and original material. In certain highly specialized areas, Tom consults with colleagues to enhance his research and provide an extra level of due diligence.