Certified Appraisal Services for All of Your Assets

Our team at Kennedy Brothers Auctions will assist you with your property appraisal needs. We will look at your objects as well as measure and photograph them. Our appraisers will then come up with an opinion of each item’s value based on research of comparable objects within the most appropriate market. This service is fee-based and generally given as a formal, written document.

How We Can Help

Our appraisals are based on the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) set by the Appraisals Standards Board (ASB) of The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) in Washington, D.C. We also follow the principles of appraisal practices and code of ethics of the National Auctioneers Association Education Institute (NAAEI) in Overland Park, KS.

You can rely on us to appraise all your items including estates and vehicles. We also provide our services for jewelry, antiques, collectibles, art, and more.

Insurance Appraisals

These may be necessary to evaluate your property for loss, damage, theft, or destruction.
Some situations that require you to get an insurance appraisal are:

If you are relocating and you want to provide your moving company with a contents appraisal before you leave for your new property. You may have all or selected items appraised. If you own antiques or other valuable objects, the moving company you are working with may insist upon an appraisal.
When you have already moved but were unable to get your items appraised, and damages on your property may not be covered. You will then need to get an appraisal for insurance loss.
In case of fire, flood, or theft, an appraisal may be helpful in order to adequately cover the loss or damage to your property. Special antiques or other similar items must be placed on an insurance rider.
If your items were damaged inside a storage facility, an appraisal is required to cover the insurance for your losses.

Fair Market Value Appraisals

Divorce or Annulment

This type of appraisal ensures the equitable distribution of your property. The division of items can be an emotional task for parties involved, so the task is best left to unbiased professionals. Talk to your attorney about having a joint valuation done on your marital property.

Death (Probate)

Appraisal for probate cases may be necessary for tax purposes. This is also useful for the distribution of the property.

Charitable Contribution

Governmental law requires experts in the industry to appraise certain charitable contributions. Some institutions may also require an appraisal before they accept a donation. If you are considering making a charitable donation, you should first consult with your tax advisor.

Estate Planning

When planning what items you are going to give away, you should consider your assets. Make sure that you know to whom each of your personal belongings will be bequeathed.

Liquidation

We can help you with orderly liquidation, which refers to selling your items in an organized manner with very little to no time constraints. Our team also works with you for forced liquidations, which requires you to sell possessions within certain time constraints.

Frequently Asked Questions About Appraisals

Are all appraisers accredited and tested?

No. Examples of non-accredited appraisers may include antique dealers, auctioneers, or jewelers who have knowledge of some values in their field of expertise but do not have formal training in valuation methodology. It’s best that you ask the appraiser which professional appraisal organization he or she belongs to and research their company.

Can you do an appraisal from photographs?

Yes, it is possible, but not preferred. Our appraisers will need specific information such as the condition and size of your property. Separate photographs of the construction methods will also be required.

We normally use photographs for preliminary consultations to ascertain whether or not the object has enough value to warrant the expense of an appraisal. Our team can discuss this with you over the phone.

What is a consultation?

If someone leaves you even just one or two items from their home and you aren’t sure of its value, you should speak to a professional to find out if an appraisal is necessary. This service is what we call a consultation. We offer this at a lower base fee so that you can make informed decisions and answer the following questions:

Which items are worth the cost of an appraisal and which aren’t?
Are you going to keep the items or liquidate them?
If you’re going to keep them, do they need to be placed on an insurance rider?
If you’re going to liquidate them, what are the best avenues for disposal?
Do you have the time and means to dispose of your items or would you rather leave this to our company?