Why do I need to pay an appraiser to conduct market research on each item appraised.  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, good appraisers conduct market research on every item appraised and retain this information in your work file. This is good appraisal practice.  Research conducted for a certified appraisal, must be documented as current on the effective date of the appraisal.  This research 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 another third party.

Do you have a minimum fee for formal written Appraisal Reports?

Due to the time involved in a conducting a competent formal appraisal report, our minimum fee for written appraisals is $800.

Does part of your fee include authenticating works of art?

Except in very rare instances, appraisers are not qualified to authenticate. Most appraisals are based on readily apparent identity. A responsible appraiser will consult with an expert when there are questions related to authenticity.  Appraisers are experts in interpreting various markets and estimating value. There are usually only a handful of experts recognized within the art world as qualified to authenticate the work of a particular artist. This expert may be an informed member of the artist’s family, an art historian or curator who has studied the artist’s work extensively, a gallery that has represented the artist, or the author of the artist’s catalog raisonné.

Do you ever charge on a percentage basis?

No.  It is unethical for an appraiser to charge based on the value of an item.  It is proper for appraisers to charge an hourly rate, to negotiate a fee for a project in advance, or to charge on a per diem basis.