An appraisal is a professional evaluation of your item's market value. This is dependent on many factors, including the condition of your item, its rarity, and/or the demand for similar items of its kind. There are two basic services professional appraisers can offer:
A written appraisal is a report giving an opinion of the value of an item at a given point in time. All appraisals should be compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
Appraisers may also provide auction evaluations — verbal opinions of the value of your property — for free. There is often no charge for an auction evaluation and no obligation to consign to the gallery represented by the appraiser, but in general it is taken on good faith that you are considering selling your property at auction.
Professional appraisers can be found through the following organizations:
The Appraisers Association of America