Expert Antique Appraisers Who Make House Calls Discover Home Based Valuations With Ease

In-home appraisals let the expert come to your collection. When antiques are fragile, built-in, or simply numerous, a house call is the most efficient and accurate way to document, photograph, and value items where they live. Here’s how professional appraisers handle on-site work, what it costs, how to prepare, and how to get a report that will be accepted by insurers, courts, and tax authorities.

Why Choose a House-Call Appraisal

A house call (also called in-home or on-site appraisal) makes sense when any of the following apply:

• You have a large or diverse collection that would be risky or costly to transport.
• Objects are heavy, oversized, or installed (armoires, longcase clocks, chandeliers, panel paintings, mirrors).
• Condition and context matter (original surface, matching sets, room provenance, integrated décor).
• You need inventory, photography, and valuation completed efficiently in one visit.
• You’re preparing for insurance scheduling, estate planning, equitable distribution, donation, or downsizing.
• You prefer discretion and minimal disruption.

Benefits of on-site valuation:

• Accuracy: Appraisers see true scale, lighting, and condition, not just photos. They can examine joinery, maker’s marks, patina, restoration, and matching suites.
• Safety: Less handling and transport reduces risk to fragile items.
• Speed: An organized walk-through can document dozens or hundreds of pieces in a day, then research follows off-site.
• Completeness: Appraisers capture entire sets and room groupings you might not think to bring to a studio.

When a virtual appraisal is enough:

• You only need an informal value range to decide whether to sell or insure at a basic level.
• You’re screening a few items to see what merits a formal report. Note: Photo-based opinions have limitations and are often not acceptable for insurance scheduling, charitable contributions, litigation, or probate.

What to Expect During an In‑Home Antique Valuation

A professional house call follows a predictable workflow.

1. Intake and scope

• You discuss intended use (insurance, fair market value for estate or donation, equitable distribution, liquidation) and timeline.
• The appraiser confirms the scope: number of items, categories (furniture, fine art, silver, rugs, decorative arts), priorities, and any travel or access constraints.

2. Walk-through and triage

• A quick scan identifies categories and complexity. The appraiser decides sequencing (by room or by type) and flags items needing extra time.

3. Examination and data capture

• Tools: LED flashlight, UV light, measuring tape/calipers, scale, magnet, loupe, moisture meter (wood), infrared thermometer (kiln-fired clues), and color-standardized photography.
• Inspection: materials, construction, patination, hardware, maker’s marks, signatures, weaves, knots, joinery, veneers, inlay, tool marks, stretcher bars, canvas weave, craquelure pattern, under-UV fluorescence (restoration/overpaint).
• Measurements and weights are recorded precisely; sets are counted and matched.
• Photography: front/back/underside, labels, signatures, damages, and overall context. Good appraisers standardize angles and include rulers for scale.
• Condition notes: wear, repairs, losses, wood movement, re-lacquering, replaced elements, sun fade, insect activity. Accurate condition drives value.

4. Provenance and documentation review

• The appraiser scans receipts, prior appraisals, restoration invoices, certificates, exhibition catalogs, letters, and family histories. Copies or photos are typically sufficient.
• They will not normally remove frames or backing on-site; if necessary, they’ll discuss risks before proceeding.

5. Time on-site vs. off-site

• On-site time is for inspection, measurements, and photography.
• Research, market analysis, and report writing occur off-site. Complex objects may require several hours each for research.

6. Typical durations

• Small visit (10–20 items): 2–4 hours on-site.
• Medium collection (40–80 items): one full day, possibly a two-person team.
• Large estates: multi-day and team-based for efficiency and consistency.

7. Professional boundaries

• Appraisers should not appraise and purchase the same property without full disclosure and strict safeguards. Many fee appraisers never buy from assignments to avoid conflicts.

Credentials, Compliance, and Report Types Explained

Serious collectors and fiduciaries should insist on competency and compliance.

• USPAP compliance: In the United States, credible appraisal reports follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. This governs ethics, scope of work, record keeping, and reporting.
• Professional organizations: Look for membership and tested accreditation with bodies such as the International Society of Appraisers (ISA), American Society of Appraisers (ASA), or Appraisers Association of America (AAA). Members often hold specialties (furniture, fine art, silver, rugs).
• Qualified appraiser (for tax purposes): For charitable contributions and some estate matters, the IRS expects a “Qualified Appraiser” with verifiable education and experience in the relevant category.
• Competency: Beyond letters, ensure the appraiser has recent, relevant market experience in your property type and geographic market.

Report types and value definitions:

• Insurance (replacement value): New or equivalent item cost in the appropriate retail market. Used for scheduling high-value items on policies.
• Fair Market Value (FMV): Price between willing buyer and seller, neither under compulsion, both informed; used for estate tax, donations, and equitable distribution.
• Liquidation value: Forced-sale or orderly-sale scenarios; often lower than FMV due to time constraints.
• Marketable cash value: FMV less typical selling costs; useful in planning proceeds from sale.
• Restricted use vs. intended use: Reports state who can rely on them and why they were developed. This is critical for acceptance by insurers or courts.

Report contents you should expect:

• Cover letter, scope, and intended use/users.
• Effective date of valuation and inspection date.
• Detailed descriptions: maker/attribution, period, materials, dimensions, marks.
• Condition statements.
• Photographs of each item and key details.
• Approach to value and market(s) considered (for antiques, typically the sales comparison approach).
• Comparable sales data with citations (auction or dealer comparables).
• Value conclusions for each item or grouped sets.
• Assumptions, limiting conditions, and appraiser’s certification and qualifications.

Pricing, Scheduling, and Scope: What It Really Costs

Fee structures you’ll encounter:

• Hourly rate: Most common for on-site work and report writing. Rates vary by expertise and region.
• Day rate: Efficient for large inventories or travel-intensive assignments.
• Per-item rate: Occasionally used for uniform categories (e.g., a set of similar prints), less common for mixed collections.
• Minimums and travel: Expect minimum billable hours plus travel time/expenses outside the local radius.
• Retainer/deposit: Often required to hold a date and cover travel.
• Rush fees: Added when you need delivery faster than the appraiser’s standard timeline.

What influences cost:

• Complexity: Signed paintings, rare clocks, or early American furniture demand more research.
• Condition and verification: Heavy restoration or uncertain attribution increases time.
• Volume: More items may reduce per-item cost due to workflow efficiency.
• Deliverables: Insurance schedule versus a fully illustrated, court-ready narrative report.

Typical timelines:

• Scheduling lead time: 1–3 weeks for non-urgent visits; longer in peak seasons.
• Report delivery: 5–10 business days after inspection for standard assignments; complex or multi-market studies can take longer.

Budgeting tips:

• Share photos and a preliminary list in advance so the appraiser can estimate time realistically.
• Prioritize: Identify the top-value pieces you need fully documented first.
• Decide on grouping: Lesser-value items can be grouped in a schedule to control costs while still being covered for insurance.

Payment and terms:

• Clarify whether travel and photo editing are billable.
• Ask about cancellation/reschedule policies.
• Ensure you’ll receive a digital PDF and know whether printed copies are extra.

Prepare Your Space and Collection

Preparation saves time and improves accuracy.

• Access: Clear pathways, unlock cabinets, and ensure adequate lighting. Provide a stable table for small-object examination and photography.
• Organization: Group items by type or room. Keep pairs and sets together.
• Documentation: Gather receipts, prior appraisals, repair invoices, certificates, exhibition catalog entries, and provenance notes.
• Condition honesty: Do not polish, clean, or repair items before the visit. Overcleaning removes patina and can reduce value, especially with silver, bronzes, and wood surfaces.
• Pets and people: Crate pets and limit foot traffic to reduce risk and distractions.
• Security: Schedule discreetly, confirm the appraiser’s ID and credentials, and understand photo/data handling policies.

What not to do:

• Don’t remove paintings from frames unless asked. Backings protect canvases and evidence.
• Don’t glue, refinish, or reupholster before valuation; original materials matter.
• Don’t stage items outdoors or in direct sunlight for photos—color shifts can mislead condition assessment.

Practical Pre-Visit Checklist

• Confirm intended use: insurance, estate/FMV, donation, sale, or litigation.
• Verify credentials: USPAP training current; membership in ISA/ASA/AAA; relevant category expertise.
• Send a preview: photos, simple inventory list, and any prior documentation.
• Prepare access: clear surfaces, unlock cabinets, set up a well-lit table.
• Assemble papers: receipts, prior appraisals, provenance letters, restoration records.
• Protect integrity: do not polish or repair; keep sets together.
• Plan logistics: parking, elevator access, large-object handling, and a safe photo area.
• Discuss scope: number of items, deadlines, report format, and budget.
• Confirm fees: hourly/day rate, travel, minimums, rush fees, deposit, and payment method.
• Security measures: verify ID, data policies, and whether assistants will attend.

After the Visit: Reports, Insurance, and Next Steps

Once the on-site work is complete, your appraiser researches markets and prepares the report.

• Market selection: For antiques, credible comparables can come from regional and international auctions, private sales, and specialized dealers. The appropriate market depends on the intended use.
• Value reconciliation: The appraiser weighs comparable sales, adjusts for condition, scale, maker, date, and provenance, then reconciles to a supportable value or range.
• Delivery and review: You receive a draft or final PDF. Read the scope, intended use, and effective date carefully. Ask questions before the report is finalized.
• Insurance scheduling: Provide the report to your insurer to schedule items. Revisit values every 3–5 years or sooner during volatile markets.
• Estate and donation: For donations above IRS thresholds, ensure the appraiser’s qualifications meet requirements and that forms include the correct effective date. Keep photos and report copies with your records.
• Selling: If you plan to sell, ask for market channel guidance separate from the valuation (auction vs. dealer vs. private sale), but keep the valuation independent of any sales commission to avoid conflicts.

Red flags to avoid:

• An appraiser offering to buy items during the assignment, particularly at a discount to their own valuation.
• Vague fee estimates or refusal to define intended use and scope.
• Reports lacking comparables, value definitions, or the appraiser’s qualifications.

FAQ

Q: How much does a house-call appraisal cost? A: Most appraisers charge hourly or by the day, plus travel for distant sites. Small collections may run a few hours; large estates can take one or more days. Complexity, research time, and the report type (insurance vs. court-ready) are the biggest cost drivers.

Q: Will my insurer or the IRS accept an in-home appraisal report? A: Yes—if the appraiser is qualified for your property type and the report is USPAP-compliant, with the correct value definition and intended use. For charitable contributions and certain estate matters, ensure the appraiser meets “Qualified Appraiser” requirements and that the report includes the proper effective date and certification.

Q: Can the appraiser also buy my antiques? A: Ethical appraisers avoid purchasing property they appraise for fees. Buying introduces conflicts of interest. If a purchase is contemplated, it must be disclosed and handled under strict safeguards—many clients prefer to keep valuation and selling entirely separate.

Q: Do I need to clean or restore items before the visit? A: No. Do not polish silver, refinish wood, or remove old labels. Original surface, patina, and even minor wear can be value-positive in antiques. Let the appraiser see the true, unaltered condition.

Q: Is a photo-based appraisal good enough? A: Photo-based opinions can help you triage and plan, but they are often not acceptable for insurance scheduling, litigation, donations, or probate. In-home inspections provide the condition analysis and documentation those uses require.

With a clear scope, the right credentials, and thoughtful preparation, expert antique appraisers who make house calls can document your collection accurately, discreetly, and efficiently—delivering defensible values and practical guidance without moving a single piece out the door.