Appraisal Services
Christianne Dimitri, AAA is a Certified member of the Appraisers Association of America, and specializes in European Furniture & Decorative Arts, including Paintings, Drawings, Works of Art and Sculpture from antiquity to the mid-20th century. As an accredited appraiser since 2007, her reports have been accepted by the Internal Revenue Service, insurance companies, museums, corporate clients and private collectors. Her appraisals are Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant through March 28, 2025, and conform to (USPAP), as established by the Appraisal Foundation, as well as, the technical, methodological, and ethical requirements of the Appraisers Association of America.
How It Works
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Step 1
Consultation to determine what object(s) are to be appraised and the type of appraisal required. Our Agreement Letter, or general service contract, indicating scope of work, terms and the appraiser's fee is sent. A signed Agreement Letter and deposit is required in advance of the inspection date.
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Step 2
Inspection of the subject property at client's residence, office or other facility. This step includes the taking of photographs. We consider the quality, relative importance, history and condition of the object(s). We research the items, prepare the written report and arrive at our valuation in our office.
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Step 3
Upon receipt of payment for the balance due, the report is delivered. A check or bank transfer is accepted. All information and materials produced by or submitted to Christianne Dimitri are confidential and are not released to any party without the written permission of the client.
Why hire an Appraisers Association member?
Personal property appraisers are not licensed and anyone may call him/herself an appraiser no matter what his/her qualifications or lack of them. It is therefore crucial to choose an accredited and certified appraiser, one qualified in the field of the object to be appraised and knowledgeable in the legal, financial, and technical requirements of the appraisal. Christianne Dimitri’s practice serves the public by providing fair, objective and disinterested information based on the facts of valuation methodology set forth by the Appraisers Association of America and the International Society of Appraisers. She specializes in appraisals of European furniture, sculpture and works of art. For collections involving property in other fields or disciplines, she works together with colleagues known to her who have equivalent expertise in their areas. She is pleased to recommend reliable appraisers for projects outside of her field, but in all cases encourage clients to seek appraisers who are members of one of the non-profit appraisal organizations that test and certify members and who require adherence to strict ethical standards. These include the Appraisers Association of America and the International Society of Appraisers. What is a ‘Certified’ appraiser? Certified Membership represents the highest level of accomplishment for members of the Appraisers Association of America, and have the most extensive level of expertise, qualifying education, and a minimum of ten years of experience as an appraiser of personal property, specializing in the fine and/or decorative arts. The Appraisers Association’s requirements for Certified Membership align with the Personal Property Appraiser Minimum Qualification Criteria established by The Appraisal Foundation (TAF). TAF is a congressionally mandated organization that oversees the valuation profession.
Appraisals are important legal documents intended to establish the value of property for a variety of purposes. These may include:
To determine the Retail Replacement Value of an object in order to provide appropriate insurance coverage.
To determine the value of an object lost or damaged and/or the amount of any loss in value as a result of the damage.
To determine the Fair Market Value of an object given to an allowed organization or institution in order to establish the donor’s permitted income tax deduction.
To determine the Fair Market Value of an object in connection with the preparation of estate tax returns, to assist in estate planning, and to aid in asset distribution.
To determine the Fair Market Value of an object to aid in the equitable distribution of property jointly owned by couples, by business associates, or corporations changing ownership.
To determine the Fair Market Value of an object for asset management, loan collateral and related financial and legal matters.
To determine the Fair Market Value of an object in anticipation of potential sale. To determine the Fair Market Value of an object under consideration for purchase. To determine the Fair Market Value of an object simply to know what it is worth.
What is in an appraisal?
Properly prepared appraisals are individual written, confidential reports and are not simple lists of property with numbers attached. The specific content and format of each appraisal report varies according to the individual situation, but each appraisal should contain the following information (as per the Appraisers Association of America’s Elements of a Correctly Prepared Appraisal):
FEE
information, as well as, a digital image (preferably in .jpg format). Except in special circumstances, we do not undertake appraisals of items that we have not personally examined, but are pleased to review the material you submit without obligation or charge and we will suggest the best manner to proceed.
