HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR APPRAISAL
In order to expedite your upcoming appraisal, there are several things you can do to prepare:
- Decide which items you want to have appraised.
- Ensure that items located in the attic, basement, closets, and outbuildings are open for view.
- Unpack items that are in drawers, trunks, or boxes that you wish to have examined.
- Put all things of like kind together such as flatware, crystal, and dinnerware services.
- Make sure there is adequate lighting.
- Gather any receipts, sales slips, or earlier appraisals and place them near the appropriate items.
- Gather any historical information or family history that relates to the items being appraised. This might include articles or books that refer to the artwork, exhibition catalogues, family letters, conservation/restoration reports, or names of family member from whom the work descended.
- Large pieces of furniture may need to be pulled away from the wall to inspect the back.
- Some fine art may need to be removed from the wall and/or frames.
- If there is a will, please ensure that all items specifically bequeathed in the will are available for inspection.