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Certified Gun Appraisers
RoyNCher
Member Posts: 12 ✭✭
I would appreciate help with the following questions:
1)Is there a reliable online resource where I can educate myself on what qualifies someone as a certified gun appraiser?
2)What is a fair rate for a hands-on appraisal?
3)Is there a reliable single online resource where certified gun appraisers are listed by state/county/city?
4)How do I know if a gun appraiser is really certified as advertised? Do they have a license/certificate available if requested?
Please excuse the questions if they seem trite, I'm trying to learn. Thank you.
1)Is there a reliable online resource where I can educate myself on what qualifies someone as a certified gun appraiser?
2)What is a fair rate for a hands-on appraisal?
3)Is there a reliable single online resource where certified gun appraisers are listed by state/county/city?
4)How do I know if a gun appraiser is really certified as advertised? Do they have a license/certificate available if requested?
Please excuse the questions if they seem trite, I'm trying to learn. Thank you.
Comments
Neal
The American Society of Appraisers does certify members in appraising tangible personal property. There are appraisers with the accredition ASA (accredited senior appraiser) or AM (acredited member) that specialize in certain types of tangible personal property, including firearms. The ASA has a web site you can access for member's location and certification. Having the accreditation is one thing, having the relevant experience is quite another.
I have used appraisers in preparing inventories for probate purposes and learned that the appraisal process for firearms includes combining data from sources like GunBroker's completed transactions with the applicable Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice in coming up with a value for the stated purpose. For common firearms this seems to be reasonable. When it comes to more special firearms like old SA colts, early American lever actions, etc. there are only a hand full of people in the country that truely have the knowledge and experience to offer a reasonable opinion of value. Some of these folks are frequent posters here or can direct you to someone in your area. I hope this helps.
I would appreciate help with the following questions:
1)Is there a reliable online resource where I can educate myself on what qualifies someone as a certified gun appraiser?
2)What is a fair rate for a hands-on appraisal?
3)Is there a reliable single online resource where certified gun appraisers are listed by state/county/city?
4)How do I know if a gun appraiser is really certified as advertised? Do they have a license/certificate available if requested?
Please excuse the questions if they seem trite, I'm trying to learn. Thank you.
1. No, there is not.
2. What may be a "fair" rate to one person, may not be "fair" to the next person. What I can tell you, is that anyone who charges based on a percentage of the appraised value is a rip-off artist. Those who charge a flat-rate fee on a per firearm basis are the people to deal with. I typically charge $20/firearm (Winchester), which includes a written description of each individual gun. If factory research information is desired (if available), I add $10/firearm.
3. Not that I am aware of.
4. To the best of my knowledge, there is not a "certification" or "license" system to become a firearms appraiser. As pointed out by a previous respone, you need to seek out a known expert in the specific type firearm you need appraised.