Because there is no national, state, or local licensing requirements for personal property appraisers, virtually anyone can make the claim that he/she is an appraiser. Such claims may or may not be accurate.

Competence as an appraiser is based on experience, training and testing in appraisal theory, and "product" knowledge, i.e., familiarity with the types of property being appraised, be it furniture, glass, phonographs, or baseball cards. Mere membership in an appraisal society is no measure of competence as a personal property, nor is lack of membership an indication of the lack of such competence.

Interview any prospective appraiser and make the effort to learn more about him/her. Here is a list of questions to ask (as well as some hints as to what the answers should be.)

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