Estate Valuation
Estate Valuation is the process of determining the worth of all items in a collection, home, or estate, particularly focusing on art, antiques, and collectibles. This is similar to regular art appraisal but covers multiple items and entire collections at once, often needed for inheritance, insurance, or sale purposes. Think of it as taking inventory and pricing everything valuable in someone's home or collection, but with professional expertise to understand what's truly valuable and what's not. Related terms include "collection assessment" or "estate appraisal."
Examples in Resumes
Conducted Estate Valuation for private collections valued over $1M
Performed Estate Valuation and Estate Appraisal services for museum-quality collections
Led team of specialists in comprehensive Estate Valuation projects for high-net-worth clients
Typical job title: "Estate Appraisers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Estate Appraisers
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle complex estate valuations with multiple categories of items?
Expected Answer: Should explain their process for organizing large assessments, mention experience with different types of items (art, furniture, jewelry), and discuss how they manage teams of specialists when needed.
Q: Describe a challenging estate valuation you handled and how you resolved any issues.
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate problem-solving abilities, experience with difficult clients or complicated estates, and knowledge of how to handle disputes or controversial valuations.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What resources do you use to determine current market values?
Expected Answer: Should mention various price databases, auction records, market research tools, and professional networks they consult for accurate valuations.
Q: How do you document items for an estate valuation?
Expected Answer: Should describe their methodology for photographing, measuring, describing, and recording condition notes for items, as well as organizing final reports.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's the difference between fair market value and replacement value?
Expected Answer: Should explain that fair market value is what a willing buyer would pay in the current market, while replacement value is the cost to replace an item with a similar one.
Q: What basic steps do you take when beginning an estate valuation?
Expected Answer: Should describe initial client meeting, preliminary walkthrough, photography, research, and basic documentation processes.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic item identification
- Photography and documentation
- Research methodology
- Basic report writing
Mid (2-5 years)
- Independent valuations
- Market analysis
- Client relations
- Detailed report preparation
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex estate management
- Team leadership
- Expert witness testimony
- High-value collection assessment
Red Flags to Watch For
- No formal appraisal training or certification
- Lack of knowledge about current market values
- Unable to explain valuation methodology
- No experience with standard appraisal reporting formats
- Poor documentation practices
