Verbal opinion or written appraisal?
A dealer's verbal estimate is useful for deciding whether something is worth pursuing. A written appraisal, prepared by a qualified appraiser for a stated purpose (insurance, estate division, a charitable donation), documents the item and its value and usually costs a fee per hour or per item. Ask what you will receive and what it costs before booking.
Avoid conflicts of interest
Professional appraisers don't offer to buy what they appraise. If someone appraises an item and immediately offers to buy it, get a second opinion.
Appraisal fees shops publish
| Rate | What | As published |
|---|---|---|
| $20 | Appraisal fee | For pieces valued more than $500, we offer a minimum $20 appraisal fee on estates of 100 pieces or more J Thomson Custom Jewelers, Oklahoma City, OK · source |
| $25/hour | Appraisal fee | Appraisals are $25.00/hour Marketplace 3301, Billings, MT · source |
| $25 | Appraisal fee | Starting at just $25, our staff offers our combined years of experience and expertise to help you know the value of your various heirlooms Salado Creek Antiques, Salado, TX · source |
| $25 | Appraisal fee | “Head to Toe” Doll Appraisal fee is $25 Not Just Dolls, Royse City, TX · source |
| $35/hour | Appraisal fee | We charge $35 per hour for coin collection appraisals that do not result in a buy I Have Coins and Collectibles, Franklin, MA · source |
| $45/item | Appraisal fee | The cost of appraising the first piece is $85, each additional piece is $45 Musselman Jewelers, Denver, CO · source |
| $50/hour | Appraisal fee | Written appraisals for insurance purposes are offered at an hourly rate of $50.00, with a one hour minimum Old Beautiful Antiques & Art, Essex, CT · source |
| $50/item | Appraisal fee | Written appraisals, which include detailed documentation, are available at a fee of $50 per item Antiques & Porcelain By GK, Glenview, IL · source |
| $50–$150 | Appraisal fee | Most jewelers charge $50–$150 per appraisal and again each time values need updating Smith's Jewelers, Noblesville, IN · source |
| $50/item | Appraisal fee | We charge $140 for the first signed, written appraisal and $50 for each additional item E.B. Horn Jewelers, Boston, MA · source |
| $50 | Appraisal fee | “Full Body Scan” Doll Appraisal recommended for Antique dolls only fee is $50 Not Just Dolls, Royse City, TX · source |
| $75/hour | Appraisal fee | We offer jewelry appraisals for $75 per hour, with a minimum of one hour McAdams' Ltd., Columbia, MO · source |