The Appraisers Association of America is an international organization based in New York City with over 800 members in cities across the country as well as in Canada, Europe and Asia. In a field with no degree and no license, membership in the Appraisers Association of America is one of the most important credentials to look for in a personal property appraiser. Our members are known for the highest standards of ethics, conduct and professionalism and are members in one of three categories: Certified Member, Member, and Associate. Certified is the highest level of membership and a Certified Member always has a designation of AAA after his/her name indicating that they have particular expertise in a specified area.

In the appraisal profession, there are five major categories: personal property, real property (real estate), business valuation, machinery and equipment, and gems and jewelry. Although the organization has members in several of these areas, the majority of our members are personal property appraisers specializing in the fine and decorative arts, jewelry, and household contents. Their areas of specialization range from paintings and drawings, to clocks and watches, to furniture and ceramics. Members frequently specialize in more than one area, and many are certified experts in more than one area. Our members provide appraisals for purposes of insurance, estate tax, charitable donation, equitable distribution, liquidation, purchase, and sale.

All members of the Appraisers Association of America are listed in our searchable online Membership Directory and can be contacted directly for appraisal services.The Membership Directory is organized by name, geographic area, and area of specialization and searches can be conducted in these fields. You may enter the last name of an appraiser to access his/her contact information, or you may enter a city and an area of specialization to access several appraisers in your area who can prepare an appraisal in a specific area of specialization. Please note that you may need to broaden your search to include an entire state instead of one city for example. For a complete list of members, leave all search fields blank and press GO.

What To Do Before You Contact An Appraiser
You should plan to have several important pieces of information available before you contact an appraiser to discuss an appraisal. You should be prepared to discuss the purpose of the appraisal such as: insurance or donation; the nature of the work of art such as: painting on canvas or bronze clock; any information about the artist or maker and the date of the piece; any information about when or where it was purchased and if you are the owner; and where the piece is located and if there is an image available. Members of the Appraisers Association of America are independent appraisers and their fee structures vary'”many have an hourly rate, and others will have a project rate; you should be prepared to discuss these fees and a timeline for your project. Typically, an appraiser will make an appointment to meet with you to discuss the appraisal, and to view the pieces to be appraised, and will then prepare an estimate of fees to be charged for the services rendered.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Please feel free to contact AAA with any questions or comments.
212.889.5404, x11.