The Appraisal Process

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The Rules

Appraisals are performed in accordance with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) as promulgated by The Appraisal Foundation and subscribed to by the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and the Appraisers Association of America (AAA). Click on USPAP for a little more on its history. Be advised: Any object that is appraised by Mr. Grove cannot be bought by him, or in his interest, in perpetuity, due to the inherent creation of a conflict of interest. Confidentiality is assured by law.

Courtroom Drama Impartial Consultations

Expert Witness and Consultations for Attorneys Representing Defendants or Plaintiffs: Mr. Grove is not your client’s advocate – you are. He advocates only for his own opinion as the facts merit. Objective opinions of value made by Mr. Grove shall be substantiated by credible market research and analysis. Subjective opinions are based on 30 years of practical experience and they shall be plainly identified and stated succinctly. No opinion shall be shaped to fit the needs of any client for any reason whatsoever, period – no exceptions. Be prepared to hear what you do not want to hear if the facts support a conclusion that is opposite of your objective. Furthermore, his conclusions will be identical regardless if the case is for a defendant or for a plaintiff. Any attempt by retaining counsel to prejudice the impartial opinion(s) of Mark C. Grove or his associates will violate the Retention Agreement. Be advised right now, clearly, if you seek a hired gun, go somewhere else. If you want to know the facts, you’ve come to the right place. If you are honest and realistic, you’ll be glad that you’ve finally found your ethical equal.
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No Drama Impartial Appraisals

Appraisals for Private Clients Not Involved in Litigation: Mr. Grove is not your advocate. He advocates only for his own opinion as the facts merit. Attempts on the part of a client to influence Mr. Grove’s opinions of value conclusions will be rebuffed. Every effort will be made to limit your expenses as long as the required due diligence is not impinged. About two thirds of prospective clients do not need a written appraisal report and you will be advised of this as soon as it becomes evident. Also, you will be advised as to what should and should not be scheduled for insurance coverage or some other intended use. Some objects are simply not worth the expense of having them appraised and then paying the insurance premiums. However, you may overrule recommendations and insist to be scheduled as you wish. And for your information, reports often include tips in the footnotes pertaining to restoration, market strengths and weaknesses, contact information of key individuals, and resources for repair and replacements, etc. These valuable tips will save you time and frustration and they are based on Mr. Grove’s experience.
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Consultations for Property Disposition

Mr. Grove is your advocate when acting as a consultant for the disposition of personal property. Your best interest is paramount. He will advise you as to the best way to dispose of your high value properties. The marketplace is complex and hazardous. Depending on what it is that you intend to sell, there are crucial factors to be considered such as timing, location, presentation, venue, etc. Unless you are entirely familiar and up to date with market trends, engage a consultant. The improved results will likely offset the expense.
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The Final Product

Appraisal reports are printed and bound references that clients retain for years. Finished reports are similar in appearance to a graduate school thesis or dissertation. Some are as thick as a telephone directory. Reports are bound within plastic jackets, have a cover page, executive summery and a detailed scope of work statement, index, certification page, policy statement page, an introduction, item-by-item literal and/or interpretive narrative descriptions, photographs embedded in the text, market commentary, conclusion, footnotes, bibliography, expert pool, fine print (legal stuff), and a glossary of technical terms used in the report. All reports are protected by copyright because they are considered intellectual property. Each page carries in the header or footer the copyright, the purpose of and intended use of the appraisal report, the effective date of the report, the client’s name, and the appraiser’s name. Pagination is designated in a manner that reflects the length of the report so that the finished product cannot be disassembled for other intentions (i.e. 1-OF-50). TIP: Never discard old appraisal reports no matter how obsolete or how poorly written they might be because they serve as a historical record, if nothing else. Written reports provided today by accredited appraisers are vastly superior to examples available even ten years ago. Properly written appraisal reports are as important as a Will and should be kept in a safe place.
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Where: Location, Location, Location – No Problem

Mr. Grove Will Travel to Assignments Nearly Anywhere. He has consulted with private and institutional clients throughout Virginia and in Maryland, New York City, Seattle, Florida, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Texas, North Carolina, California, New Jersey, West Virginia, Kentucky, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C. Past appraisal assignments that Mr. Grove has accepted have been for as few as one object or over 4500 objects with individual properties sometimes exceeding $2,000,000 in estimated value. Some of the assessed assets have been as early as 800 BC and others have been new.
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When: Yesterday

All Assignments are Completed in a Timely Manner. From the examination date to completion, depending on the size of the assignment and the amount of research, they are usually completed within three to six weeks. New assignments are scheduled as time permits.
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No Jack

No One Appraiser is Expert in All Fields. When a property is outside the norm the professional appraiser must either engage in additional research or draw from a pool of expert colleagues. Some property types require a personal property appraiser specialized in the respective field, such as: gems & jewelry, modified or damaged automobiles, equipment, yachts, aircraft, horses, and timber. If you have any of these properties, Mr. Grove can refer you to a colleague with expertise in those properties.
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Appraisal Services

• Trusts & Estates
• Estate Planning
• Insurance Scheduling
• Division of Property: Divorce
• Estate Settlements
• Donations Exceeding $5000
• Equitable Distribution

• Divorce
• Insurance Claims
• Asset Assessment
• Bankruptcy
• Income stream
• Valuations of Personal Property

Consultation Services

• Expert Witness
• Litigation Support
• Depositions
• Purchase Advisory

• Sales Advisory
• Agent to Buy
• Broker to Sell
• One-on-one Tutorials

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Property Categories

Typical

The Personal Property Items that Mr. Grove Typically Encounters: furniture (American, Continental, English, period, country, mission, painted, twig, folk, custom, modern, etc.), paintings, sculptures, bronzes, folk art, prints, African art, Australian Papunya Western Desert art, outsider art, art pottery, creamware, pearlware, American pottery, English pottery, porcelain, studio pottery, earthenware, sgraffito-decorated wares, yellowware, redware, stoneware, studio art glass, Italian Murano art glass, pattern and cut glassware, ephemera, early photographs (tintypes, ambrotypes, daguerreotypes, CDV’s, cabinet cards, etc.), sterling silver, coin silver, American Indian silver jewelry, Danish silver jewelry, Mexican silver jewelry, studio silver jewelry, costume jewelry, bakelite jewelry, prints, luggage and handbags, purses, hatpins, schoolgirl samplers, weapons, quilts and coverlets, Oriental and hooked rugs, pewter and other metalware, treen, carvings, old hand tools and scientific instruments, medical, tobacciana, country store items, advertising, clocks, lighting, fishing tackle and lures, hunting decoys and traps, cowboy and equestrian items, firearms, edged weapons, militaria, police and firefighting, sporting and sports related, Shaker items, baskets, books, political ephemera, toys, architectural elements, garden furniture, automobiles, collections of popular collectibles, other categories too numerous to mention, and personal property that is not old but may have been damaged in transit.
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Fine Art

Partial Listing of Past Fine Art Appraised by Mr. Grove by Artist: Picasso, Rembrandt, Renoir, Chagall, Dali, Goya, Rodin, Calder, Remington, Russell, J.J. Audubon, Mêlê, Domenichino, Tiepolo, Starkweather, R. Motherwell, J. Wyeth, R. Henri, J.J. Porter, Cikovsky, Altaffer, Hartenhoff, Janssand, Pain, Diaqué, Dickerson, Grau Santos, Ziem, J. Bell, Williams, Blackman, Hundertwasser, Molvig, Dobell, Oronida, Brangwyn, Lek, Toulouse-Lautrec, Ogilvie, Viat, LaLande, Hogarth, Ouida George, Tucker, Boughton, Ziegler, Davies, van Dokkum, Barile, Muncy, James George, Hoffman, Korn, Louit, De LaBrierre, Jaquamart, Barye, Trodoux, Villanis, Agostini, Norman Clark, T.T. Wilson, J.F. Murphy, Paul Jacoulet, Tobey, Meert, G. Stevens, J. Stangl, F. Benson, D. Hockney, Cory, J. Peterson, Trainum, J. Antone, A. Cortez, L’Héritier, Faed, Klitz, W.A. Clark, E.C. Clark, J.F. Renault, E. Hill, Katz, B. Krupp, Faucher, C.M. Dewey, W.H. Williams, Tsigal, R. Karr, E.A. Abbey, Gallo, Grauer, Serrure, Künstler, B. Crane, Knowlton, Irvine, E. Lawson, E.N. Hatch, E.D. Lewis, Baird, Ferrara, C.W. Peters, M.N. MacCord, Haberle, J.B. Morse, B. Stern, Cappiello, Mercier, Hohlwein, Dupin, Falcucci, W. Baumeister, Richter, Rooney, J. Rogers, W.M. Frahme, J.J. Enwright, Pitto, Millingalli, W.W. Swallow, D. Huber, W. Mosley, Prettyman, J. Bender, H.S. Eddy, F.S. Dixon, J. Sloan, P. Lubarda, Audri Smith, D. McGary, Cloud Bear, L.West, Roland Clark, J. McBey, J.A.M. Whistler, R.G. Somers, Guida, Alan Price, Olshanetsky, Girardot, Barbera, Jan Scott, Petit, P. Leggett, Daneїs, Angellis, R. Berger, Trenton, R. Moesle, Hicks, Shoffstall, J. Frost, H. Yoshida, A.L. Ripley, A.M. Black, Rouault, Brochet, D. Downey, R. England, A. Baarns, A. Bonhomme, Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra, George Tjapanangka, Kanya Tjapangati, George Tjangala, Turkey Tolson Tjupurrulla, Patricia Stanley Cunningham, Rudolf Bonnet, Pierre-Auguste Cot, John Manol, Herbert Nelson Hooven, Henrietta Elizabeth Dodd Hoopes, Blondelle Octavia Edwards Malone, Tsuchiya Koitsu, George Owen Wynne Apperley, Joseph Jansen, Henry Pember Smith, Nicolas Lancret, Frederik Marianus Kruseman, J. A. Cook, Tepuctzof, Lexandrieff, Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, Marius-Jean-Antonin Mercie, Armand Jules Leveel, Samuel Edmund Oppenheim, Henry Greenewalt, Philip Geiger, Elizabeth Shoumatoff, Tran Mawicke, A.B. Durand, Edward Thomas, S.W. Andrews, John McCoy, J.R. Hopkins, V. Dupre, T. Adams, E.A.S. Lavieille, P.J.M. Saïn, Antelma Santini, Leda Renaux, H. Ortega, M. Björkström, Helen Bedfors, Hector Caffieri, A.R. Hayward, Carl von Marr, K.Krüger, Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove, Pierre Louis Delaval, Helen Peabody Grant, R.R. Meacham, J. Pearse, Leod Anchiz, Susan French Overstreet, Henry Wilkinson, Patrick Hennesy, Gerald Hennesy, Barbara Kiwak, Robert A. Heuel II, Filippine, F.B. Voss, David H. Turner, Ruth Robertson, Harry Longueville Jones, Roland Clark, Frank W. Benson, C.A. Seward, etc.
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Standard Protocol for All Appraisal Assignments: See Schedule of Fees

Standard Policies: See Schedule of Fees