Too often and too late, people find out that the appraisals they have are inaccurate or misleading, resulting not only in greater risk to themselves, but also in an annual waste of millions of consumer dollars. If you have a clear understanding of what you expect and what you want to do with the information, the appraiser will be better able to advise you on what he or she needs to provide. Personal property appraisers are not regulated by any government entity. Consumers need to establish an appraiser's qualifications and areas of expertise before retaining their services. The International Society of Appraisers strongly recommends that there be a written agreement between the parties.
Most friction occurs because of verbal misunderstandings.
The International Society of Appraisers suggests seven questions to start the interview. A qualified appraiser has formal education in appraisal theory, principles, procedures, ethics, and law. The appraiser should be up to date on the latest appraisal standards. Continuing education and testing are the only ways to ensure this competence. The appraiser you hire should be familiar with the type of property you want appraised and know how to value it correctly.