Some institutions do allow staff to make appraisals on items of low value. Insurance companies and banks may also refer appraisers they have used. Look for an appraiser who is familiar with your type of object. When choosing an appraiser, it is a good idea to find an arms-length source. Keep in mind that appraisers are not regulated.
Some professional associations do have requirements for membership.
The Appraisal For a formal, written appraisal check for the following items. When you are considering donating an object to a museum there are a number of points to keep in mind. Museums use a collections policy to determine what items will be accepted into their particular collections. The cost of maintaining and storing an object, as well as the number of similar objects the museum already has, may affect what a museum can accept. Know what type of object you have and approach a museum that you think might collect this type of object.