Appraisals for public-sector clients often have specific requirements. Since inception in 1993, Appraisal Associates has worked continuously for the public sector providing industry-standard valuations.

Active in providing cultural property and charitable donation appraisal reports for more than 16 years, Appraisal Associates has museum and gallery clients across Canada. We pride ourselves in meeting deadlines, offering competitive rates, and complying with the report-writing guidelines of the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board (CCPERB). We have a solid understanding of the level of completeness required in tax-related appraisal reports.

For public institutions other than museums and galleries, we offer a range of appraisal options beyond donation-related reports. Please review our range of other services.  

Cultural property donations

The Government of Canada encourages the donation of cultural property “of outstanding significance and national importance” to public museums, galleries, and other designated institutions by providing certain tax advantages to Canadian donors. Appraisals estimating the fair market value of the gifts and conforming to specified guidelines are required in this process. 

Appraisal Associates works with a large number of major cultural institutions across Canada to provide cultural property appraisal reports and has great familiarity with the process and the requirements. Our appraisal reports meet or exceed the guidelines established by the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board (CCPERB). We value a wide variety of cultural property ranging from ethnographic artifacts to contemporary artworks.

Curators and registrars should request our services directly. Donors should consult with recipient institutions, but are encouraged to ask for Appraisal Associates’ services in the valuation of art, artifact or archival properties donated through the cultural property program.

Please contact us here for more information.

Click here for a case history

Charitable donations

Canadians donating art, antiques, or other collectibles worth more than $1,000 to museums and public institutions with charitable status require written appraisal reports to establish the fair market value of the gifts. Increased accountability requirements and problems with overstated and unsubstantiated valuations have prompted many public institutions to ask that appraisals comply with “industry standards.”

Appraisal Associates addresses this key issue through compliance with International Valuation Standards (IVS). These standards meet or exceed the Canada Revenue Agency’s expectations for appraisal reporting, offering both public institution and donor professionally generated documents useful for income tax purposes.

To learn more about how Appraisal Associates can provide museums and public institutions with appraisal reports for charitable donation purposes, please contact us here.

Insurance coverage

Insurance coverage appraisal reports are your institution’s evidence of value in the event of a loss and claim. These generally focus on estimating replacement value, which is the cost to replace a stolen, damaged or destroyed item with one of “like kind and quality.” In some cases, however, insurance coverage is on a fair market value basis.

Appraisal Associates provides reports prepared to recognized valuation standards, ensuring that the insurer has everything it needs to schedule coverage of your property. A complete and professionally prepared appraisal report will be beneficial in the event of a loss and claim. Our reports are deemed complete, substantiated, and rooted within generally acceptable principles of valuation.

Appraisal Associates has a great deal of experience with this type of appraisal, and most insurance companies in Canada are familiar with our reports. Please contact us here to discuss your institution’s insurance coverage appraisal options.

Click here for a case history

Insurance loss / claim

Appraisal Associates works with many insurance adjusters who process complex and unusual personal property claims involving art, antiques, and decorative art. As a result, we understand the type of information insurance companies want in a claim-related appraisal report. Appraisal Associates can bring this knowledge and experience to your claim when your insurer asks for proof of value.

Relying on close examination of damaged properties, interviews, and the review of existing documents, we piece together an independent and arm’s-length estimate of replacement value. Our reports describe the lost or damaged property in as much detail as possible and provide a substantiated value estimate reflecting market conditions and anticipated costs. All this is contained within a document complying with International Valuation Standards (IVS). 

Put our skill and experience to work for you when you need to produce proof of value in the event of a loss and claim. For more information, please contact us here.

Click here for a case history

Prospective sale or purchase

Appraisal Associates provides clients with appraisal reports to estimate the market value of art or artifacts. Useful for either sales or purchases, these advisory reports address the key characteristics of value of the property in question, as well as a context of comparable sales. Additionally, we can advise clients of the most appropriate sale venues to maximize return.

In providing sale or purchase advisory reports, we stress that Appraisal Associates is independent and not affiliated with any auction house or dealer. We give our clients arm’s-length appraisal reports based on a full spectrum of available market information. Appraisal Associates does not buy fine art, antiques, or decorative art, nor do we take property on consignment.

To discuss your purchase or sale advisory requirements, please contact us here.

Click here for a case history