By: Ashley Innes Types of Appraisers If you’re working with a large or complex estate, it may be difficult to know what type of USPAP-compliant personal property appraiser to engage. For practical purposes, appraisers can generally be divided into two groups: generalists and specialists. When a project primarily contains common household objects, furniture, or easily
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By: Ms. Robin Rankow To an executor, it’s not a collection — it’s “mom and dad’s things.” And often, it’s also the things no one in the family wants. Overlooked Value in Estate Items That’s where some of the most overlooked value in an estate lives—especially when it comes to music and pop culture material.
Music, Memorabilia, and the Estate Items Families Often Overlook Read More »
By: Nancy Schwartz An estate sale is the organized sale of a person’s personal property, typically conducted inside the home. For many families, settling an estate can feel overwhelming. Between legal responsibilities, probate timelines, real estate decisions, and emotional stress, one of the most misunderstood aspects of estate administration is the liquidation of personal property.
What Is an Estate Sale — and How Does an Estate Sale Work? Read More »
How to Sell Estate Gold: A Practical Guide to Getting the Best Value October 21, 2025 Selling estate gold jewelry is a common executor responsibility, but knowing how to do it wisely is part of handling the estate carefully. Selling estate gold may be part of an executor’s fiduciary responsibility when the estate needs to
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A Certified Estate Specialist (CES) is a designation for individuals who complete the requirements of the Certified Estate Specialist course as outlined by the National Auction Association(NAA). Since its founding in 1949, the NAA has been dedicated to auctioneers and auction professionals and is the largest association in the United States so dedicated. Twenty-four hours
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When managing an estate, executors often face the challenge of what to do with a home library — hundreds of volumes that carry emotional significance but limited financial value. Whether the collection is academic, literary, or simply the lifelong accumulation of a devoted reader, selling estate books efficiently and ethically can be a delicate task.
Buying Apps: Comparing ThriftBooks BuyBack and World of Books Read More »
Personal Property Guide | 5-minute read Appraisal of Personal Property | Executors & Estates| The Appraisal Foundation The Appraisal Foundation‘s “The Personal Property Owner’s Guide to Appraisal Services“ An estate’s personal property consists of physical assets, not including real property. Per the Appraisal Foundation’s website, “The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is the generally
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If the estate has a library, bookshelf, or piles of books, understanding the value of this piece of the personal property requires an executor’s attention. Chances are, most, if not all, will be donation fodder, and that’s not a bad thing. Some may have moderate value, making it worth your time to look through. In
Fine & Rare Books Are More Common Than You Think | Arthur Fournier Read More »
When someone dies, their “stuff” or belongings are now called “estate personal property.” While they were always the decedent’s possessions, this classification of estate assets has new meaning for heirs, executors, the IRS, and probate courts. During dissolution, when the name changes, the question becomes, “Does it have any value?” This is where the services
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Link: https://artofestates.com/what-is-automobilia-and-petroliana/ Source: Art of Estates In summary, Automobilia and petroliana categories are the advertising and marketing signs, stands, ephemera, and general products, often with prominent logos displaying. – Art of Estates Suddenly you’re in charge of a great deal of oil and car memorabilia – perhaps a car or two. The decedent of the
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This article published in 2020 quotes our friend and expert fine arts appraiser, Helaine Fendelman, of Helaine Fendelman & Associates in New York City, as well as several other eminent specialists in the antiques and appraisal field. It asks the question, “Can You Ever Add Value to Your Antiques?” Can You Ever Add Value to Your Antiques? Source:
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Estate Liquidation | 5-minute read Personal Property | Estate Assets | Estate Distribution Who gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate? Estate property which does not have a title, or ownership specified as the decedent, (such as a car, real estate or some financial assets) are non-titled assets. These non-titled assets may be referred to as Personal
Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate? Read More »
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