Get an Appraisal

An instrument is an investment, and if you wish to insure that investment, you should consider getting an appraisal. In addition to insurance, an appraisal can also help in determining an accurate market value if you plan to buy or sell a used instrument. An appraisal states the value of an instrument, and also includes any identifiable or unique information. This includes the instrument manufacturer, the model, the serial number, and the year the instrument was made.

Additional details covered by appraisals include the type of materials used, the condition of the instrument, photographs, and any documents associated with the instrument’s history.

Types of Appraisals

In-Depth Appraisal for Insurance Coverage

If you are insuring an instrument, you and your insurance company will want to know the replacement value or what it will cost to replace the instrument if it’s damaged or stolen. For this more formal appraisal, we will carefully examine the instrument and do extensive research in order to produce an appraisal report that will contain the following:

Identifying information about your instrument including the manufacturer, the model, serial number and year manufactured (for rare and vintage instruments the year may be an estimated range).

Pictures of the instrument’s condition including any identifying marks, flaws, prior repairs, and modifications.

A market comparison of the availability and recent sales of similar instruments.

Verification of in-person inspection of your instrument.

A replacement value for the instrument based on all of the above.

Informal/Verbal Appraisal

If you are interested in buying or selling an instrument, you can bring it to us for an assessment of its fair market value. In this more limited appraisal, we examine the instrument and its condition. Our verbal assessment will include the following:

The age of the instrument and its condition. This would include any prior repairs and the need for any immediate repairs.

A fair market value for the instrument based on a comparison to similar instruments, their availability, and recent sales.

To schedule an appraisal, contact us for an appointment.