1. What does a Machinery Appraisal Cost?
Machinery Appraisals are quoted based on one of three methods:
- Amount of Line items
- Amount of Time
- Flat Rate.
Every client has different needs – there are factors like duplicate items, small cost items that can be combined, travel time, multiple locations, rush delivery of the appraisal report, litigation concerns, etc. With that in mind, we analyze each job and we try to save the client money while still giving a realistic bid based on real conditions. We also like to give you an expected total cost up front – our quotes usually can get back to you within an hour. We are almost always below or equal to our competition, but at Master Certified Machinery Appraiser quality.
2. How long does a Machinery Appraisal Take?
Generally our turn-around time is 1/3 of the normal appraisal company.
This is specific to the Machinery Appraisal. On most small to medium jobs, we can usually have the report in your email within 3 -5 days after we have received all of the data. The site visit time-frame and / or data collected by your staff would add time to that and should be planned for. Larger jobs (100+ pieces of equipment or multiple distant locations) will be given an expectation upfront. The longest we have ever taken is 2 weeks and that was covering 5 states, 12 locations, and 1,200 items.
3. Are your Machinery Appraisers Local?
Yes and No! We use over 400+ local Machinery Appraisers, and we strive to mirror the exact appraiser specialist to the equipment they are familiar with. Additionally, we have 3 Master Certified Machinery Appraisers and 3 Expert Appraisers that we try to use first (1 in each of our Primary Regional Offices). Many Appraisal Reports require the appraiser to be “More” qualified, and we make sure you are covered in that instance.
Please note: there are some instances that a “Local” appraiser is a bad idea – feel free to ask us more about that.
4. Do you offer SBA / IRS Qualified Appraisal Reports?
Yes! We only produce Qualified and Certified machinery appraisal reports. We use the U.S.P.A.P. and I.F.R.S. Guidelines depending on the client’s specific needs. All of our Appraisers have passed stringent training, maintain continuing education, and hold themselves out as Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraisers. Our Appraisers have one or more of the top certifications in this field – those being: MCMEA (Master Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser), ECEA (Expert Certified Equipment Appraiser), CMEA (Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser), ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser).
5. Are your Appraisers Certified and by whom?
Yes! This is the same as above. We only produce Qualified and Certified machinery appraisal reports. We use the U.S.P.A.P. and I.F.R.S. Guidelines depending on the client’s specific needs. All of our Appraisers have passed stringent training, maintain continuing education, and hold themselves out as Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraisers. Our Appraisers have one or more of the top certifications in this field – those being: MCMEA (Master Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser), ECEA (Expert Certified Equipment Appraiser), CMEA (Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser), ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser). Our Appraisers are certified by the NEBBI and / or the ASA with many other designations in other disciplines.
6. Can your Equipment Appraisers be Expert Witnesses for Court, and Litigation cases?
Yes! Our appraisal reports are substantiated, irrefutable, and reviewed for law changes constantly. We strictly follow the most current guidelines of U.S.P.A.P. (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) as promulgated by Congress as the industry guideline. Our Appraisers (especially our Master Appraisers) are court-tested, and have passed the Daubert Challenge in every court they have appeared in. Our Appraisal Report Format is easy to present and defend and has been positively received by every Judge who has reviewed our documentation.
7. What Information / Data do you need to start?
We will schedule your appraisal and work through collecting the data either by an onsite visit or through desktop collection after we receive the following from you:
- The Client requesting the report.
- The Business and location(s) where the equipment is located.
- The Value Level at which you want us to appraise the equipment.
- The Time Frame in which you need your report.
- What the Appraisal is for (Needs to be Specific).
- An Asset List or Depreciation Schedule to quote the job.
- Contact information (Phone, Email, Titles, Etc.)
Generally, this first step of the process can be done in an hour – We keep it simple for you and are here to help.
8. What do you mean by Value Level of Equipment?
There are 12 different types of values that can be applied to machinery and they each have a specific situation in which to be used with a very specific U.S.P.A.P. definition of each. That being said, most clients only need 1 or more of the following (see the Article or request a copy of the specific current definitions from us):
- Fair Market Value in Continued Use (Going Concern Business (assuming that it will continue to operate) including set-up, install, and tweak in time costs)
- Fair Market Value (Going Concern Business, or continuity of business unit, in foreseeable future)
- Orderly Liquidation Value (Sale of equipment over a reasonable period of time)
- Forced Liquidation Value (Sale of equipment on a specific date with a sense of immediacy – Auction-type pricing)
We can appraise at All equipment value levels – Many of our clients ask for multiple values on one report.
9. What’s the difference between an On-site and Desktop Appraisal?
- The method of data collection on the machinery is different between the reports. Our values will be the same, the research will be the same, and the report will be the same except for a statement that says ‘the data was collected by our appraisers’ or ‘the data was collected by the business’.
- The cost of the desktop appraisal will be lower due to the fact that our machinery appraiser did not physically go onsite.
We offer a Free Data Collection Form that will help you give us all the information we need in a perfect format, saving YOU Time & Money. – Just Ask!
10. Can’t I just get a local Dealer or Auctioneer to Appraise my Machines?
Short answer – Dealers, Auctioneers, Machinery Re-sellers, and other Non-Certified people offer Non-Certified Appraisals — Don’t Risk It!
- BEWARE! They are almost never certified by an acknowledged certification company.
- BEWARE! They are usually Bias in some way about value (are they hoping to buy it or sell it and fudge the price accordingly).
- BEWARE! They will say they are the same – but they are NOT. Their reports are usually worthless in court, rarely accepted by SBA, IRS, or other entities, and are now starting to be rejected by banks and other lenders.
- Rule of Thumb: The most expensive appraisal you will ever buy – is the second one… because your first appraiser was not accepted!
