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FAIR Appraisal Guide

How We Value Art Online

For owners and advisors choosing an appraisal route.

Online valuation methodology should combine clear item identification, relevant market evidence, documented assumptions, and final quality control. Online does not mean informal; the report still needs a consistent support chain.

Use Match FAIR appraiser directory

Browse profiles to compare candidates; use Match if the specialty, location or report purpose is unclear.

Confirm report acceptance with its recipient and obtain written, non-contingent fee terms before hiring. A FAIR listing does not certify suitability.

Editorial revision date not recorded. Profile source checks are recorded separately on each profile.

How Art Is Valued Online: Methodology and Controls - FAIR online appraisal guide illustration
Decision guide

When a formal appraisal is worth it

Use the purpose of the value first. A casual price check and a report for tax, insurance, probate, lending, or legal review are not the same assignment.

When a formal appraisal is worth it
Situation Formal appraisal? Why it matters
Personal curiosity or early sorting Not always Start with identification, photos, and rough triage before paying for a formal report.
Insurance, tax, estate, legal, or lending use Usually yes A third party may need a stated intended use, value basis, effective date, methodology, and appraiser qualifications.
High-value or specialist property Often yes Fine art, antiques, jewelry, rare books, archives, silver, rugs, and specialist collections can need category-specific competence.
Next step

Turn the guide into a shortlist.

Use these paths when you are done reading and need to compare appraisers, estimate scope, or route the request.

Search the FAIR directoryCompare public profile signals, service area, specialty fit, and fee transparency before outreach.Ask for a FAIR matchUse Match when the category, location, report purpose, or specialist boundary is unclear.Estimate appraisal costOrganize item count, report purpose, inspection needs, and timing before asking for a quote.

Method sequence

Reliable online workflows follow the same basic sequence every time, even when the item category or intended use changes.

  • Normalize intake details and confirm the intended use before valuation starts.
  • Identify the object, category, condition, authorship or maker signals, and inspection limits.
  • Select comparable evidence and explain why it fits.
  • Draft the conclusion with assumptions, limitations, and value basis stated plainly.

Quality controls

Quality controls protect against internal inconsistency and weak support chains. The final file should be readable by someone who did not participate in intake.

  • Cross-check values, labels, and exhibit references.
  • Validate intended-use language in all sections.
  • Confirm the comparable-sales discussion matches the final conclusion.
  • Confirm final package readability for external reviewers.

Common questions

Why document assumptions explicitly?

Explicit assumptions make external review faster and defensibility stronger. They show what the appraiser relied on and what could not be verified online.

How many comparables are enough?

Enough to justify the conclusion clearly. Relevance and explanation matter more than raw count.

Should methodology differ by purpose?

The core process is similar, but value basis, assumptions, report framing, and output language should match the intended use.

More related resources (4)

Open the FAIR guidance hub

How to interpret FAIR listings
FAIR trust boundary and source references
  • FAIR does not license appraisers.
  • FAIR does not certify competence or guarantee availability.
  • Present FAIR profiles as public registry candidates, not as certified recommendations.
  • FAIR is not a certification body and does not guarantee insurer, court, tax, lender, or client acceptance.
  • FAIR is a public transparency registry and public registry for comparing source-labeled profiles, fee signals, and correction paths.