DEFINING VALUE One of the most misunderstood aspects of personal property appraising is in defining the value. Because there are different definitions of value, you must understand the purpose of the appraisal before you can really understand which value is appropriate to use. The most commonly used are the Fair Market Value and the Replacement Value.

FAIR MARKET VALUE A Fair Market Value is often used for: Resale Appraisals Estate Appraisals Property Division Appraisals Informational Appraisals Equitable Distribution Appraisals Donation Appraisals Damage/Loss Appraisals Fair Market Value is defined as the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts. The Fair Market Value of a particular item of property is not to be determined by a forced sale price. Nor is the Fair Market Value of an item of property to be determined by the sale price of the item in a market other than that in which such item is most commonly sold to the public, taking into account the location of the item wherever appropriate.

REPLACEMENT VALUE Replacement Value is most often used for: Insurance Appraisals Pre-Move Appraisals   Replacement should provide you with an exact or similar replacement if something should happen to your property. Replacement Value is the cost necessary to replace the items being appraised either with: 1) new items of like kind, quality and utility 2) similar items of property of like kind, age, quality, and utility having similar wear and tear, decay or defects, and obsolescence as the items being appraised 3) constructed items to provide an exact replica, using the same materials and construction techniques as the original, by a qualified artist or craftsman.   Replacement Value is defined as the amount it would cost to replace an item with one of similar and like quality purchased in the most appropriate marketplace within a limited amount of time.