A county Board of Equalization in Washington state recently examined one of my equipment appraisal reports in an on-going tax appeal case. The report had been originally submitted to the county assessor, who dismissed it, citing … the statement by the appraiser that the purpose of the appraisal is to assist with an ad valorem tax…Read More
Case Study: Inventory Fire Loss
Join us Friday, Nov 10, 2017, 4:00pm to 5:00pm at Caruso’s in The Westin St Francis, Union Square in San Francisco, CA, when ASA equipment appraiser, Jack Young, ASA, CPA, will be available to answer your questions about the importance of independent, defensible and USPAP compliant equipment appraisals for in fire litigation. Click here for more information &…Read More
Factors in Appraising for Fire Loss or Theft
How do we appraise equipment that’s been destroyed or stolen? Of course we hope for good records — photos, equipment lists, maintenance records — but rarely are those available. Often whatever records might have existed have been lost in the same fire that destroyed the equipment. In most of the fire cases we’ve been called…Read More
Appraisals for Ad Valorem Tax Appeals
Considering an ad valorem tax appeal for your business? Business owners who provide independent equipment values researched by experienced, qualified equipment appraisers are more successful in their tax appeal. Whether negotiating assessed values with the county property appraiser or in a value adjustment board hearing, a taxpayer who’s prepared with a USPAP equipment appraisal review has a better chance of…Read More
How to Value a Restaurant
Equipment appraisals are just one part of a business valuation. In this guest blog, my CalCPA colleague Tom Collins takes us beyond restaurant equipment appraisals into the world of restaurant business valuation. Tom is a Sacramento CPA who specializes in business valuation and forensic accounting. To learn more about his services, and read some of his…Read More
Must-Have Resource From the Appraisal Foundation
If you’ve ever had any questions about equipment appraisal, I’m happy to share with you a new, free downloadable brochure from the Appraisal Foundation, entitled Valuation of Machinery and Equipment. This full-color, 20-page booklet is packed full of must-have information; it lists reasons you might need an equipment appraisal, provides important definitions from the American Society…Read More
Use a Shared Expert for Appraising Equipment During a Divorce
A recent equipment appraisal asignment emphasized again the importance of using one shared appraiser for both parties in a marital dissolution – also known as a divorce. Just last week, a scheduled inspection for a manufacturing equipment appraisal had to be cancelled until further notice. A party in the divorce proceedings had taken a good look…Read More
USPAP: Not just for Litigation Appraisals
Litigation support, from an equipment appraiser’s point of view, often seems like a long discussion about what constitutes an adequate appraisal report –– and that inevitably includes explaining what USPAP is and why it’s important. Of course, the benefits of a USPAP report aren’t limited to litigation purposes: professional appraisal standards benefit everyone in every situation for…Read More
Valuing Ag Equipment in California
Had a chat this morning with a fellow from a governmental lending agency who wanted to know if I’d like to be their go-to equipment appraiser for agricultural equipment in California — from the Mexican border up to the edge of Oregon. Would I? Yessir, I believe I would. Thanks for asking! I’ve written before…Read More
What Determines the Cost of an Appraisal?
When folks call us for an equipment appraisal, the first thing they usually ask is how much an appraisal will cost. Many of them are surprised to hear that we need a lot more information about their equipment and their situation before we can provide a quote or bid for the job. Why does your…Read More
What’s so Fair about Fair Market Value?
When you think about “Fair Market Value” in equipment appraisal reports, what do you think the “fair” part means? We had this discussion not long ago at an appraisal report writing class regarding the new USPAP regulations and the consensus was that the “fair” part of “fair market value” is redundant. Market Value, by definition,…Read More
What Does the Future Hold for Construction Equipment Values?
As a construction equipment appraiser, I’ve been watching values for for construction equipment rise, and that’s true whatever the reason for the equipment appraisal might be. Generally, construction equipment appraisals are for the purposes of collateral loans or due diligence for buy/sell negotiations, but this year we’ve also provided construction equipment appraisal reports for family…Read More