New on the Appraisers Post

After a slow holiday season, the Appraisers Post (www.appraiserspost.com) has had a nice flurry of activity from posting appraisers.  New on the Appraisers Post is an excellent review by Stephen P. Sweeting, ASA MRICS of David Maloney's 3rd edition of Appraising Personal Property: Principles and Methodology.

Sweeting states

Although Appraising Personal Property is an excellent browse for anyone active as a valuer, I saw three key uses for this book within my own appraisal office:

1. A learning template for trainee appraisers to use in concert with formal education programs.
2. A refresher volume for our accredited appraisers.
3. A well-indexed reference aid that can be used in the way I used an earlier edition for guidance in my loss-of-value appraisal.

As an Integrated Studies scholar, I have to be impressed with this book’s dovetailing of theory and practice as well as the interdisciplinary approach that considers valuation, ethics, legal issues, and business in one volume. But as a practicing appraiser I see the third edition of Appraising Personal Property as more than a demonstration of integrated thinking. The volume is additionally a first-rate reference tool for any appraiser and an excellent addition to the body of literature for our profession.

Also on the Appraisers Post is a review of the new book on Antiques Roadshow: Behind the Scenes by Jerry Sampson, ASA.

Sampson states

This book really gives a true behind the scenes look at how this show operates. You'll get a look at how the executive producer Marsha Bemko and her staff have worked to adapt the British TV show for the American market. You'll meet the appraisers and learn early childhood influences as to why they choose this career. The set-up requirements, security and lay-out of auditoriums are explained in a way that makes it easy to understand why "Roadshow" doesn't come to every town. Of course, you'll get information from all the past years' highlights of interesting objects and you'll receive follow-ups as to what happened to several items after the cameras shut off. You'll understand and appreciate the articles pertaining to the "watermelon sword" and the Poe image. One of many interesting topics was learning how objects are selected for the camera. One chapter that I loved was "Missing Masterpieces;" it focused on what various appraisers longed to have walk onto the set of "Roadshow."

I have to say that as an appraiser, the one chapter that excited me was the chapter titled "The Final Reality." This chapter gave easy step-by-step hints and information for people looking for appraisals. Though there was no mention of The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), I thought that the information provided in this chapter was very useful and factual.

David Maloney also addresses Qualified Appraisals and Appraisers.

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