Personal Property Appraisal by Historical Research Group

Our expert appraiser provides accurate and timely appraisals of Art, Antiques and general personal property throughout Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Whether you have a single heirloom that has piqued your curiosity or an Art collection in need of an insurance appraisal we can provide you with the history and value of your treasures.

Verbal Appraisals

• We can come to your home and provide descriptions and values for your items without a written document.  This is a great option if you are preparing to sell your items, dealing with a small estate or just curious about your collection.

Written Appraisals

• We provide written appraisals in accordance with IRS and Court guidelines and are certified through the Certified Appraisers Guild of America.  You may need a written appraisal for insurance, an estate, a divorce or a charitable contribution.  No matter your need we can document the items and provide values in an extensive report that includes photos of each item and a thorough description of the piece meant to eliminate questions or ambiguities that will cause issues in the future.

Divorce and Estate Appraisal requires precision, clarity and discretion.  Divorce and death can be especially hard times for a family.  Our goal is to provide you with the appraisal you need while respecting your time.  We are experienced in high conflict situations and will not provide any information to anyone without express permission of the client or their legal counsel.  We can document the items for appraisal in many cases in a day or less on site and provide an appraisal within a couple weeks to you or your attorney based on your circumstance.  

Divorce Appraisals

• An accurate divorce appraisal is extremely important in determining a fair outcome during a divorce. We offers an unbiased, independent approach to evaluate the worth of a property. This helps both parties have more accurate information about the value of the property, which can avoid costly litigation and provide a quicker resolution. Furthermore, an accurate appraisal can take away uncertainties about the value of the asset which allows for negotiations based on reliable information.  The appraisal should be conducted by an experienced appraiser who understands the laws related to divorce appraisals and can accurately assess the value of the asset.

Estate Appraisal

• If you are gifting or leaving property behind for your heirs after you die, an appraisal of the property may be required to determine its fair market value for estate tax purposes. This provides you with an accurate assessment of the property before entering into any gift or estate agreements. Knowing the exact value of the property can help you plan for your estate accordingly and minimize any liabilities. Having an appraisal also verifies that the valuation is eligible for an exemption from federal estate and/or gift taxes. Appraisals are especially important if you are gifting valuable real estate, artwork, antiques, a business or other high-value assets. 

Under certain circumstances the IRS requires a written appraisal of assets given to a qualifying charity.  We have appraised everything from taxidermy to fine art for both the donor and the recipient and can assist you in fulfilling your IRS Charitable gift documentation and appraisal needs.

For Federal tax purposes, you must file  Form 8283 to report information about non-cash charitable contributions for which you are claiming an income tax deduction .

You must get a written qualified appraisal from a qualified appraiser for an item or group of items including real property or non publicly traded securities for which you claim a deduction  exceeding $5,000.00.