International Society of Appraisers are the personal property specialist 
group and an excellent choice for their educational program.  They are 
focused on all the "stuff" and not business valuations and real estate, as 
is the American Society of Appraisers, who have personal property as a small 
part of their focus.  I have been part of both groups and took half the 
training at ASA.  The basic training with either group is incredible. 
Appraising is a very complex profession and yes, the training through both 
groups is very costly.

I have been a Registrar for almost 30 years and an appraiser for about 20. 
It is a confusing mix.  With the Registrar's hat on it is always tempting to 
give appraisal advice when that comes up.  Not good.  The AAM Ethics Code is 
clear on your role in a museum employee as it speaks to appraisals, give 3 
references - if pushed - and then go mute.  It is extremely hard to look the 
other way when a kindly donor gives you a copy of the appraisal for the 
files and you realize they have just paid a lot of money for something that 
may not meet IRS standards and, even worse, will leave them in court in a 
few years for underpayment of taxes.  It is a tough position.

As to your "value added" as a Registrar, you would save your museum a whole 
lot of money if you did your own in house insurance valuations from an 
educated perspective.  A good thing.

Every time this list begins to discuss the issue of doing in house insurance 
valuations everyone advises going to the auction results for comparable 
sales data.    Once again, NOT GOOD.  That is the wrong market for insurance 
replacement in most cases.  Dealers are the people who can make you whole in 
a timely manner and that is why you are paying those big insurance premiums. 
See, it is difficult to get off that soap box even now.  Sorry, maybe this 
will settle this issue in the future.

Registrar/appraiser is almost a conflicting combo of skills but, I wouldn't 
give up either, love them both.   Call me if you want to talk about it. 
Sara Conklin, ISA CAPP Int'l Society of Appraisers, Certified Appraiser  PH: 
530-836-1762 

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