What not to tell an appraiser?

Don't tell an appraiser what value you want, or ask them to shade the number for insurance, a donation deduction, or a sale price: a fine art appraisal has to reflect an independent, evidence-based opinion, not the outcome you're hoping for.

Beyond avoiding pressure tactics, a few specific things are worth staying away from:

• Don't name a target number. Saying "I need this to come in at $50,000" or "my insurance company wants a higher figure" puts the appraiser in a position where the report's independence, and its usefulness in court, with the IRS, or with an insurer, is compromised.
• Don't cite unverified comparables as if they settle the question. An auction estimate, a dealer's casual opinion, or "I saw a similar piece sell for more" isn't the same as documented market evidence, and appraisers weigh those sources differently than clients often expect.
• Don't ask the appraiser to skip condition or attribution issues. Restoration history, damage, and questions about authorship affect value directly, and omitting them undermines the report rather than protecting it.

What actually helps is the opposite instinct: give the appraiser everything you have, not just what flatters the piece. Provenance records, receipts, exhibition history, prior appraisals, condition reports, and certificates of authenticity all help our NYC fine art appraisers reach a defensible number, whether the report is headed to Surrogate's Court, an insurance carrier, or the IRS for a donation deduction. If you're unsure what documentation matters for your specific purpose, our FAQ page covers what to gather before a valuation, and our team will tell you what's still missing once we see the piece.