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  • Assets Speaker Interview:  Dr. Chih-En Chen Assets Speaker Interview: Dr. Chih-En Chen Monday, April 8, 2024 in News, Education, Conference

    In anticipation of Dr Chih-En Chen’s upcoming lecture Trompe l’Oeil in Qing Times and Today at this year’s ISA conference, Asian art specialist Ashley Crawford (MA, ISA AM) sat down with Dr Chen to learn more about Montreal’s Asian art market.

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  • Nectar of the Gods: Unveiling the Top 5 Most Expensively Appraised Wines Nectar of the Gods: Unveiling the Top 5 Most Expensively Appraised Wines Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in News, Education

    The world of fine wines is a realm where craftsmanship, terroir, and history converge to create liquid masterpieces. Wine, often referred to as the nectar of the gods, has long been revered for its complexity, flavor profiles, and the unique stories encapsulated in each bottle. Some wines, however, transcend the ordinary, commanding astronomical prices at auctions and appraisals. In this blog, we explore the world of luxury wines, unveiling the top 5 most expensively appraised wines that have become symbols of prestige and exclusivity in the world of oenophiles.

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  • 2024 ISA Education Foundation Scholarship Applications Open 2024 ISA Education Foundation Scholarship Applications Open Monday, March 18, 2024 in News, Education

    Each year the ISA Education Foundation awards scholarships to qualifying applicants to support their growth professionally and academically.  The application will be available March 15, 2024. The deadline is May 15th, 2024, and scholarship awards will be announced on June 1st, 2024.

    If you are interested in a scholarship to advance your skillset and career, please read below and apply today!

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  • Hog Wild Appraisal Problems Hog Wild Appraisal Problems Saturday, March 2, 2024 in News, Ask an Instructor, Education

    Yesterday I received the following voicemail message:
    “Potential Client calling from Nashville Suburb. I have a hundred-thousand-dollar hog I need appraised for insurance purposes. That’s what I paid for it so I would expect that it would appraise for that. I have all of the paperwork to show what I paid for it. What would you charge to come out and appraise the hog? Give me a call on the fee for that. 

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  • Art Authentication Can be a Tricky Business! Art Authentication Can be a Tricky Business! Wednesday, January 17, 2024 in News, Ask an Instructor, Education, Business Tips

    Art authentication can be tricky business. The International Society of Appraisers Core Course in Appraisal Studies teaches, “Authentication is a matter of informed and reasoned opinion, explaining, “Authentication is rarely definitive or absolute…. It is subject to revision as additional information becomes available…. It is subject to disagreement among experts.”

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  • The Post-Pandemic New "Work" Order & Design Trends The Post-Pandemic New "Work" Order & Design Trends Tuesday, August 29, 2023 in Ask an Instructor, Education, Member Insights

    The media speculated that after the long COVID lock-down, consumers’ day-to-day life would return to the fast paced, activity-filled, dining-out-often existence, including returning to the office for work, that was typical of pre-pandemic life. Quite the opposite, the reality has been that people are continuing to use their homes as their primary workplace, the preferred place to entertain, and a sanctuary to relax and exercise a more financially conservative lifestyle.

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  • Housework: Making Onsite Inspections Easier Housework: Making Onsite Inspections Easier Monday, June 26, 2023 in Business Tips

    Though some of our members have a very narrow specialty most of us are called to catalog an estate at some point. A common question many new appraisers have is how to handle an inventory that is inclusive of all the property in a home.

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  • Who Can and Should be Listed as an Intended User Under USPAP Who Can and Should be Listed as an Intended User Under USPAP Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in Ask an Instructor

    As an instructor, I often get questions about who can and should be listed as an “intended user” under the Uniform Standards for Appraisal Practice (USPAP).  And, I am also often asked what “rights” intended users have under USPAP.

    The short answer:  Generally, you want to list as few intended users as necessary to meet the client’s needs.  And, intended users do not have a right to obtain a copy of the report without client consent.

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  • The Uncertain Chinese Art Market The Uncertain Chinese Art Market Tuesday, March 10, 2020 in Education An essential part of every appraisal report is the inclusion of current art market information explaining the factors, both local and global, which can affect an appraiser's valuations. Today, uncertainty surrounds the Chinese art market because Mainland Chinese buyers who are its driving force have been affected by two major challenges: the political unrest and protests in Hong Kong and the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). View More
  • Ask an Instructor: USPAP Standards Ask an Instructor: USPAP Standards Tuesday, January 14, 2020 in Ask an Instructor ISA members are invited to send in their questions on all things appraising and education to ISA's instructors. One of ISA's instructors will share answers on the ISA Blog. View More