William M. Novotny ISA AM
Personal Property Appraiser
Personal property appraisers should provide a USPAP compliant report
A Provider of Expert Personal Property and Antiques Appraisals
A personal property appraisal is an independent, objective, impartial, unbiased, reasoned opinion of value developed and reported by a competent, ethical and qualified personal property valuation expert acting as an appraiser.
A formal personal property appraisal report is a professional, carefully written and meaningful signed document suitable for submission to insurance companies, the courts, the Internal Revenue Service and all private clients.
All personal property appraisers should comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) which establishes the minimum ethical and performance standards necessary to protect public trust in appraisers.
In 2003 Novotny was the first personal property appraiser (#10138) to be certified by the Appraisal Foundation to teach USPAP to other personal property appraisers.
Demand Credibility. The primary task of the appraiser is properly understand the client's valuation problem, especially the client's intended use. The final task of the appraiser is to ensure that the valuation report is worthy of belief relevant to intended use. Avoid appraiser Incompetency.
• act competently and ethically,
• properly identify and understand your valuation problem,
• determine and perform the scope of work necessary to solve your problem,
• determine the applicable value definition and research the appropriate market level,
• develop supportable personal property value opinions and conclusions worthy of your belief that address and answer the appraisal problem posed by you relevant to your intended use and the needs of intended users that you identify,
• properly report his personal property value opinions, analyses and conclusions in a meaningful manner that is relevant, complete, easily understandable and not misleading, and
• have a signed USPAP Certification statement in an assignment workfile preserved for 5 years.
• NOT BUY. He has no interest in purchasing an object you wish to sell. Such interest would be perceived as a conflict.
A credible personal property appraisal only results from competent performance and ethical conduct. A credible appraisal is one that properly identifies all assignment elements of the appraisal problem based on careful communication with the client, and that results from competent performance and a scope of work sufficient to develop credible assignment results relevant to the intended use of the appraisal on the effective date.
Novotny's assignment results will be based on research of comparable sales in a relevant and competing personal property market, or upon his exceptional market experience with the many property types which which he has the necessary knowledge and experience.
When relevant Novotny will disclose a lack of knowledge and experience that prevents him from completing an appraisal assignment competently and credibly. He consults with specialists for specific properties as necessary in order to develop credible opinion development.
Novotny has in-depth knowledge of the theory, methods and standards of appraisal practice. He has published related articles and taught appraisal standards, theory, methods and report writing classes on multiple ocassions throughout the USA for many years. Novotny will identify and solve your personal property appraisal problem efficiently, cost effectively and credibly.
Novotny welcomes inquiries regarding unusual, complex and challenging general antiques and personal property appraisal problems.
Knowledge and ExperienceNovotny's thirty-plus years of general personal property valuation experience uniquely prepares him to serve your appraisal needs. This experience entails 20 years of pricing general personal property objects for retail sales at his various antique stores and exhibits at antique malls and antique shows between 1979 and 1999. During this period he attended weekly and monthly Los Angeles and Southern California estate auctions regularly. Throughout his valuation career he has faithfully embraced daily study of objects and markets; he carefully reviews a wide variety of national auctions reported in Maine Antique Digests and price results reported on the Internet.
Novotny's general personal property market experience includes acting as an agent in the orderly liquidation of complete residential contents at onsite estate sales from 1989 to the current date.
Since 1993 he has acted in the capacity of a general antiques and personal property appraiser that is qualified and competent to value most types of general antiques, residential contents and general personal property credibly.
His extensive library allows him to delve deep into advanced issues during daily study of specialized property types such as furniture, glass, porcelain, textiles, fine art, books, records, Asian porcelain and decorative art objects, Native American objects and most types of collectibles and ordinary personal property and residential contents. He has continued to pursue daily study of objects and their market since 1979.
Find out more about Novotny's extensive personal property appraisal background and experience.
Large Loss Appraisals (LLA) Statistical Methodology Saves Cost and Time
Novotny has entered into a partnership with Dave Maloney and Richard Holdgate to form Large Loss Appraisals, LLC (LLA) which has a statistical methodology that can value all subject properties based on a limited sample of equivalent subject property types that have been randomly selected for appraisal. LLA can now offer clients substantial savings while providing credible valuation results having a 95% level of confidence that the projected values are within a statistically-determined confidence interval of 10% of their actual value, FIND OUT MORE!
General European Asian and American Historic and some Contemporary Objects
• Antiques and Decorative Art Objects
• Fine Art, paintings, prints, and sculpture
• Furniture, Folk Art and Collectible Objects
• Glass, Ceramics, Metals and Lighting Objects
• Textiles, Rugs & Carpets, Quilts, Samplers and Couture etc.
• Ephemera, Books, Posters
• Military, Sporting and Scientific Objects
• Far Eastern (Asian) Objects
• Native American Objects
• Rare Records (33, 45, & 78 RPM), Compact Discs and Musical Objects
• Depreciating Residential Contents and Ordinary Household Goods
Learn more about the property types appraised by Novotny.
Rare and Unusual Objects
Novotny uses highly experienced and knowledgeable experts as needed. As often as not he has had experience with an equivalent or comparable property type, based on past buying, selling or researching, and has a basic understanding of how it performs in the relevant market. He may not, however, always be able to identify every critical value element for each unique property type. It is an important scope of work decision as to when to consult an expert that has the required knowledge regarding a subject properties characteristics. The appraiser must follow the appraisal process and do whatever is necessary to develop credible assignment results.
Assignment Types and Intended Uses
All personal property and antiques appraisal reports, whether written or oral, must be credible, meaningful, appropriate, complete and relevant to intended use. Some examples of intended use include:
Litigation Support
Expert Witness Testimony
Deposition and Trial (other states) 
Insurance
Moving and Storage Damage/Loss
Equitable Distribution
Dissolution of Marriage
Down-sizing Consultations
Inventory Documentation
Complex and Challenging AssignmentsLearn more about the types of assignments or intended use for an appraisal.
Locating the most experienced and qualified general personal property and antiques appraiser for your valuation problem and property type should be your primary objective. For a large urban area such as Los Angeles and Orange County travel time is usually under an hour or less. Novotny's travel fee is not cost prohibitive.
Novotny's home office is now located in San Gabriel. He was previously located in Glendale, West Los Angeles, Pasadena and Arcadia California. For over twenty years he has served appraisal clients living in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County and the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valley. He frequently serves the Southern California beach and desert communities and occasionally travels to other surrounding counties in California and out of state for select assignments. Go to the top of this Home Page. See further details about Novotny's Service Area.
Report Type: Verbal or Written?
Some of the assignment types and intended uses listed above, such as IRS Tax Appraisals, would require a formally written report developed in compliance with USPAP. The development of formal reports involves diligence and care and billable time.
In some cases your personal property objects can be valued by an oral appraisal report at a significantly lower cost than applies to written appraisal reports. Oral appraisal reports must also comply with USPAP like all other appraisal services. Many objects and household goods can be valued by Novotny at a rate of 50-100+ items per hour without research. Rare and valuable objects discovered may require significant research. See an example of how Novotny can solve a personal property appraisal problem without a formal written report.
Most common and ordinary household objects fall within Novotny's body of knowledge and experience. Many objects have only nominal value and the intended use and needs of intended users would not require costly research. Without research confirmation some oral opinions could be subject to error. Clients must accept this risk since errors cannot be discovered without research. Novotny will decline the valuation of objects for which he lacks confidence without research confirmation. Good judgment is a component of appraiser competence. Many appraisers are not qualified to provide such a service. See Novotny's CV to see Novotny's qualifications and visit About Us to find out more about his general background.
The #1 Reason a Client should Trust an Appraiser: USPAP!
In 1987 the Appraisal Foundation (TAF) was authorized by Congress to be the source of minimum appraisal standards (USPAP) and appraiser qualifications. Since then each state is required to implement these minimum standards and qualifications whenever an appraiser is licensed. The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is recognized and embraced by Congress, regulators, government agencies, the IRS, the courts and the insurance and banking industry. USPAP establishes the minimum standards for all appraisers. Compliance with USPAP is necessary to establish a basis for trust between the appraiser and the client. Clients have a reason to invest their trust in the appraiser when the appraiser complies with USPAP while following the appraisal process.
Novotny is an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor
The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) USPAP Instructor Certification Program was implemented in February 2002 to certify USPAP Instructors to properly teach the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Since January 1, 2003, only AQB Certified USPAP Instructors have been permitted to teach the National USPAP Courses (15-hour and 7-hour courses) that are required of appraisers.
In 2003 Novotny became the first personal property appraiser to be certified as a National AQB USPAP Instructor. In October 2011 Novotny was recertified by the AQB through April 2015.
Novotny has presented personal property oriented USPAP classes (15 Hour and 7 Hour Updates) since 2003 in various locations including Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Dallas, Baltimore, Lincoln and Chicago.
Appraisal and USPAP Courses Taught Online or Onsite
Novotny has taught appraisal theory, methods, report writing and USPAP standards since 1998.
College For Appraisers (CFA)The next 15 Hour USPAP Course will be offered June 22nd and June 24th, 2013 in a lovely ranch setting on the edge of the mountains in Sunland CA
College For Appraisers (CFA) offers “Appraising Personal Property: Theory, Methodology and Report Writing - A Fully Integrated USPAP Approach” (4 days) taught by Novotny.
Novotny is also preparing a series of "Far East Asian Decorative Arts" one day courses at the request of CFA. These courses will focus on China, Japan, Korea and other Far Eastern countries. Frequently the class will focus on pottery and porcelain, but also cover many other decorative art property types from an historical time line.
Contact College For Appraisers (CFA) at (714-952-2727) for further information or to be notified of future offerings.
Appraisal Course Associates (ACA)
Novotny also offers online and onsite courses throughout the USA in partnership with David Maloney at Appraisal Course Associates. If you are interested in presenting a 15 Hour USPAP course for your group, or in taking an online USPAP Update course, please visit the Appraisal Course Associates (ACA) website. Enroll now for a USPAP Online Update Course.
On August 3rd and 4th of 2011 Novotny taught a personal property 15 Hour National USPAP Course in Lincoln Nebraska at the request of the Professional Association of Appraisers, Quilted Textiles (forty appraisers attended). Read some comments from these students and from past course participants.
Beware of Appraiser Negligence and Incompetency
Personal property and antiques appraisers are not licensed or regulated in California, nor in any other state. Any person can represent that they are an appraisal expert and to have the valuation knowledge possessed by appraisers. Many lack training in appraisal theory, methodology and report writing. Many lack the required knowledge and experience that is necessary to develop and report credible valuation assignment results. Many are unfamiliar with USPAP, which is the minimum standards necessary to support appraiser credibility. Check credentials carefully before hiring an appraiser.
Accredited membership in a recognized professional personal property appraisal society will establish that an appraiser has met the professional association's minimum experience, training and educational requirements. Professional societies and associations require their members to comply with USPAP and abide by their ethical and report writing standards. Appraisers without such membership are less likely to understand the appraisal problem and solution and are often ill equipped to provide credible opinions, analyses and conclusions. Novotny has been an accredited member of ANA since 1993 and ISA since 1996.Ask any appraiser you interview whether or not they have successfully completed the 15-Hour USPAP course, passed the required test and always provide a signed USPAP certification when providing a valuation conclusion. Ask about their membership in professional appraisal societies or associations. If the answer is no - proceed cautiously!
Novotny will always comply with USPAP, the ANA and ISA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and the ISA Report Writing Standard when acting as an appraiser. In each and every appraisal assignment Novotny has a signed USPAP certification.
Other Services and Related Websites
Novotny often provides onsite sales of antiques, household goods or residential contents that includes all types of personal property that require liquidation. When acting in the role of Estate Sale Agent he is no longer acting as an appraiser but uses many of the same skills that are required to property price property for sale.
Visit Novotny's Antiques, now known as Novotny's Antique Gallery and operated by Shauna Novotny since 2000. It was initially opened by Bill Novotny in 1979.
See Novotny's CV
Contact Novotny NOW!
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Copyright 2009-2013 - all rights reserved - William M. Novotny
Novotny Appraisal Services
8840 Huntington Dr. #1
San Gabriel,
CA
91775
US
Phone: 626-292-2224
Website: http://novotnyappraisal.com/
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