Lawrence Busch’s Standards: Recipes for Reality covers the subject of standards in considerably more complexity than was really necessary for our purposes: developing a section on standards for appraisal review classes. As early as the introduction we found what the class needed, but by then I was already captivated by his premise that standards shape…Read More
15 Most Common Appraisal Report Mistakes
Appraisal review isn’t just for appraisers. While attorneys and CPAs may be best served by hiring a trained reviewer for questionable appraisals, they can do an initial pass using a quick checklist of a handful of common appraisal report mistakes. We discuss these errors in great detail in the ARM accreditation classes offered by ASA…Read More
Case Study: Asset Lists, Inspection & the General Ledger
We’re currently working with a speciality harvesting equipment appraisal in the Salinas area that’s compiling an asset list for the upcoming equipment inspection. Several conversations and email exchanges regarding how to compile an effective equipment list – in conjunction with some recent interesting inspection experiences – have freshly reminded me of how important a good…Read More
Rest in Peace: Robert Podwalney, FASA & Life Member
Robert Podwalny, FASA and Life Member, passed away on April 16, 2018, at age 74 after a lengthy ordeal with cancer. He is survived by his wife Linda, sons Robert & Daniel, and his sister Alexandra, grandchildren Kayla, Evan, Emma, Lili and Lincoln, as well as many nieces, and nephews. You can read more about his…Read More
Family Law & Litigation Q&A in Healdsburg, May 21, 2018
We’re hosting a Q&A about equipment appraisals for litigation and family law in Healdsburg on Monday, May 21, 2018. If you’re in the area, we hope you’ll join us. For more information or to register for the event, click here Please visit our Attorney Support page to learn more about our services for the legal community….Read More
6 Tips for Divorces with Equipment Appraisals
Divorce is never easy. If your divorce involves a business, it’s even more complex. We’ve worked with many attorneys and business owners to provide appraisals for divorces, some more amiable than others. One thing that all of these situations have in common is that by the time our appraisal firm is called in, the divorce…Read More
Successful Acquisitions include Equipment Appraisals
The headline “Common Mistake for Sellers” caught my eye in a recent article about acquisitions in the printing industries’ Printing Impressions: Common Mistake for Sellers Sellers almost invariably overestimate the value of their equipment, according to Hahn. The only way to get an accurate estimate, he adds, is through a professional, industry-specific equipment appraisal, the results…Read More
Equipment Fire Loss: Compiling a List for Insurance Claims
Q&A Event, Dec 15 Compiling a list of equipment lost in a fire can be difficult and demanding. We can provide some guidance and tips to help. Join Jack Young on Friday, Dec 15, 2017, 10:30 – 11:30 in the Mansion Lounge at the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley, CA for Q&A on preparing a list of equipment assets…Read More
Maxxforce Engines: Appraising Value for Litigation
Earlier this year, an Arkansas trucking company became the latest to file a complaint against Navistar in federal court, arising out of the now familiar refrain that Navistar knew its 2010-2013 MaxxForce 11,13, and 15 Advanced EGR diesel engines were defectively designed and would prematurely fail, causing damage to the trucks and economic harm to…Read More
Deconstructing Daubert on the Art of Appraisal
Appraisers frequently refer to what they do as an “art.” And in fact, the word “art” features prominently in the title of a book on appraisal review published by a major appraisal organization. But the practice of referring to appraisals and appraisal review as an “art” can be problematic, especially when we’re providing appraisals to…Read More
Specialty Equipment: Orchards & Vineyards
Big changes are happening in California agriculture! As farmers convert massive amounts of acreage to orchards and vineyards, abandoning annual crops like tomatoes and rice, farming equipment is changing as well. As one would expect, orchard and vineyard crops use entirely different machinery types, especially for harvesting. This is an interesting transition for appraisers of…Read More
Wildland Fire Litigation Conference: A Report
Several years ago while serving as equipment appraisal expert witness for the Ophir Fire, I discovered the Wildland Fire Litigation Conference and put it on my appraisal bucket list. Just this year, my schedule finally allowed me to attend the conference. In the intervening years, I’ve done many equipment appraisals related to insurance loss claims,…Read More