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Vehicles, Boats & Mobile Homes
We establish the value of cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and mobile homes for bankruptcy schedules, exemption claims and trustee review.
Bankruptcy Appraisal
Bankruptcy appraisal services for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, covering personal property, equipment, vehicles, and business interests, prepared in accordance with USPAP. AppraiseItNow appraises household contents, machinery, mobile homes, and business assets for bankruptcy schedules and court filings.
DEFENSIBLE, USPAP-COMPLIANT APPRAISAL REPORTS — QUALIFIED FOR THE IRS, AUDITORS, AND THE COURTS.
Vehicles, Boats, Mobile Homes, Equipment, and Business Interests AppraiseItNow Appraises for Bankruptcy Filings
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Business Interests
We value a debtor’s ownership interest in a closely held business so the estate, the creditors and the court work from a supported figure.
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Machinery & Equipment
We appraise business equipment for liquidation or reorganization, reporting the value standard the proceeding calls for, whether orderly liquidation or fair market value.
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Joe Kattan
Owner & CEO
Joe founded AppraiseItNow to make a certified, USPAP-compliant appraisal as simple to order as anything else online. A former Bain & Company strategy consultant, Joe leads the entire team and specializes in strategy, growth, and the firm's tech capabilities.
Justin Ramirez
Business Valuation Expert & Appraiser
ASA, ABV, and CFA charterholder. Since 2016 Justin has valued businesses for estate and gift tax, purchase price allocations, fairness opinions, lending, and buy-sell agreements, across manufacturing, services, retail, and pre-revenue biotech.
Raymond Ghelardi
Business Valuation Expert & Appraiser
Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers. Raymond values capital stock, business enterprises, stock options, and intangible assets.
Anne Hay
Personal Property Appraiser
ISA Accredited Member with 30 years in the trade, from running estate sales and an auction gallery to appraising luxury apparel, furniture, artwork, antiques, and business assets, primarily for IRS tax filings.
Jason Dolph
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
Third-generation auctioneer and CAGA Certified Appraiser with more than 20 years valuing machinery, equipment, vehicles, business assets, and estates for banks, attorneys, and trustees across the Carolinas.
Ashley Innes
Personal Property Appraiser
ISA Accredited Member specializing in Asian art, with a Master's from SOAS and a Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art. Ashley chairs the ISA's Antiques, Furnishings, and Decorative Arts committee and appraises for charitable donation, insurance, and equitable distribution.
Marnie Erkelens
Vehicle Appraiser
CAGA Certified Appraiser since 2014, covering vehicles, boats, equipment, fine art, and collectibles. A classic-car restoration background informs her vehicle work, with reports prepared for insurance, divorce, and charitable contributions.
Aron Blue
Client Success Manager
Manages each engagement from the first enquiry to the delivered report, and keeps you posted at every step along the way.
- USPAPWritten to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice
- Rev. Rul. 59-60 and ASC 820The valuation framework the IRS, auditors, and courts test a business value against
American Society of AppraisersAccredited Senior Appraiser- ABV®AICPAAccredited in Business Valuation
- CFA®CFA InstituteChartered Financial Analyst
International Society of AppraisersAccredited Member
Certified Appraisers Guild of AmericaCertified Appraiser
The Appraisal FoundationAuthorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standards
About AppraiseItNow's Bankruptcy Filing Appraisal Services
Bankruptcy filing appraisals establish the value of debtor assets for court proceedings, supporting Chapter 7 liquidation or Chapter 13 repayment feasibility determinations. These appraisals are triggered by court orders, trustee requirements, creditor challenges, or disputes over exemptions and equity. Because the Bankruptcy Code contains no single definition of value, appraisers must clearly define the applicable standard upfront, whether fair market value, orderly liquidation value, or forced liquidation value, and all reports must comply with USPAP.
AppraiseItNow delivers bankruptcy appraisals online and onsite across the United States, covering equipment and machinery, business interests, vehicles, boats, and inventory. Our mission is to deliver defensible, USPAP-compliant valuations with exceptional speed, professionalism, and client service.
What Does AppraiseItNow Appraise for Bankruptcy Filing?
AppraiseItNow covers every major asset class that commonly appears in bankruptcy proceedings, including:
- Equipment & Machinery – medical equipment, restaurant equipment, manufacturing machinery, and technology assets
- Business Interests – LLCs, S-corps, partnerships, fractional interests, and privately held stock
- Boats & Watercraft – sailboats, powerboats, yachts, jet skis, and personal watercraft
- Automobiles & Vehicles – cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, trailers, and classic vehicles
- Inventory – retail inventory, wholesale stock, raw materials, and finished goods
Who Does AppraiseItNow Serve?
- Debtors filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 petitions who need court-ready asset valuations to support exemption claims or repayment plans
- Bankruptcy trustees requiring independent appraisals to facilitate asset sales, creditor distributions, or estate administration
- Creditors and creditors' committees challenging debtor-reported asset values or seeking validation of collateral worth
- Bankruptcy attorneys and legal teams needing USPAP-compliant reports that will withstand court scrutiny and creditor objections
- Business owners navigating corporate or partnership bankruptcy who require formal valuations of business interests, equipment, or inventory
What clients say we are known for
AppraiseItNow Reviews: “They were wonderful to work with” and “The team was highly knowledgeable, helpful, and efficient”
- Being the appraiser they come back to“I highly recommend their appraisal services, especially for private companies” Steve R.Mentioned in 44 reviews
- Answering fast, and staying reachable while the work runsMentioned in 34 reviews
- Showing the research and the comparables behind the number“Joe and his team were very professional, fast and thorough” Tom D.Mentioned in 29 reviews
- Delivering the finished report ahead of the deadlineMentioned in 21 reviews
- Taking on items other appraisers had already turned downMentioned in 14 reviews
Across 80+ published AppraiseItNow reviews the picture is consistent: every one is from a client who paid us for an appraisal, and the three things they raise most often are that they would hire us again, how quickly we answer, and how much research is visible in the report.
Affordable and reliable, with fast service and always responsive to my messages and questions. They delivered my appraisal on time without a glitch. 100% Recommended! I wouldn’t use anyone else for my business. Thank you, Joe — you’re great!
Ana R. , Lawrence, MA · Machinery & Equipment Appraisal for Bankruptcy Filing
Responsive, professional, first class deliverables -- especially considering that that the appraised assets are extremely complex financial assets with little by way of comps. The deliverable satisfied my accountants and advisers as being more than adequate to support the valuation needed to complete a conversion to a Roth IRA
Dave T., Ocala, FL · Business Valuation Appraisal for IRA Conversion
The team was highly knowledgeable, helpful, and efficient. I highly recommend their appraisal services, especially for private companies.
Steve R., Northbrook, IL · Business Valuation Appraisal for IRA Conversion
Joe and his team were very professional, fast and thorough. Highly recommend
Tom D., Acushnet, MA · Machinery & Equipment Appraisal for Mergers & Acquisitions
AppraiseItNow did an outstanding job appraising my 1998 Bobcat Skid Steer and circa 2010 Yuchai Crawler Dozer. We could not locate a serial number on the dozer, and there were no online sales available, but they were still able to develop an accurate appraisal using known specifications for my dozer compared to other comparable make and model dozers. They diligently researched both equipment items and provided well-documented reports.
Bob H. , Dallas, TX · Machinery & Equipment Appraisal
I was in dire need of an appraisal for my father's mobile home, which he needed for Medicaid approval. I couldn’t find anyone to do it for a long time, but then I found this company online and decided to give them a try. I’m so glad I did. They were wonderful to work with. I sent the pictures, and within just a few days I received the appraisal. They are absolutely worth the money.
Kevin N. , Wellsburg, NY · Mobile Home Appraisal
Appraisals for Bankruptcy Filing, Near You
AppraiseItNow offers online appraisals and onsite appraisals in all 50 states.
Browse all states by region
Featured Bankruptcy Filing Appraisal Case Studies
Valuing a Distressed Fifth Wheel for Bankruptcy
March 17, 2026
A luxury fifth-wheel trailer in rough enough shape to fall outside the normal RV resale market. The bankruptcy court needed its real as-is value.
Valuing a High-Mileage Semi Tractor for Bankruptcy
March 7, 2026
A Class 8 tractor nearing two million miles, well past the point where auction records exist, valued for a personal bankruptcy filing.
Valuing a Trucking Fleet for Bankruptcy
February 17, 2026
A Freightliner Cascadia at 880,000 miles and two flatbed trailers, valued on an orderly liquidation basis for a Massachusetts bankruptcy.
Frequently Asked Questions on Bankruptcy Filing Appraisals
What is the difference between fair market value and liquidation value in a bankruptcy appraisal?
Fair market value reflects the price an asset would sell for between a willing buyer and willing seller under normal market conditions, and is typically used in Chapter 13 cases to assess equity and repayment feasibility. Liquidation value reflects the price an asset would bring in a forced or quick sale, often lower, and is commonly used in Chapter 7 cases to estimate proceeds available to creditors. The appropriate standard depends on the chapter type and the specific purpose of the appraisal.
Does a bankruptcy appraisal need court approval for the appraiser's fees and employment?
If a trustee retains the appraiser, the court must pre-approve both the appraiser's employment and fees under Bankruptcy Code procedures. If you retain the appraiser directly as the debtor, court approval is not required, though advance payment is advisable to avoid disputes and ensure the appraisal is completed without delay.
Can trustees sell assets without a formal appraisal in Chapter 7 cases?
Yes. Trustees can bypass formal appraisals and sell or auction assets directly when values are straightforward or when the cost of an appraisal would exceed the benefit to the estate. However, if asset values are disputed, high-value, or required by court order, a formal USPAP-compliant appraisal is necessary to defend the valuation against creditor or debtor challenges.
Are there specific IRS forms or thresholds required for bankruptcy filing appraisals?
No specific IRS forms or thresholds apply directly to bankruptcy filing appraisals. The Bankruptcy Code does not define "value," so parties define the standard of value, fair market or liquidation, upfront, with deadlines tied to the petition filing date and court orders rather than fixed IRS timelines. Asset schedules filed with the petition must list current value, but no mandated appraisal format exists.