California Personal Property Appraisers

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Personal property appraisals in California for donations, estate tax, divorce, and probate, prepared in accordance with USPAP and IRS requirements. AppraiseItNow appraises antiques, jewelry, fine art, collectibles, and furniture across California, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.

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DEFENSIBLE, USPAP-COMPLIANT PERSONAL PROPERTY APPRAISAL REPORTS — QUALIFIED FOR THE IRS, CALIFORNIA COURTS, LENDERS, INSURERS, AND MORE.

  • IRS
  • Goodwill Industries
  • Chase
  • State Farm
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • The Salvation Army
  • U.S. Bancorp
  • California Courts

AppraiseItNow Appraises Every Category of Personal Property in California

California's auction and dealer markets, particularly in Los Angeles and San Francisco, mean comparable sales data is usually close at hand to support a well-documented report. Three of the assets below link to a page written for California; the rest link to the appraisers who cover them nationwide.

Credentialed Appraisers Serving California

Between them, our personal property appraisers hold ISA and CAGA designations, and every report is written to USPAP for the IRS, California courts, lenders, insurers, and more.

Joe Kattan

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.

Anne Hay

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

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

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.

Aron Blue

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
  • International Society of AppraisersAccredited Member
  • Certified Appraisers Guild of AmericaCertified Appraiser
  • The Appraisal FoundationAuthorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standards

About Personal Property Appraisals in California

AppraiseItNow provides fast, fully online and onsite personal property appraisals for individuals, families, estates, and organizations throughout California requiring independent valuations for donations, estate tax reporting, divorce proceedings, and probate. California's vibrant markets for fine art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles, concentrated in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, mean that demand for credentialed, USPAP-compliant personal property appraisals is consistently high across the state. Our appraisers hold certifications through recognized organizations including ISA, ASA, and AAA, and deliver reports that meet IRS requirements for Form 8283 charitable contribution filings and Form 706 estate tax reporting.

Most personal property appraisals in California are completed remotely using photographs and supporting documentation submitted through our secure online platform, making the process convenient for clients managing large estates or collections across multiple locations. Onsite inspections are coordinated when required by collection size, item complexity, or the intended use of the report, with appraisers available throughout the state from Sacramento and the Bay Area to Los Angeles and San Diego. We offer Fair Market Value (FMV), Replacement Value, and Actual Cash Value (ACV) appraisals for various intended uses.

Who Does AppraiseItNow Serve in California?

AppraiseItNow serves individual collectors, families settling estates, donors making charitable contributions, and professional advisors including estate attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, and insurance professionals who require independent, defensible personal property valuations for their California clients.

What California clients say we are known for

California Appraisal Reviews: “the company exceeded all of my expectations” and “for me it was well worth it”

  1. Being the appraiser they come back to“I would definitely recommend his services” Christy B.Mentioned in 13 reviews
  2. Answering fast, and staying reachable while the work runsMentioned in 7 reviews
  3. Delivering the finished report ahead of the deadlineMentioned in 7 reviews
  4. Showing the research and the comparables behind the numberMentioned in 7 reviews
  5. Taking on items other appraisers had already turned downMentioned in 4 reviews

Across 24 published California appraisal reviews, every one from a client who paid AppraiseItNow for an appraisal, the three things they raise most often are that they would hire us again, how quickly we answer, and how fast the finished report arrived.

  • I asked AppraiseItNow to value a piece of sports memorabilia for purposes of a charitable donation. The item is rarely sold. Their research unearthed an important recent sale of a similar item, which I had not found previously, and which the first appraiser I used had not found either. AppraiseItNow was a good deal more expensive than the first service, but they crafted a detailed report in which I have much more confidence. They also helped me make sure the correct tax forms are used. Thank you!
    Cynthia W. , Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA ·

    Sports Memorabilia Appraisal for Charitable Donation

  • I contacted AppraiseItNow on a weekend asking for an expedited appraisal needed the following Tuesday, sent pictures as requested and answered a few questions for their team. Not only did the appraisal arrive on Tuesday, Joe waived the expedited fee! I would definitely recommend his services.
    Christy B., Sacramento, CA ·

    Antique Furniture Appraisal for Insurance Claim

  • It is a pleasure to work with Joe and his team. They communicate every step along the way and made the process simple for us to have more than 35 firearms appraised. It was all done in a timely manner and the final report is easy to understand. I highly recommend their services.
    Bruce A. ·

    Gun Appraisal for Probate

  • I was skeptical at first, but the company exceeded all of my expectations. The team responded quickly to every question, and the service was excellent. They’re now my go to source for my collection. I’ve used them twice already, and I plan to use them several more times.
    Robert Y. ·

    Firearms Appraisal for Personal Use

  • AppraiseItNow's service was expeditious and professional. The report was thorough with plenty of examples and rationale for the valuations. Good service comes at a cost, but for me it was well worth it. Highly recommended!
    Jason O. ·

    Personal Property Appraisal for Insurance Coverage

  • I’d have given them 10 stars if it were possible. After weeks of frustration awaiting four different appraisers to return my calls I stumbled across AppraiseItNow. They were quick to reply, incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, professional and managed to make it fairly simple. I highly recommend them!
    Mikki F. ·

    Furniture Appraisal for Charitable Donation

AppraiseItNow appraises every category of personal property for gift tax, estate tax, charitable donations, divorce, and insurance claims

Given the USPAP-compliant nature of AppraiseItNow’s appraisal reports, we prepare our deliverables for major legal, tax, and financial reporting purposes for individual and commercial clients.

Popular uses of our appraisal reports include:‍

Taxes, Estates & Financial Planning

Life Events & Special Circumstances

  • Divorce
  • Social Security reporting or Medicaid Application Filings
  • E-2 visa applications

Insurance & Risk Management

Frequently Asked Questions on California Personal Property Appraisers

Can an insurance appraisal of my belongings be reused for tax or estate purposes in California?

No. Insurance appraisals use replacement cost with current retail pricing, while IRS and estate work requires fair market value, a different definition with different methods and data sources. Using one where the other is required is a common and costly mistake, so tell us the intended use up front and we will apply the correct standard.

What effective date should a personal property appraisal use for a California estate?

The decedent's date of death, which makes the appraisal retrospective. Appraisal standards require the effective date to match the legal event, whether that is a date of death, date of gift, or date of loss, and misaligning it is a frequent error that undermines otherwise sound reports.

What is the filing deadline for the Inventory and Appraisal in California probate?

Four months after letters are first issued to the personal representative. If additional personal property is discovered later, a supplemental Inventory and Appraisal must be filed within four months of learning of it. Our valuations give the estate documented fair market values to support both filings.

Does California impose its own estate tax on personal property?

No. California has no state estate or inheritance tax, so only the federal estate tax can apply to a California decedent's personal property. Estates that approach the federal threshold still need defensible date-of-death values for household contents, collections, and other tangible assets.