If you want to know if hiring a certified & accredited appraiser is worth your time and money, then do a little preliminary research on your objects. If you can identify an item of furniture, jewelry, decorative or fine art, you are on your way to determining a value.

Many people are knowledgeable about the value of their estates: stocks, bonds, real estate. Few pay attention to their personal property. I think this is often because your collection represents you and your passions and memories; and a price is not easily put upon that.

Victor Wiener was my very first-ever appraisal instructor (USPAP) and my inspiration for pursuing an advanced appraisal education. This article was on Chubb Insurance's website today.

I never would have guessed the top 10 searches of items people want to know about on this website, would you? Read more to see what people are searching for in 2010.

The Angry Historian writes a worthwhile article on the dangers of fakes: "Don't Get Scammed: Use Common Sense."