Editorial Policy: appraisal and value basics
Editorial Policy research should start with identification, condition, provenance, and recent comparable sales. Use this guide to compare the signals that matter before paying for a formal appraisal or deciding whether to sell.
Our principles
- Helpful first: We aim to answer the question a collector has (identify, authenticate, value, sell) with practical steps.
- Data-supported: When we discuss price ranges, we reference real auction comps where possible.
- Honest uncertainty: Many items cannot be priced confidently without condition and provenance details; we say that clearly.
- Continuous improvement: Guides are living documents and are updated as data and best practices evolve.
How we source auction comps
Whenever a guide references auction comps, those comps are sourced from Appraisily’s internal auction results database. We use comps to illustrate how the market values similar items, and we cite key details (house, sale date, lot number, realized price) so readers can understand context.
Comps are not a guaranteed price. Values depend on condition, authenticity, restoration, size, rarity, and timing. A professional appraisal may be needed for insurance, estate, or sale decisions.
Writing & review
- Research: We review reference sources (museum/auction glossaries, standard identification criteria, and market context).
- Drafting: We use structured templates (checklists, decision trees, comparison tables) to keep content actionable.
- Review: We sanity-check key claims, pricing drivers, and comp citations before publishing.
- Updates: We update guides when auction data changes materially, new counterfeits emerge, or readers flag issues.
Corrections
If you believe a guide contains an error (incorrect attribution criteria, wrong terminology, broken link, or outdated claim), please contact Appraisily support with the URL and a short description of the issue. We review and update the page when appropriate, and the “Last updated” date will reflect significant revisions.
Internal linking & crawlability
We maintain internal links between related guides to help readers discover adjacent topics and to help search engines crawl the site more consistently. Related links are intended to be helpful, not to manipulate rankings.