Equipment Appraisal Blog | Understanding Machinery Appraisals

What is USPAP and Why is it Important in Appraisal Reports?

Posted by Equipment Appraisal Services on Mon, Aug 09, 2021 @ 08:00 AM

Machinery Equipment Appraisal Appraiser USPAP Compliance

When you speak with potential appraisers about engaging in a valuation effort, whether it’s for machinery & equipment, personal or real property, business, or anything else, you should be asking if their work complies with USPAP standards. Before you ask the question, though, here is an overview of what USPAP means so you can better understand the importance of this appraisal requirement.

What is USPAP

USPAP is short for Universal Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and is considered a type of quality control to a formal valuation process. It was established prior to the Savings and Loan Crisis in the late 1980s and then taken over by a committee called The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) to ensure that artificial inflation of an appraisal did not grow out of control again as it did during that period.

The standards that comprise USPAP are updated every year which allows it to stay current with changes in the industry and any new regulations. Though it's mainly used in the US, it has been adopted in whole or part by a large number of professional appraisal organizations in other countries. Its focus is not on controlling the actual methods an appraiser utilizes but on specific standards for the appraiser’s qualifications, ethics, scope-of-work rules, report writing requirements, record-keeping, client disclosures, signed certifications, and related topics.

There are specific standards that pertain to all types of appraisals and can vary by valuation discipline, including machinery & equipment, business, real property, and personal property. As an accredited appraiser, whether you are a Senior ASA with the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) or affiliated with another valuation group, you are required to meet the qualifications for USPAP. This begins with a 15-hour course for first-time professionals, with continued compliance every two years to ensure the appraiser stays abreast of new developments. The follow-up courses are 7 hours long, however, if you miss one of these 2 year periods, you are required to go back and take the 15-hour course again.

The appraiser is issued a certificate after each course, which can be provided to you upon request. Once you have confirmed the valuation professional is USPAP compliant, you will have confidence that he or she is well-educated and experienced in the appraisal profession, and can deliver a well-researched, supportable report.

Becoming an accredited appraiser requires continuing education not only in USPAP but as an ASA professional as well. By understanding the USPAP Appraisal Standards and how they impact your valuation in terms of the individuals involved in the work effort, you gain valuable insight into the importance of engaging with the right people to complete this for you.

Tags: USPAP compliant appraisal, machinery & equipment appraisal, ASA accredited appraiser, USPAP appraisal standards

Select a Seasoned, Accredited Equipment Appraiser to Value Your Assets

Posted by Equipment Appraisal Services on Mon, Jul 12, 2021 @ 08:00 AM

Equipment Appraisal Appraiser Accredited Certified

Business owners, buyers, sellers, investors, banks, leasing companies, financial institutions, investment firms, business consultants, insurance claimants, attorneys, courts, business appraisers, accountants, tax auditors.

What do all these types of companies, individuals, and institutions have in common? At some point, they will all require an independent valuation of machinery & equipment, personal property, and related capital assets to support their larger transactional needs.

Many of these entities have never worked with an equipment appraiser before and would prefer to hire a company that can facilitate the process and provides an efficient, effective, defendable analysis and report that will hold up to scrutiny. The best way to ensure this is to engage an accredited machinery & equipment appraiser who has years of experience working in any number of different markets and understands their client’s specific needs in the context of the overall transaction at stake.

In order to select the right appraiser, the business or individual responsible for vetting the appraiser should look for the following:

  • A current curriculum vitae (CV) that highlights the valuation professional's experience and work history.
  • Validation that the appraiser is accredited through the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) with a senior designation and complies with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Both of these organizations are nationally recognized and require continuing education to maintain their credentials.
  • Responsiveness and a professional work ethic from the first point of contact to the completion of the assignment.
  • Thoughtful discussions on the scope of work effort involved and assistance in formulating a timeline and game plan to complete the valuation effort in conjunction with the overall transaction.
  • A summary of the appraiser’s experience working with attorneys on business dispute cases where litigation support, deposition, and court testimony are involved. This is a critical component to validating the appraiser’s true experience as these seasoned professionals have to formally support and defend their work product in a legal setting.

In summary, this due diligence effort is an important first step in selecting the best appraiser to work alongside you and will create value-added to the overall goal of the business or individual in need of an equipment valuation. Settling for anything less than an experienced, accredited appraisal firm to assist you in these efforts can lead to an undesirable outcome.

Tags: accredited appraisers, ASA accredited appraiser, USPAP appraisal standards, Machinery & Equipment Appraisals

What are USPAP appraisal standards and how can they impact your valuation?

Posted by Equipment Appraisal Services on Tue, May 01, 2018 @ 09:06 AM

When you're considering having your equipment values determined, you may hear the term USPAP Appraisal Standards tossed around. But what are these standards, how can they impact your valuation and why should you work with an equipment appraiser who is familiar with these standards? Here's a quick overview of the standard and how it impacts your machinery values.

What are USPAP Appraisal Standards and how can they impact your valuation?

When it comes to appraising real estate, property, intangible assets and business values, the Universal Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice provide a type of quality control to the process. It was established prior to the Savings & Loan Crisis in the late 80s and was then taken over by The Appraisal Foundation following the crisis. TAF is overseen by the Appraisal Subcommittee in Congress to ensure that artificial inflation of a valuation can't grow out of control again.

Since 2006, the standard has been updated every other year. This allows it to remain current with changes in the industry and new regulations. Though it's mainly used in the US, it's been adopted either in whole or partially by a large number of professional appraisal organizations in foreign countries. Though it controls the standard of how appraisals are performed, including requiring that the appraiser be familiar with and use the appropriate methodologies, it does not, in fact, require particular methodologies to be used.

There are a wide range of different certifications available that address the USPAP standards, dealing with a number of specialties. There are some that cover different aspects of real property, while others focus on federal government property appraisals. The Personal Property Appraiser certification is the specialty that deals most closely with machinery valuations. To meet the qualifications for this certification, the appraiser is required to remain in compliance with USPAP, have successfully completed 30 hours of college-level work from an accredited educational institution, have passed the 15-Hour Personal Property USPAP Course or a 45+ hour course and exam dealing with valuation practice, additional hours of coursework and many other qualifications. 

But how do you benefit when you choose to have an equipment appraiser use USPAP standards to appraiser your machinery? You'll know that the appraiser is well-educated and experienced in the appraisal process and can be counted on to provide you with a calculated appraisal report that is accurate and will be accepted in virtually all circles, including legal, insurance, financial and tax agency situations. You'll know that the appraiser has dedicated significant amounts of time to studying the standard to ensure that they remain in compliance with the USPAP and will be knowledgeable about any questions you may have about their practices and methodologies. You'll also know that you can count on their calculations to provide a solid figure for negotiations when you're planning on buying, selling or trading a piece of equipment, which in turn can help keep you from being taken advantage of.

By understanding the USPAP Appraisal Standards and how they impact your equipment valuation, you can gain a better understanding of how machinery is valued and what aspects can impact those values. When you're having your equipment appraised, using a certified appraiser who is familiar with the machinery in your industry and the appropriate USPAP standards is the best way to ensure your appraisal is as accurate as possible.

Tags: USPAP appraisal standards