Welding robots, presses, brakes: when you work with metals, machinery can be one of the largest assets your business benefits from. But how do you protect that investment? Though it's often left until a piece of machinery is being sold, appraising metalworking equipment can help you better judge your equipment's longevity and useful remaining life. This allows you to make better decisions on when it's time to upgrade or replace your equipment. But what happens during the appraisal process? Here's a quick look at some factors that are taken into account when an equipment appraiser looks at your metalworking machinery.
What is looked at when appraising metalworking equipment?
When you contact an equipment appraiser, you'll be asked a number of different questions, but one of the first quickly decides exactly what direction the appraiser will take in calculating equipment values. Because the methodologies used by equipment appraisers have been tested in a range of different circumstances for decades, it's important that the appraiser understand the reason why your machinery needs to be appraised. You'll receive a different value based on whether the equipment is being sold quickly to settle an estate, replaced for insurance purposes, part of divorce proceedings or for a change of ownership.
However, the areas that an appraiser will look at are often very similar. The appraiser will start by looking at the machine's age, overall condition, resale value, the condition of the market you supply, how well the equipment has been maintained and any features that may raise its value. If a piece of machinery has been abused or neglected, it will have a much lower value than equipment that has been well maintained and kept in good repair over the course of its entire lifespan. This information helps the equipment appraiser in a number of different ways.
The machine's age will often play a part in the machinery value, as it can help the appraiser determine roughly where the machinery falls across its lifespan. Does that model tend to last for ten years, twenty years or thirty years? This can make a big difference in value if the equipment is nine years old, as it helps determine how long that machine will roughly provide value to the business. What is its usual resale value and are you willing to wait for the right buyer or sell quickly? Is the equipment currently in demand? This can be determined by the economy and whether you'll be able to find buyers for your equipment without taking a heavy loss. Additional features can help boost value.
Appraising metalworking equipment can benefit your company in a wide range of areas, but by knowing what the equipment appraiser will be looking at can help you get a better eye for machinery values yourself. By having your equipment regularly appraised by an independent third party, you can draw up a schedule and plan for when equipment will need to be replaced, allowing you to shop for the best deals and, if needed, secure the best possible financing for your specific situation. Make sure you're working with a certified equipment appraiser who has experience in your industry to ensure you're getting the most accurate information on your company's values, as that appraisal report will hold up to strong scrutiny in legal, financial, tax and insurance circles.