Rug appraisal
What your rug
is really worth.
Free in-shop verbal assessment. Written, dated, signed valuations for insurance schedules, probate filings, and estate planning — accepted by every major Bay Area carrier.
Why a written appraisal
Insurance replacement
is not the same as market.
A hand-knotted Persian rug at auction may fetch $8,000. The same rug, replaced today in a comparable quality and age, might require $22,000 on the global market. Your policy needs the replacement number — and the documentation to back it up.
A written appraisal from a recognized dealer provides both. Age, origin, knot count, dye analysis, pile condition, provenance notes, and a current replacement value in US dollars. Signed on letterhead. Valid for five years or until the rug is materially altered.
For probate and estate planning, the same document establishes fair-market value — typically 40–60% of replacement — which is what the IRS and county probate courts want to see.
What the appraisal covers
A full document, not a sticky note.
Visual & fibre exam
Full front-and-back inspection at the bench, fibre burn test if origin is uncertain, knot-count under loupe.
Dated written report
Three-to-five-page typed document: dimensions, age, origin, dye type, condition, replacement value, comparable sales.
High-res photography
Full-field, corner, fringe, and back photographs at archival resolution — the evidence your carrier will want if a claim is ever filed.
Market commentary
Plain-English notes on what drives the rug’s value today and whether it is rising, stable or softening in the current market.
Pricing
Verbal free. Written, flat-rate.
Written appraisal
Flat rate, regardless of the rug’s value. Discounted to $95/rug for sets of four or more from the same estate. Turn-around 7–10 business days.
- Free verbal assessment while you wait
- Accepted by major US insurance carriers
- IRS Form 8283-ready language for donations
The appraisal process
Five quiet days.
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Intake
You drop off or we pick up. Same-day verbal assessment while you wait — a ballpark replacement figure and our read on age and origin.
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Bench exam
Full back-and-front exam at studio lighting. Knot count, fibre test, dye signature, condition mapping. Photography for the record.
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Research & comps
Origin is cross-checked against reference books and recent auction comps. We do not rely on a single price point.
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Written report
Three-to-five-page formal document typed up on letterhead. Includes dated photographs, replacement value, and market commentary.
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Delivery
PDF to your email, signed paper copy with the rug. We retain a copy for five years in case the document is ever challenged.
When you need this
Four moments that call for paperwork.
Scheduling a policy rider
Most homeowner policies cap rug coverage at $2,500 — far below the real replacement value of a Persian. A rider with a written appraisal lifts that ceiling.
Estate & probate
Fair-market-value appraisals for probate courts, estate settlement, step-up basis at inheritance, or split between heirs.
Divorce & trusts
Neutral valuation documents accepted by family-law mediators and trust administrators across California.
Charitable donation
IRS Form 8283-compliant language for donations over $5,000, including qualified-appraiser signature block.
In-home or in-shop
We appraise across the Bay Area.
Appraisal FAQ
The questions we hear every week.
What’s the difference between a verbal and a written appraisal?
Verbal is free, same-day, and gives you a ballpark replacement number. Written is a dated, signed document with photographs and comparables — what your insurance, probate court, or lawyer will actually accept.
Is ABC a qualified appraiser under IRS rules?
Yes. Our lead appraiser meets the IRS definition of a qualified appraiser for tangible personal property, with demonstrated expertise, published work, and no ownership interest in the rug being appraised.
Do I need to bring the rug to Newark?
Preferred, because bench lighting and the loupe count knots more accurately than a living-room floor. For oversized rugs or estate collections we do in-home appraisals at an additional travel fee, quoted on inquiry.
How often should the appraisal be updated?
Every five years for insurance scheduling, sooner if the market moves significantly or the rug is materially cleaned or repaired. We offer 50% off re-appraisals on rugs we appraised previously.
What if I need the appraisal for a lawsuit or divorce?
We write those too. The document follows USPAP reporting standards, which means it holds up to expert-witness scrutiny in California family court.
Can you appraise a rug I didn’t buy from you?
Of course. We appraise rugs from any origin, any dealer. Impartiality is the point of a formal appraisal.
Related services
Things clients ask about next.
Let’s put it on paper
Book an appraisal.
Verbal assessment is always free. Written appraisals ready in 7–10 business days.