Mark Secrest Appraisals 202.718.2521 washington, dc 917.268.7477 new york
mark secrest
fmr. senior member ASA
Mark Secrest Appraisals 202.718.2521 washington, dc 917.268.7477 new york
mark secrest
fmr. senior member ASA
About Mark
Mark is an Honours graduate of the Study Centre for the History of the Fine and Decorative Arts, Victoria & Albert Museum, London England.
And with 49 years of experience Mark has a fair fee that provides you with uncontested appraisal services for English, Continental, American and Indo-Chinese art, works of art, decorative arts antique furniture, silver, porcelains, Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities and all manner of residential contents.
Mark served in the Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama White House Administrations and was appointed by former D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty to the Board of Appraisers, District of Columbia Licensing and Regulatory Commission.
He is an acknowledged expert in Circuit Courts, District Courts, Federal Court, Tax Court, Bankruptcy Court and his lower courts transcripts admitted in United State Court of Appeals.
Mark continues to act on behalf of clients who donate or lend artworks for exhibition to the Phillips Collection, Smithsonian Institute, Freer Gallery of Art, Austin City Museum of Modern Art, Colonial Williamsburg, South Carolina Historical Society and other public and private museums across the United States.
Valuation Services
(the best bit)
Beyond a professional opinion of value everyone has a purpose for wanting an appraisal. For those who are unfamiliar with or infrequent users of appraisal services you may be at a loss as to how best to use it to advance your purposes.
An example is those who inherit an estate and are overwhelmed by the task of sorting out articles for posterity, make equitable family distribution, sell or make charitable donations.
This requires you to know the "benefits and drawbacks" of every resource at your disposal.
Not to worry, Mark has decades of experience and many resources that help
with every aspect of a large collection from the appraisal to its final resolution.
(and more)
Mark's broad experience and expertise carry over to conservation and restoration. Not only to the extent of conservation and restoration but consideration of the materials used, combined or separate that may irreversibly compromise a piece's authenticity, hence, its market value.
With the consultation Mark provides you with a trusted local conservator referral.
Moreover, a summary condition finding is addressed in the Condition Section of each Appraisal Report.
Valuation Services, cont.
(forthright)
Mark's fees are as follows;
one to five items the fee is $225; five to ten items are $225-$337.50; ten to twenty items are $337.50-$450 and
over twenty items are by quote*
* The first hour is $225 with a one-hour minimum after which it is by quarter hour increments of $56.25.
The fee includes an initial consultation, the examination, current sales data analysis, formal appraisal report and subsequent consultations, without limits or time constraints until your purpose of an appraisal is satisfactorily met.
Mark is fee based and does ask for commissions, gratuities or other compensations. There are no added fees over and above the initial quoted appraisal fee.
(courtesy "walk- through")
Mark offers a complementary remote "walk-through." It separates the valuable from marginal and also reduces a later date hourly examination cost.
There are no prior or subsequent commitments or associated fees should you ultimately decline to engage Mark's valuation services.
A "walk through" is by request.
Estates, collections or individual items may be examined at your residence, other location(s.) or may be remotely examined.
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What You need to Know
Many of you are unaware (that) art and antiques appraisers are not required to be licensed, certified or accredited by federal or state boards. Albeit there are professional appraisal organizations that award
their own titled designations.
You should always consider the conduct and ethics of art and antiques appraisers, Mark included, before engaging their appraisal services.
To this end, Mark encourages you to ask a trusted referral, read appraiser reviews and most importantly, request a resume and sample appraisal report.
A professional appraiser should not be offended or reluctant to show you both.
Be Forwarned
One pitfall for laypersons is dealers who also appraise who may have a contemplated future interest in a piece which is the subject of their appraisal.
The reason being is the possibility of bias as they may anticipate a future financial gain above and beyond their appraisal fee.
Bias is evident when a dealer-appraiser gives you an opinion of value and turns about and makes you an offer to buy or take the piece on consignment at a price equal to or very close to their opinion of value. It is a questionable scenario.
The Appraisal
(crux of the matter)
Appraisal should contain, at a minimum, these four headings. SCOPE, USPAP CERTIFICATE, appraiser compliance to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. VALUATION METHODOLOGY (IRS requirement) and SIGNATURE, the appraiser accept full responsibility for the content and final opinion of value of the appraisal (their liability).
Appraisal reports should demonstrate one crucial element, COMPETENCY, objectivity that is demonstrable facts throughout the report such that when read it brings you to the same conclusions and final opinion of value as themselves.
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Contact Mark
For a hasty same day reply directly email or use the courtesy EMAIL MARK form below
(recommended)
by telephone
202.718.2521 main
917.268.7477
Mark looks forward to being of assistance to you with a sound appraisal and to advancing your intentions.
by appointment
