Playing music is a passion of yours and the only thing you think about. The skills that come from playing violin or any other instrument are priceless. How much your violin is worth could give you an idea of how playing the violin has changed your life. If you’ve ever wondered how much your violin is worth, it may be worth seeking out a violin appraisal.
What is a Violin Appraisal
An appraisal of your violin is what experts call a way to determine the value of your violin based on how impressive it is. Extensive research has gone into producing these tools and they’re typically pretty accurate. The prevalent design, the type of wood, and other physical attributes (like how crafted the fingerboard is) determine its worth. If a violin is stamped with an Amati or Stradivari label, the appraiser may want to pay attention to its bow and test it out.
Yet, many lower quality brands would artificially inflate the value of their product through the use of trademarks and use a Stradivarius label to make people believe they were purchasing a remarkably well-made product when that was not necessarily true.
In order to find out more about your violin, the person doing the appraisal will need to be trained in specific skills related to violins other string instruments. So if you have an expert on hand who can help, this process will be a lot quicker. If you’re going to sell your violin, you should also make sure to bring a certificate of authenticity with it. That way, you’re guaranteed the highest price possible.
How to Get a Violin Appraisal
If you want to get your violin appraised, there are different steps that you can take. The best route that you can take is to find a violin dealer near you. They will have the most expertise when it comes to determining the value of violins in general, not just ones that they deal in personally. People might need to shop around a little when they’re comparing different violin dealers to get an accurate price.
A lot of violin manufacturers and experts also offer online appraisals-with Amati, you can upload photos of your violin for a free appraisal. If you’re looking for a violin appraisal, give the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, Inc. a call. There are violin dealers on the list that can help you find one near your location.
Why do i Need a Violin Valuation
If you are the sort who own a multimillion-dollar instrument, or entire collection of such instruments, your heirs may need to file an appraisal with the IRS detailing their worth. For such an appraisal, you will need a specialist skilled in violin-family instruments who can create a persuasive report, with fair market value and justification of items that may be difficult to establish.
That person will probably need to have membership in one of the leading appraisal organizations and will need to have completed a series of classes on the subject of specialized appraisals. More critically, he or she must understand acknowledged standard procedure when it comes to appraisals.
As a violinist and/or a performer, it’s recommended that you appraise your instrument regularly. You don’t want to risk getting ripped off in the long run by having the value of your instrument wrongly defined by others. Instrument appraisals are mainly used as a means of proving the value to your insurance company in order to have your violin insured. If you were to lose, steal, or destroy your violin in a freak accident, you could rely on your insurance company for reimbursement.
However, if you don’t know how much your violin is worth, an insurance company won’t be too sympathetic. Luthiers can actually help file claims with your insurance company to help alleviate the stress of getting a price quote on your prized possession.
Some musicians also like to get their violins appraised for authenticity. While your grandmother may have said her violin was from Stradivari, only experts can make that determination. Sometimes, you may not be a musician at all and are trying to get a violin appraised for something like an estate sale. Some violin dealers may buy the violin outright but will be happy to provide you with a reasonable starting bid for your violin if they can appraise it.
Insurance companies make it so complicated when it comes to your violin. Knowing the history and value of your instrument can help you get a good payout if you are financially dependent on it for income.
What You Need
Your gift, estate or donation documents are given special treatment by the IRS. They take time to write and it takes a lot of paper. But they are worth the extra effort if you plan to make a gift, will or would like to make a charitable donation. An estate appraisal I recently completed for a Guarneri ran 18 pages. It could have been longer had I chosen to include copies of documentation within the body of the text. The description of the instrument itself ran just two pages.
This includes additional conditions, explanations and discussions of the items in question, as well as why they were deemed important. Some are also defined and have sources cited for their work. The main idea of the document is to leave nothing ambiguous or unclear. Since there’s a very good reason for that, it would be a huge loss.
After a time, the IRS became aware of frauds and began working with the Appraisals Foundation. The International Society of Appraisers is an independent council that provides unbiased appraisals to stakeholders across the United States and abroad.
The IRS was extremely helpful to help get things in order so appraisers could continue working on their own accord. They were also able to draft world-class regulations that still complied with existing rulings, for example: the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
USPAP standards are important to protect both you and your project manager. You want to stay on the right side of the rules, keeping it simple clear. Appraisers need to stay true to the standards outlined by the IRS. If they commit fraud or write false appraisals, they’ll be punished and could face financial liability as well.
FAQ for How to Get a Violin Appraisal
What is the typical process to get a violin appraisal?
The process of appraising a violin will typically include:
1) A visit to the appraiser’s home or office.
2) A thorough inspection of the instrument, including examining under the instrument and looking for cracks, structural damage, and other problems.
3) An interview with the owner of the instrument to learn more about it’s history and its value.
4) The appraiser will provide an estimate of what they believe the instrument is worth based on its condition and make.
How much does it cost to get a violin appraisal?
A violin appraisal is a service that appraises the value of an instrument. They are typically done by professional musicians with expertise in string instruments. The average cost for a violin appraisal starts at around $200.
How can I get free a violin appraisal?
To get a violin appraisal, you can ask for a free appraisal from the US government’s National Endowment for the Arts. They will provide you with an appraisal of your violin and its value.
The National Endowment for the Arts provides free appraisals of musical instruments to help people learn about their value and determine if they are in need of repair or restoration.
What should I do after getting a violin appraisal?
After getting a violin appraisal, one of the first things you will want to do is find out if you can sell it or not. The next step would be to decide what you are going to do with the instrument.
The next step may include selling your violin, donating it, giving it away, or even taking lessons. You should also consider whether or not you need any repairs and how much they would cost.
How long does it take to get a violin appraisal?
It can take up to three months for a qualified appraiser to evaluate the violin and give an estimate of its value. The appraiser will inspect the violin, test it for defects, and then estimate its value based on the market.
Who is qualified to give me a violin appraisal?
The person appraising your violin should have a degree in music or have studied for at least four years on the subject. It is also important that they be able to identify the make and model of your violin and its key features. They should also know how to play the instrument and be able to show you how to play it too.