The appraiser comes to you
Under no set of circumstances does the client ever lose possession or control of the collection. The professional numismatic appraiser always goes to the client's location to perform the appraisal — no exceptions. Collections are appraised in private homes, offices, bank vaults, safety-deposit settings and storage facilities.
The office is in Culver City, California, and on-site appraisals are performed across the Greater Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills and the Westside — where Joel J. Forman's long-standing professional affiliations (Sotheby's Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hills Bar Association) reflect decades of client work.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave everything in place — coins are examined where they are stored; nothing needs to be packed or moved.
- Gather the paperwork — prior appraisals, insurance schedules, purchase records and any inheritance documents help set the scope.
- Know the goal — estate settlement, insurance scheduling, a planned donation or a loan discussion each lead to a slightly different report.
- Expect a written contract first — scope and fee are agreed in writing before the on-site visit is scheduled.
Attorneys & fiduciaries: engagements can be coordinated directly with estate, probate and trust officers, and reports are prepared for third-party use.
To arrange an on-site appraisal, contact Joel J. Forman — or see qualifications and the process first.