contents inventory | National Inventory Certification Association

27 May 2021

Inventory 101

Curriculum One of the courses required to achieve your Certified Inventory Specialist designation is Inventory 101. The purpose of this course is to help inventory professionals learn about the various inventory categories so you are prepared to speak knowledgeably with others in the “counting industry.” This knowledge will also enable you to know whether to consider a job opportunity or to decline.

Personal property inventory is fairly new compared to retail and manufacturing, so you will most likely be contacted to inventory a retail store. Especially at year-end, numerous convenience store owners or managers will be calling to find someone to count their bubble gum, candy bars, and other consumables in their store. Small manufacturers and sheet metal shops might call on you to count their “pieces and parts” at year-end.

Knowing the key words and types of items other industries inventory will help you know what opportunities to accept and which ones to pass on or refer if you know of someone who specializes in that industry. These calls give you an opportunity to ask if they have an inventory of their equipment, furniture, electronics, etc. Give a quick explanation of why it is important to have this inventory, and you might secure a personal property inventory client!

07 Apr 2017

New Jersey Member Earns Appraisal Examiner Certification

Member John Maida has achieved his designation as Certified Appraisal Examiner.

PRESS RELEASE – The National Inventory Certification Association™ (NICA) is pleased to announce that member John Maida, owner of WJ Home Inventory, has recently earned the designation of Certified Appraisal Examiner (CAE).

The growth of the personal property inventory industry has created an opportunity for contents inventory professionals to serve as an Appraisal Examiner. This certification provides the credentials to assist appraisers by collecting the required information they need to create an accurate Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant certified report. The purpose of a CAE designation is to establish recognition for this specialized service, providing the opportunity for appraisal firms to locate certified, qualified examiners, and for Certified NICA members to grow their businesses through additional revenue opportunities.

When completing an inventory service for residential and commercial clients, the inventory professional is often asked if they know the value of items, or if they can refer an appraiser. The CAE designation signifies that these inventory professionals have the knowledge and information required to collect and provide the necessary information for an appraiser to assign value. This allows for a two-way referral opportunity between these two industries.

“Adding property appraisal services to the other WJ Home inventory options enables me to serve my clients’ needs when they are asking for valuations of their antiques, collectibles, etc. Achieving this certification shows clients and referral sources that I value education and choose to raise my professionalism to another level,” John explained.

To help ensure that the inventory service provider is prepared to serve the appraisal industry, the NICA Education Committee determined the requirements to achieve an Appraiser Examiner Certification. Only those who have earned their Certified Inventory Expert (CIE) or Certified Inventory Specialist (CIS) designation can apply for this additional level. They are also required to successfully complete the Customer Service and Appraisal Examiner courses, plus an elective chosen from the NICA curriculum. This Committee included Members of NICA, an established property appraiser, and the Association Directors.

Based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, WJ Home Inventory offers examiner appraisal and contents inventory services in the State of New Jersey and also Eastern Pennsylvania.

03 Apr 2017

South Carolina Member Achieves Appraisal Examiner Certification

Member Donna Courtney has recently earned the designation of Certified Appraisal Examiner.

PRESS RELEASE – The National Inventory Certification Association™ (NICA) is pleased to announce that Certified Inventory Specialist Donna Courtney of Courtney Inventory has recently earned her second designation, Certified Appraisal Examiner (CAE).

To help ensure that the personal property inventory service provider is prepared to serve the appraisal industry, the NICA Education Committee determined the requirements to achieve an Appraiser Examiner Certification. Only those who have earned their Certified Inventory Expert (CIE) or Certified Inventory Specialist (CIS) designation can apply for this additional level. They are also required to successfully complete the Customer Service and Appraisal Examiner courses, plus an elective that is chosen from the NICA curriculum.

The growth of the personal property inventory industry has created an opportunity for contents inventory professionals to serve as Appraisal Examiners. This certification provides the credentials to assist appraisers by collecting the required information they need to create an accurate Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant certified report. The purpose of a CAE designation is to establish recognition for this specialized service, providing the opportunity for appraisal firms to locate certified, qualified examiners, and for Certified NICA members to grow their businesses through additional revenue opportunities.

When completing an inventory service for residential and commercial clients, the inventory professional is often asked if they know the value of items, or if they can refer an appraiser. Having the knowledge and expertise to collect the information required by appraisers to properly assign value enables the Appraisal Examiner to serve their clients’ needs. This allows for a two-way referral opportunity between the two industries.

Courtney said, “I am often asked if I can appraise items while providing an inventory service. Though I am not an appraiser, my CAE designation provides me with the knowledge and confidence that I can now offer appraisal services. This business partnership established by the National Inventory Certification Association and appraisers brings additional value to my company, and an added credential to my business. I see it as a win for both industries, and most importantly, for the client.”

Based in Little River, South Carolina, Courtney Inventory provided appraisal examiner services as well as residential and business asset inventory services in Southern North Carolina and in South Carolina.

29 Mar 2017

Bay Area Member Earns Certified Appraisal Examiner Designation

The National Inventory Certification Association announces that member Tricia Hoekwater of Uniquely Yours Digital Solutions achieved her second NICA certification.

PRESS RELEASE – The National Inventory Certification Association™ (NICA) is pleased to announce that Tricia Hoekwater, owner of Uniquely Yours Digital Solutions, has recently earned the designation of Certified Appraisal Examiner (CAE).

To help ensure that the personal property inventory service provider is prepared to serve the appraisal industry, the NICA Education Committee determined the requirements to achieve an Appraiser Examiner Certification. Only those who have earned their Certified Inventory Expert (CIE) or Certified Inventory Specialist (CIS) designation can apply for this additional level. They are also required to successfully complete the Customer Service and Appraisal Examiner courses, plus an elective that is chosen from the NICA curriculum.

The growth of the personal property inventory industry has created an opportunity for contents inventory professionals to serve as Appraisal Examiners. This certification provides the credentials to assist appraisers by collecting the required information they need to create an accurate Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant certified report. The purpose of a CAE designation is to establish recognition for this specialized service, providing the opportunity for appraisal firms to locate certified, qualified examiners, and for Certified NICA members to grow their businesses through additional revenue opportunities.

When completing an inventory service for residential and commercial clients, the inventory professional is often asked if they know the value of items, or if they can refer an appraiser. Having the knowledge and expertise to collect the information required by appraisers to properly assign value enables the Appraisal Examiner to serve their clients’ needs. This allows for a two-way referral opportunity between the two industries.

“When an appraiser doesn’t have the resources due to increased workload, or chooses to utilize my company to document the information for their appraisal assignment, my certification as an Appraisal Examiner gives them confidence in my expertise,” Tricia explained.

Based in Pittsburg, California, Uniquely Yours Digital Solutions offers appraisal examiner services as well as residential and business asset inventory services in in the San Francisco Bay Area.

22 Apr 2015

Inventory YOU

When is the last time YOU took inventory?

This is a question I am often asked, since one of my businesses, Hartman Inventory, is a personal property inventory service. As an asset inventory professional, you probably immediately thought about your last job, too.

But this time, I’m not talking about home or company contents. What I’m wondering is, when is the last time you took inventory of yourself?

As business owners and entrepreneurs, we must always keep an accurate inventory of what we are doing. We must continually check our focus, goals, and achievements. Do we bring value to our industry, in general, and to our business(es), specifically?

Knowledge and Wisdom

A couple areas that might need to be updated are knowledge and wisdom. Taking time to evaluate ourselves is often something many just don’t do. Busy with the day-to-day busy-ness of life, this valuable process of pondering, dreaming, planning, etc., is often forgotten.

Stop right now and take an inventory. When is the last time you read a self-improvement book, took an online continuing education course, attended a seminar or webinar, or participated in a networking event? Without regularly taking inventory of your progress, there is a high chance that you and your business will not grow.

Gaining new knowledge regarding our specific business is essential. Knowledge of our industry in general is also imperative to become or remain a leader. Continued learning will result in greater wisdom. Wisdom, to me, is using the knowledge you have – and using it appropriately. We can use it to improve our business skills, industry expertise, and ourselves (the most important of the three).

When is the last time you took inventory of you?