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Tag: <span>USPAP</span>

06 Sep 2017

Pennsylvania Inventory Professional Achieves Appraisal Examiner Certification

The National Inventory Certification Association announces that member Lavon Kearney has earned the designation of Certified Appraisal Examiner.

Lavon KearneyPRESS RELEASE – The National Inventory Certification Association (NICA) is pleased to announce that Lavon Kearney, owner of Serenity Assured Inventory Solution, has recently earned the designation of Certified Appraisal Examiner (CAE).

Growth of the personal property inventory industry has created an opportunity for contents inventory professionals to serve as Appraisal Examiners. The purpose of a CAE designation is to establish recognition for this specialized service. This certification provides the education and the credentials needed to properly assist appraisers.

This enables appraisal firms to locate and subcontract certified, qualified examiners to assist with the collection of descriptions and photos of items to be appraised. The appraisers are then able to create an accurate Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant certified report from this information provided by the inventory professional. Additionally, the home inventory professional is able 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 contents inventory professionals have the knowledge required to collect and then submit the necessary information for an appraiser to assign value. This allows for a two-way referral opportunity between these two industries.

To help ensure that the inventory service provider is prepared to serve the appraisal industry, the NICA Education Committee, consisting of NICA members, an established property appraiser, and the Association Directors, 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 are eligible to apply for this additional level. The inventory professional is also required to successfully complete the Customer Service and Appraisal Examiner courses, plus an elective chosen from the NICA curriculum. The Appraisal Examiner course was co-written by a property appraiser to ensure integrity and provide hands-on processes for accurate collection of information.

Lavon stated, “Whether someone wants just one item appraised, a few items, or a whole house, I am now able to confidently and professionally collect the information and forward it to a USPAP certified appraiser. I am very excited about this additional service I can now offer my clients.”

Based in Export, Pennsylvania, Serenity Assured Inventory Solution offers residential and business asset inventory services to the metropolitan Pittsburgh area. 

25 Jan 2016

Asset Inventory Professional Achieves Appraiser Certification

The National Inventory Certification Association congratulates member Jo Soard for achieving appraiser designations.

JoSoardPRESS RELEASE – The National Inventory Certification Association™ (NICA) is pleased to announce that Jo Soard, Certified Inventory Specialist and owner of the newly-reorganized Soard Appraisals and Inventory Services, has recently earned designations of a certified appraiser.

Soard completed both the Graduate Personal Property Appraiser (GPPA) and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisals Practice (USPAP) designations on December 13, 2015. USPAP is a set of national Standards preferred by law offices and insurance companies and fully meet all federal and state documentary requirements.

To achieve this certification, Jo was required to attend 40 hours of classroom instruction along with many hours of research and study. The USPAP is a 15-hour course followed by a test. This is updated every two years so classroom time and the test is required to continue to qualify as a certified appraiser.

Jo started her inventory business, the Inventory Lady, as a third-party inventory documentation service. She focused on creating an inventory of personal property for homeowners and business owners, mainly to assist them with the insurance claim in the event of a loss.

There are many times when a client asks her to give a value of the items being documented. This encouraged her to become a certified appraiser. She is now able to address these needs as well, and explained, “I receive calls from people wanting to know how much their great–grandmother’s desk is worth. I’m also asked about the value of other family heirlooms or collections, and I was only able to do research for them but not able to provide the USPAP Appraisal Report.” A USPAP report is the information required by the IRS, insurance companies, attorneys, etc.

Merging these two services together created the re-organization of her previous business to what is now Soard Appraisals and Inventory Services. “Home inventories and appraisals are a perfect match to create a full-service opportunity for clients,” said Soard. When someone contracts an inventory service, they often ask for valuations. Other times, when someone is having a few items appraised, they see the value in having documentation of all of their contents. As Soard stated, “The two services compliment each other.”

About Soard Appraisals and Inventory Services

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Soard Appraisals and Inventory Services provides residential and commercial asset inventory services and certified appraisals. For more information contact Jo Soard at  703.850.4744 or soard.inc@gmail.com