USPAP-compliant appraisals by best-in-class appraisers
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Joe Kattan
Jason Dolph, CAGA
Tim Roy, ASA, CEA
Marnie Erkelens, CAGA
Aron Blue
About AppraiseItNow's Construction Equipment Appraisal Services
AppraiseItNow provides certified construction equipment appraisals for tax filings, asset-based lending, insurance coverage and claims, equipment financing, bankruptcy proceedings, and transactional due diligence. Whether you own a single excavator or a fleet of heavy earthmoving machines, our appraisers deliver accurate, well-documented valuations that hold up to scrutiny from the IRS, lenders, insurers, and courts. Construction equipment appraisal is a specialized discipline within our broader equipment and machinery appraisal services, and our team brings deep knowledge of manufacturer depreciation curves, regional market conditions, and equipment-specific value drivers. Our mission is to deliver defensible, USPAP-compliant valuations with exceptional speed, professionalism, and client service.
We serve contractors, construction companies, equipment dealers, fleet owners, CPAs, attorneys, lenders, and bankruptcy trustees who require independent third-party valuations for a wide range of purposes. Many construction equipment appraisals can be completed remotely using photos, telematics data, and maintenance records, though onsite inspections are coordinated when asset condition, operating hours, or scope of work requires physical verification. We offer Fair Market Value (FMV), Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV), Forced Liquidation Value (FLV), and Replacement Value appraisals for various intended uses.
What Types of Construction Equipment Do We Appraise?
AppraiseItNow appraises a wide range of construction and earthmoving equipment across commercial, civil, and specialty trades. Our appraisers are familiar with major manufacturers including Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, Volvo, Case, and Liebherr, as well as specialty and regional brands.
- Excavators, including mini excavators and long-reach variants
- Bulldozers and crawler dozers
- Motor graders and road graders
- Wheel loaders and skid steer loaders
- Backhoe loaders
- Cranes, including crawler cranes, tower cranes, and rough-terrain cranes
- Scrapers and compactors, including vibratory rollers and plate compactors
- Concrete equipment, including batch plants, pump trucks, and transit mixers
- Paving and asphalt equipment, including pavers and milling machines
- Drilling rigs and foundation equipment
Who Does AppraiseItNow Serve?
AppraiseItNow serves general contractors, specialty subcontractors, equipment fleet managers, construction lenders, and bankruptcy or litigation attorneys who need independent valuations for financial or legal purposes. We also work with CPAs, estate attorneys, and individual equipment owners navigating tax filings, divorce settlements, or insurance claims.
How much does a Construction Equipment appraisal cost?
Appraisal Type
Standard Fee Range
Pricing By Volume
What Drives Cost?
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5-Star Valuation Services, Loved by Hundreds
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Machinery & Equipment valuations for commercial and personal clients
Servicing Commercial & Industrial Businesses
AppraiseItNow serves major businesses and commercial clients, including:
- Banks and lenders
- Construction companies
- Infrastructure contractors
- Inudstrial & manufacturing companies
- Internal finance teams
- CPAs
- Attorneys
Servicing Individuals & Households
AppraiseItNow also serves individual consumers with projects large and small. These clients often include:
- Machinery & Equipment owners or estate inheritors
- Individuals making non-cash charitable donations
- Couples going through marital divorce
- Families dealing with estate planning or post-death estate matters
- Individuals dealing with insurance or other third-party claims
- Individuals going through major financial or other life events
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How our Valuation Process Works
Written USPAP-compliant equipment appraisals for when defensibility matters.
Given the USPAP-compliant nature of AppraiseItNow’s appraisal reports, we prepare our deliverables for major legal, tax, and financial reporting purposes for individual and commercial clients.
Popular uses of our appraisal reports include:
Tax, Estate & Financial Planning
- Gift Tax - IRS Form 709
- Estate Tax - IRS Form 706
- Charitable Donations - filing of IRS Form 8283
- Estate planning, equitable distribution, and probate
Transactions, Lending & Investment
- Asset-backed Lending
- Purchase price allocation & cost segregation
- Mergers & Acquisitions (transactional due diligence)
- Investment analysis & planning
- Financial Reporting
Insurance & Risk Management
Life Events & Special Circumstances
- Divorce
- Social Security reporting or Medicaid Application Filings
- E-2 visa applications
What types of construction equipment does AppraiseItNow appraise?
AppraiseItNow appraises a wide range of heavy construction and earthmoving equipment, from individual machines to full fleet inventories. Common equipment types include:
- Excavators, bulldozers, and graders
- Cranes, boom lifts, and aerial work platforms
- Backhoes, skid steers, and compact track loaders
- Scrapers, compactors, and paving equipment
- Concrete mixers, pumps, and finishing equipment
- Trenchers, drilling rigs, and foundation equipment
- Trailers, lowboys, and support vehicles used in construction operations
Are your construction equipment appraisals USPAP-compliant?
Yes. All AppraiseItNow construction equipment appraisals are prepared in compliance with USPAP Standards 7 and 8, which govern the development and reporting of personal property appraisals including machinery and equipment. Our reports are defensible and accepted by the IRS, lenders, insurers, and courts. We provide qualified appraisals suitable for any formal or legal purpose.
What are common reasons someone needs a construction equipment appraisal?
Construction equipment appraisals are needed across a wide range of situations, including:
- Asset-based lending and equipment financing
- Insurance coverage and damage or total loss claims
- IRS charitable contribution filings using Form 8283
- Estate tax reporting and probate proceedings
- Divorce and partnership dissolution
- Bankruptcy filings and litigation support
- Mergers, acquisitions, and business sales
- Internal asset management and financial reporting
Can you appraise construction equipment in poor condition, with unknown provenance, or with limited documentation?
Yes. Appraisers assess equipment based on physical condition, observable specifications, and comparable market data, so full documentation is helpful but not always required. For heavily worn, damaged, or modified machines, the appraiser will note condition issues and apply appropriate depreciation adjustments. Providing whatever records you do have, such as purchase invoices, maintenance logs, or serial numbers, will help produce the most accurate valuation.
Can you appraise large collections or multiple units?
Yes. AppraiseItNow regularly appraises small fleets, mixed equipment sets, and large construction inventories with dozens or hundreds of machines. Volume pricing is available, and larger inventories are often handled through coordinated onsite inspections. Whether you have a single excavator or a full contractor fleet, we can scope the engagement to fit your needs.
Do you provide online or remote construction equipment appraisals?
Most construction equipment appraisals are completed remotely using photographs, equipment specifications, serial numbers, and supporting documentation you provide. For larger projects, complex machinery, or inventories requiring physical inspection, we can coordinate an in-person appraiser anywhere in the United States. Remote appraisals are fast, convenient, and fully USPAP-compliant.
How much does a construction equipment appraisal cost?
Fees depend on the number of machines, the complexity of the equipment, and the intended use of the appraisal. Standard appraisals for insurance, estate, or internal planning purposes start at $295, while advanced appraisals for IRS filings, lending, litigation, or M&A purposes start at $395. Volume pricing by tier is as follows:
- 1 item: $295 to $595 for a single machine appraisal
- 10 items: $995 to $3,000 for a small fleet or mixed equipment set
- 50 or more items: $5,000 to $10,000 or more for larger inventories, frequently completed in person
Do you offer discounted pricing for large volumes?
Yes. Pricing scales favorably as the number of machines increases, and volume discounts are built into our fleet and inventory pricing tiers. A single machine appraisal typically ranges from $295 to $595, while a 10-unit fleet ranges from $995 to $3,000, reflecting meaningful per-unit savings. For inventories of 50 or more pieces, we provide custom quotes based on scope and logistics.
How long does a construction equipment appraisal take?
Most remote construction equipment appraisals are completed within 7 to 10 business days from the time we receive the necessary information and documentation. Onsite inspections or larger fleet inventories typically take 2 to 3 weeks to complete. Rush service is available for same-day or next-day turnaround upon request if your situation requires it.
Who prepares the appraisal report?
Appraisal reports are prepared by AppraiseItNow's credentialed machinery and equipment appraisers, including professionals holding designations such as ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser) and CEA (Certified Equipment Appraiser). Each report is reviewed for compliance with USPAP Standards 7 and 8 before delivery. Our team has experience valuing construction equipment across a broad range of types, sizes, and conditions.
Do you prepare appraisals for IRS Form 8283 (Noncash Charitable Contributions)?
Yes. When a contractor or business donates construction equipment to a qualifying organization and the claimed deduction exceeds $5,000, the IRS requires a qualified appraisal completed by a qualified appraiser and reported on Form 8283. AppraiseItNow prepares these appraisals in full compliance with IRS requirements. Our advanced appraisal tier, starting at $395, covers charitable contribution filings.
Do you buy, sell, or broker construction equipment?
No. AppraiseItNow is an independent appraisal firm and does not buy, sell, or broker construction equipment of any kind. This independence is essential to producing unbiased, defensible valuations that are accepted by the IRS, lenders, insurers, and courts. Our only role is to provide objective, credentialed appraisal services.
What information do you need to get started?
To begin a construction equipment appraisal, it helps to have the following available:
- Equipment make, model, and year of manufacture
- Serial number or VIN if available
- Current hours of use or mileage
- Photographs of the machine from multiple angles, including the cab, undercarriage, and any attachments
- Known condition issues, recent repairs, or modifications
- Any purchase records, maintenance logs, or prior appraisals
- The intended use of the appraisal, such as insurance, IRS filing, or financing
Can AppraiseItNow appraise construction equipment located anywhere in the U.S.?
Yes. Remote appraisals are available for construction equipment located in any state, and most single-machine or smaller fleet appraisals can be completed entirely online. For larger inventories, complex equipment, or situations requiring physical inspection, we can coordinate a qualified in-person appraiser in any state. There is no geographic limitation on our services.
Will my appraisal be accepted by the IRS, insurers, or courts?
Yes. AppraiseItNow's construction equipment appraisals are USPAP-compliant and prepared by credentialed appraisers, meeting the standards required by the IRS, insurance carriers, lenders, and courts. Our reports include all elements required for a qualified appraisal under IRS regulations, including appraiser qualifications, methodology, and a signed declaration. They are routinely used for tax filings, insurance claims, litigation, and financing without issue.
What valuation approaches are used for construction equipment, and which one applies to my situation?
Appraisers typically apply three approaches when valuing construction equipment: the market approach, which compares recent sales of similar machines; the cost approach, which estimates replacement cost minus depreciation for age, condition, and obsolescence; and the income approach, which is used when equipment generates measurable revenue. For most construction equipment, the market approach carries the most weight because auction records and dealer transactions provide strong comparable data. The appraiser selects the appropriate approach or combination of approaches based on the equipment type, available data, and the intended use of the appraisal.
What is the difference between Fair Market Value, Orderly Liquidation Value, and Forced Liquidation Value for construction equipment?
These three value types reflect different selling scenarios and can produce significantly different numbers for the same machine. Fair Market Value assumes a willing buyer and seller with no time pressure, typically reflecting what a piece of equipment would sell for on the open market. Orderly Liquidation Value assumes a reasonable but compressed sale timeline, such as an auction with proper marketing, while Forced Liquidation Value reflects a distressed or immediate sale where the seller has little control over timing or buyer pool. Lenders often require OLV or FLV for asset-based lending, while insurance and IRS purposes typically call for FMV or Replacement Value.
How does equipment hours and condition affect the appraised value of construction equipment?
Hours of use are one of the most significant value drivers for construction equipment, similar to mileage on a vehicle, because high hours indicate greater wear on the engine, hydraulics, and undercarriage. An excavator with 10,000 hours will typically appraise considerably lower than a comparable model with 3,000 hours, even if both appear similar on the surface. Condition factors such as undercarriage wear percentage, hydraulic leaks, structural cracks, and the presence of original attachments all influence the final value. Appraisers document these factors during inspection and apply depreciation adjustments that reflect both physical deterioration and any functional or economic obsolescence.
APPRAISEITNOW APPRAISERS ARE BEST-IN-CLASS & CREDENTIALED BY LEADING APPRAISAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ISA, ASA, & MORE.
