USPAP-compliant appraisals by best-in-class appraisers
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Joe Kattan
Jason Dolph, CAGA
Tim Roy, ASA, CEA
Marnie Erkelens, CAGA
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About AppraiseItNow's Scientific Equipment Appraisal Services
AppraiseItNow provides certified, USPAP-compliant appraisals for scientific equipment used in research, clinical, industrial, and academic settings. Our appraisals support a wide range of purposes, including IRS tax filings, charitable donations (IRS Form 8283), estate and gift tax reporting, insurance coverage and claims, asset-based lending, financial reporting, and equipment disposition decisions. Scientific instruments often carry significant value that is poorly understood by generalist appraisers, making specialist knowledge critical for defensible valuations. As a specialized subset of our broader equipment and machinery appraisal services, scientific equipment appraisals draw on deep familiarity with manufacturer lifecycles, calibration status, software dependencies, and secondary market conditions. Our mission is to deliver defensible, USPAP-compliant valuations with exceptional speed, professionalism, and client service.
Our appraisers serve universities, research hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, government laboratories, private collectors of scientific instruments, and legal or financial professionals handling estates, bankruptcies, or mergers involving lab assets. Many scientific equipment appraisals can be completed remotely using manufacturer records, calibration logs, and photographic documentation, though onsite inspection may be required for large-scale systems, custom-configured instruments, or assets where operating condition materially affects value. 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 Scientific Equipment Do We Appraise?
Scientific equipment spans a wide range of disciplines and price points. AppraiseItNow appraises instruments and systems across the following categories:
- Analytical instruments: mass spectrometers, chromatography systems (HPLC, GC, LC-MS), spectrophotometers, and NMR systems
- Microscopy and imaging: electron microscopes (SEM, TEM), confocal microscopes, fluorescence microscopes, and digital pathology systems
- Life science and genomics equipment: PCR and qPCR thermocyclers, DNA sequencers, flow cytometers, and cell sorters
- Laboratory automation: liquid handling robots, automated plate readers, and high-throughput screening systems
- Physical and materials testing: tensile testers, rheometers, tribometers, and thermal analysis instruments (DSC, TGA)
- Environmental and field instruments: gas analyzers, water quality meters, portable spectrometers, and weather monitoring systems
- Optical and photonic equipment: lasers, optical benches, interferometers, and fiber optic testing systems
- Calibration and metrology equipment: coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), oscilloscopes, signal analyzers, and precision balances
- Medical research and diagnostic instruments: MRI research systems, ultrasound research platforms, and electrophysiology rigs
- Legacy and vintage scientific instruments: antique microscopes, early spectroscopes, and historically significant laboratory apparatus
Who Does AppraiseItNow Serve?
AppraiseItNow serves research institutions, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and academic laboratories, as well as attorneys, CPAs, and estate administrators managing assets that include scientific instruments. Individual researchers, private collectors of antique scientific apparatus, and donors contributing equipment to nonprofit organizations also rely on our appraisals for IRS compliance and insurance purposes.
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 scientific equipment does AppraiseItNow appraise?
AppraiseItNow appraises a broad range of scientific and laboratory equipment used in research, clinical, industrial, and academic settings. Common categories include:
- Analytical instruments such as mass spectrometers, NMR machines, and chromatography systems
- Electron and optical microscopes
- Spectroscopy and imaging equipment
- Laboratory automation and liquid handling systems
- Diagnostic and life sciences instruments
- Cleanroom and semiconductor fabrication equipment
- Vintage and collectible scientific instruments
If your equipment is not listed here, contact us and we can confirm whether we cover it.
Are your scientific equipment appraisals USPAP-compliant?
Yes. All AppraiseItNow appraisals are developed and reported in compliance with USPAP Standards 7 and 8, which govern personal property appraisals. These standards require appraisers to identify the appraisal problem, determine the appropriate scope of work, gather and analyze relevant market data, and reconcile value indications using recognized methodologies. Our reports are accepted by the IRS, lenders, insurers, and courts.
What are common reasons someone needs a scientific equipment appraisal?
Scientific equipment appraisals are needed across a wide range of legal, financial, and tax situations, including:
- Charitable donations where the IRS requires a qualified appraisal for noncash contributions exceeding $5,000 in fair market value
- Estate planning and estate tax reporting on Form 706
- Insurance coverage scheduling and damage or loss claims
- Asset-based lending and financing
- Mergers, acquisitions, and due diligence
- Divorce, litigation, and bankruptcy proceedings
- FASB GAAP financial reporting and property tax assessments
Can you appraise scientific equipment in poor condition, with unknown provenance, or with limited documentation?
Yes. Appraisers account for condition, functional obsolescence, and missing documentation as part of the valuation process. For scientific equipment, condition factors such as corrosion on vacuum chambers, outdated software versions, or missing calibration records are evaluated against comparable market data from sources like LabX, EquipNet, and auction records. Limited documentation may affect the scope of the appraisal or require additional assumptions, which will be disclosed transparently in the report.
Can you appraise large collections or multiple pieces of scientific equipment?
Yes. AppraiseItNow regularly appraises multi-item laboratory inventories, decommissioned research facilities, and mixed equipment sets of any size. Whether you have a single high-value instrument or dozens of items across multiple locations, we can structure the engagement to fit your needs and timeline.
Do you provide online or remote scientific equipment appraisals?
Most scientific equipment appraisals are completed remotely using photographs, serial numbers, model documentation, and maintenance records you provide. For larger projects, complex installations, or collections 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 scientific equipment appraisal cost?
Fees depend on the number of items, the complexity of the equipment, and the intended use of the appraisal. Standard appraisals for insurance, estate distribution, internal planning, and probate start at $295. Advanced appraisals for IRS filings, charitable contributions, M&A due diligence, asset-based lending, litigation, and bankruptcy start at $395. Volume pricing by number of items is as follows:
- 1 item: $295 to $595
- 10 items: $995 to $3,000
- 50 or more items: $5,000 to $10,000 or more, and these are frequently completed in person
All fees are quoted as a fixed price before work begins.
Do you offer discounted pricing for large volumes?
Yes. Per-item fees decrease as the number of items increases. A single instrument appraisal typically ranges from $295 to $595, while a set of 10 items ranges from $995 to $3,000, and inventories of 50 or more items are priced starting at $5,000 with custom quotes based on scope and location. Contact us with a list of your equipment and we will provide a firm quote.
How long does a scientific equipment appraisal take?
Most remote appraisals are completed within 7 to 10 business days from the time we receive the necessary documentation and information. Onsite inspections or larger multi-item inventories typically take 2 to 3 weeks. Rush service is available for same-day or next-day turnaround upon request, which is useful for time-sensitive IRS filings, loan closings, or litigation deadlines.
Who prepares the appraisal report?
Reports are prepared by credentialed machinery and equipment appraisers with specific experience valuing scientific and laboratory instruments. Each report identifies the individual appraiser who conducted or supervised the inspection, consistent with AMEA requirements that name the exact inspector and viewing date. AppraiseItNow's appraisal team is led by professionals including Tim Roy, ASA, CEA, and Jason Dolph, CAGA.
Do you prepare appraisals for IRS Form 8283 (Noncash Charitable Contributions)?
Yes. When a scientific instrument or laboratory equipment donation exceeds $5,000 in fair market value, the IRS requires a qualified appraisal and a completed Section B of Form 8283, signed by a qualified appraiser under penalty of perjury. AppraiseItNow prepares fully compliant appraisals for this purpose, including the detailed equipment descriptions, inspection dates, appraiser qualifications, and market data analysis the IRS requires. Donations between $500 and $5,000 require basic substantiation, which we can also support.
Do you buy, sell, or broker scientific equipment?
No. AppraiseItNow is an independent appraisal firm and does not buy, sell, or broker scientific equipment. This independence is essential to producing unbiased, defensible valuations that meet USPAP, IRS, and lender requirements. If you need a referral to a dealer or remarketer, we are happy to point you in the right direction.
What information do you need to get started?
To begin a scientific equipment appraisal, it helps to have the following ready:
- Make, model, and serial number for each piece of equipment
- Year of manufacture and original purchase price if available
- Photographs of the equipment, including any visible wear or damage
- Maintenance logs, service records, and calibration history
- Any existing warranties or software license documentation
- The intended use of the appraisal, such as insurance, donation, or estate
- Location of the equipment and whether it is installed or freestanding
Providing this information upfront helps us scope the engagement accurately and deliver your report on time.
Can AppraiseItNow appraise scientific equipment located anywhere in the U.S.?
Yes. Remote appraisals are available for scientific equipment located in any state, and most engagements are completed entirely online. For larger inventories, complex laboratory installations, or situations where a physical inspection is required by scope or intended use, we can coordinate an in-person appraiser in any state across the country.
Will my appraisal be accepted by the IRS, insurers, or courts?
Yes. AppraiseItNow appraisals are USPAP-compliant, prepared by credentialed appraisers, and structured to meet the specific requirements of the intended use. IRS-qualified appraisals for charitable donations and estate tax filings include all elements required under the qualified appraisal rules, including appraiser credentials, inspection dates, and market data analysis. Our reports are also accepted by insurance carriers, lenders, and courts for litigation support and financing purposes.
Does the value of embedded software licenses affect a scientific equipment appraisal?
Yes, and this is one of the most commonly overlooked factors in scientific equipment valuations. Software licenses embedded in instruments like mass spectrometers or imaging systems can add 20 to 50 percent to the equipment's fair market value if those licenses are transferable to a buyer. However, the IRS will not accept value claims for software components without supporting license verification documents, so appraisers must confirm transferability and document it in the report.
How does rapid technological obsolescence affect the value of scientific equipment?
Scientific equipment can depreciate 30 to 50 percent in the first year after purchase due to fast technology cycles, particularly for instruments like NMR machines or next-generation sequencers where newer models offer significantly better resolution or automation. Appraisers account for this by analyzing comparable sales on platforms like LabX and EquipNet and applying cost approach adjustments for functional and economic obsolescence. Interestingly, pre-1980 vintage instruments such as early electron microscopes can appreciate through collector and museum markets, which means the appropriate value type, whether fair market value or orderly liquidation value, matters significantly for older equipment.
What happens if a scientific equipment appraisal is challenged during an IRS audit?
The IRS may challenge an appraisal if the report lacks required elements such as the appraiser's qualifications, the specific inspection date, or a detailed description of the equipment. For high-value items, the IRS also expects sensitivity analysis showing a value range, typically plus or minus 20 percent, to demonstrate that the conclusion is supportable under different market assumptions. Appraisers who fail to disclose prior relationships with the client or donee risk losing their "qualified appraiser" status, which can trigger penalties of 20 to 40 percent on underclaimed deductions. AppraiseItNow reports are structured to withstand audit scrutiny from the outset.
APPRAISEITNOW APPRAISERS ARE BEST-IN-CLASS & CREDENTIALED BY LEADING APPRAISAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ISA, ASA, & MORE.
