There are two main reasons to have your rug appraised, to determine its value if you plan to sell it, or to have it insured. Most people who ask us about getting an appraisal, are considering selling, they don't have their insurance needs in mind. If they were thinking about insurance issues, they'd already know to call their agent. But whether selling or insuring, your local insurance agent is also a valuable resource in finding an experienced, accredited appraiser.

A proper professional appraisal of an Oriental Rug most often needs to be done locally because the costs (and risks) of shipping your treasured rug over long distances is prohibitive. In short, you need a local appraiser and your insurance agent should be your first phone call towards finding one.

A disinterested party, one that neither gains nor loses from the prospective sale of your rug, is also most often the best appraiser to hire. Your insurance company wants the appraised value to be accurate, because they risk its replacement value should it face harm. If they over-value it, they risk greater loss. If they under-value it, they risk you losing interest in insuring it with them in the first place - and they risk their credibility with you. Your insurance company can normally be trusted to find or recommend an appraiser with experience and credentials, because it's vitally in their interests, as well as yours.

If your insurance agent should come up short on a proper recommendation, don't ask your local rug stores for advice - whether you purchased the existing rug there or not, they've got very little real financial interest in helping you get the value determined accurately.

Some people ask rug repairers and rug restorers to do an appraisal, but their financial interests often align with getting people to have work done on their rugs. So some restorers may be inclined to initially undervalue the rug while proposing that some additional work needs to be done to improve its value. Obviously, if you have an existing trusted relationship with any well-qualified restorer (or if your rug plainly needs repair), a restorer would be ideal person to contact for this work. But normally, for just an appraisal, a disinterested party is more ideal.

Lastly, no matter who recommends the appraiser to you, you should make efforts to personally verify their experience and credentials. The more solid your appraisal is, the better your rug will sell. Ask any prospective appraiser for at least two local referrals and for the appraiser's documented credentials. RugScout highly recommends any appraisers that are certified by the American Society of Appraisers (ASA). They undergo rigorous certification that includes documented examinations and they have certified specialists in the specific sub-category that they call "Personal Property / Oriental Rugs". Their website has a search feature that allows you to find an expert appraiser, designated in Oriental Rugs, in your local area:
    ASA Appraiser Search