Check credentials (CV/Resume)

Ask antique  appraisers you interview if they completed a 15-Hour USPAP course, passed the test and have updated to all bi-annual changes required by the Uniform Standards. Ask if they are a member of a professional appraisal society or association? 

If  they answer "no" - proceed cautiously! 

You’ve made an important and wise decision to seek an antique appraiser. Proceed carefully.

Rest Easy. Use Novotny as your antiques and personal property appraiser. He will:

Most Types of Objects

Intended Use

Welcome!

Appraisal Intended Uses

& Objectives

Collectibles & Antiques 

Personal Property


Antiques, Furniture, Decorative Art, Fine Art, Collectibles, Glass, Metals, Ceramics, Toys, Dolls, Lighting, Textiles, Rugs, Quilts, Samplers, Couture, Books, Posters, 
Folk Art, Records, Military, Sporting and Scientific Objects, Far Eastern (Asian) Objects, Native American Objects, General Household Goods and Residential Contents (both appreciating and depreciating)
Professional Expert Appraiser

and Generalist Consultant


Antique and Personal Property Appraiser of most property types and general household goods * General Antiques and Personal Property Appraiser in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Value in doubt? Find out!

Call Now!


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  • William Novotny is a general collectibles, antique, art and personal property appraiser in Los Angeles.


  • Personal property appraisers must be independent, objective, impartial, unbiased and competent.


  • All appraisal reports, written or oral, must comply with minimum standards that apply (USPAP) and must be suitable for the intended use.


  • General personal property  appraisers must be competent and qualified to solve complex appraisal problems with many property types.


  • William Novotny has 38 years of experience. He will provide meaningful, well reasoned value opinions defensible by data and worthy of belief by every client 

When value is in doubt - Find Out! 

Antiques and personal property appraisals are challenging.

Personal property objects are one or many, old or new, big or small, of multiple materials for different uses and purposes, from all over the world and from throughout all time.


Each object must be identified and it's characteristics, relevant to value, must be understood from the proper market perspective.

A complete description of important objects includes:

• Type of Object (Title and Description)

• Period (Date Created/Circa)

• Medium (Material)

• Dimensions

• Signature, inscriptions-other identifying details

• Condition & quality/rarity/provenance indicators



Since 1979 :

Complex Assignments - Single Objects or Complete Houseful -  Most Intended Uses:

Expert Witness/Litigation Support, Decision Making,

IRS Tax, Trust Management, Probate,

Equitable Distribution, Divorce,

Estate Planning, Sales Advisory, 

Document Inventory, Appraisal Review

Assignments can be communicated by a brief, one-page hybrid oral appraisal, Restricted Appraisal Report or by a  comprehensive, formal Appraisal  Report


Valuation services since 1979

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General Collectibles, Antiques and Personal Property Appraiser in

Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Gabriel Valley and So. California.

  • 20 years full time antiques dealer at several large stores, (largest 20,000 sf  from 1979-1986), antique malls and antique shows (1979-1999)
  • 25 years pricing antiques & personal property for liquidation at Estate Sales (since 1989)
  • Since 1993 a general personal property appraiser (AQB Certified USPAP  Instructor since 2002)
  • Published 5 personal property appraisal  journal articles as well as online appraisal standards courses since 2008


  • Oral or Formal Reports
  • Flexible Report Options
  • Credible Opinions
  • Careful Problem Identification
  • Ethical and Competent
  • Relevant Market Based
  • Carefully Developed Opinions
  • USPAP Compliant
  • Flexible Scope of Work
  • Expert Witness Background
  • AQB Certified USPAP Instructor
  • Instructor of Appraisal Theory Methods, Practice and Report Writing
  • Personal Property Appraiser Dedicated To Do It Right

General Antiques and Personal Property Appraiser in Los Angeles

Determining value is not an easy task. Appraising is not an exact science. The appraiser must understand the client's valuation problem sufficiently, before proceeding, in order to determine how to solve the problem competently and to complete the task credibly. 


There are several assignment elements that must be identified and understood before an appraiser can proceed and accept a job and conduct the necessary scope of work to solve the problem. The most important part of the appraisal process is careful initial communication with the client to properly identify the problem.


There are ever changing market factors relevant to each different property type that a general antiques and personal property appraiser must identify and understand in order to proceed competently. Appraisers must have sufficient knowledge and experience (as much as typical market participants) regarding the subject property type. The appraiser must be aware of, understand and correctly employ the theory and methods necessary to choose and analyze the appropriate market, to identify the relevant economic and geographic factors that apply as well as the demand factors (value and quality characteristics) of the subject property necessary to determine value. 


There are competing and alternative markets in which any given property could be sold. The appraiser must identify the appropriate and relevant market to investigate based on the intended use of the report by the client, the relevant value definition that applies and the value characteristics of the subject property. The appraiser must utilize the valuation methods and techniques that are necessary to solve the valuation problem. When value is significant the appraiser must select sufficient appropriate comparable objects, identify other relevant data, and apply a proper analyses to ensure that the assignment results are worthy of belief. 


Once the personal property valuation is complete and considered worthy of belief by intended users of the report, the appraiser must communicate the relevant opinions, analyses and conclusions to the client in a manner that is not misleading and that can be properly understood. This requires that the problem identified be properly reported as well sufficient disclosure of the scope of work performed, a narrative of the solution to the valuation problem identified, the value approach, a summary or statement of the appraiser's reasoning and analyses and discussion of all limiting conditions and assumptions that applied so that intended users can properly and meaningfully evaluate the report, judge its relevance and determine to what extent to rely upon it.


A general personal property appraiser must act competently and ethically at all times in order that the public (the client and intended users) have a basis to invest their trust in the appraisers opinions, analyses and conclusions.  Please note that Novotny DOES NOT BUY personal property. It would be perceived as a conflict of interest.

General Collectibles, Antiques and Personal Property Appraiser in Los Angeles

Antique and Personal

Property Appraiser

"Value in Doubt? - Find Out!"

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  • •    act competently and ethically,
  • •    understand your valuation problem,
    •    use the applicable value definition,
    •    research the appropriate market level,
    •    perform the necessary scope of work,
    •    solve your appraisal problem credibly,  
    •    and prepare a meaningful oral or written     report.