Every appraisal produced by S. P. Sweeting Appraisals is grounded in internationally recognized valuation standards. Reports comply with RICS Valuation — Global Standards (the Red Book) and the International Valuation Standards (IVS), the two principal frameworks governing professional personal property appraisal practice at the highest level.

These standards are not simply a matter of professional compliance. They define how value is identified, how market evidence is gathered and weighed, and how conclusions are reached and documented. A report built on these foundations can withstand scrutiny.

Defining the right type of value
One of the first tasks in any assignment is establishing which type of value applies. Replacement cost for insurance purposes is not the same as fair market value for a charitable donation or estate settlement. These distinctions are not technical fine print — they can produce meaningfully different figures, and applying the wrong standard to a report can create problems for a client down the line. Getting this right at the outset is a basic professional responsibility.

Inspection and documentation
Most assignments begin with a personal inspection of the property. This allows for direct assessment of condition, identification of restoration or alteration, and review of any supporting documentation — provenance records, receipts, exhibition history, certificates of authenticity, or prior appraisal reports. Where remote appraisal procedures are used, the same standards apply, with appropriate adjustments to the scope of work.

Market research and comparable sales
Value conclusions are anchored in market evidence wherever the evidence exists. This typically means analysis of auction records, dealer transactions, and other relevant sales data, drawn from recognized databases and public records. Comparable sales are evaluated for relevance — date, condition, provenance, and market context all affect how directly a comparable applies to the property being appraised.

Some properties trade in active, well-documented markets. Others do not. Thin or irregular markets require a different approach: broader research, closer attention to cultural and historical context, and a more interpretive application of professional judgment. The methodology shifts to fit the assignment, and that shift is always documented and explained in the report.

Judgment as a professional obligation
Standards and data provide the framework. Professional judgment is the basis of the conclusion. Thirty-five years of full-time appraisal experience, combined with graduate-level research skills and sustained engagement with the Canadian and international markets, informs every value opinion this firm produces. The goal is always a well-supported, clearly reasoned conclusion — one that reflects the actual market for the property in question, not a formulaic application of price data.