Last time, I wrote about some of the mistakes to avoid when moving. It’s so important to be prepared when the big moving day arrives.

Tips to avoid mistakes when moving art 2:
• Labels and more labels – Make sure to label all boxes that are going to be moved. Use a permanent black marker and label each box of the items that are in it. Movers will still move your boxes without labels but when they arrive at your new destination, you won’t know not only where the boxes should go in each room to unpack, but you won’t know any of the items when unpacking.
• Markers – Consider using color markers and label boxes that go into your new rooms. Write “kitchen” with all of your kitchen items, write “bathroom” for all of your bath items. Use different colors for each particular room.
• Color cards – Use different color of cards and place them on top of each box labeling where they should go. That way, your movers will know where to place each box in the pertinent areas of your new home.
• Safety – Household goods and money can easily be replaced, members of your family cannot. Stay safe and in my next blog will cover in detail safety tips you need to know about when moving.

Safe moving!

When you are making a move especially overseas, you want to avoid as much as mistakes as humanely possible. Even minor mistakes can prove costly in a residential or business move. You need to do your homework and select a reputable mover like us to move your household goods.

In previous blogs, I’ve covered mistakes you should avoid. This time, I’m going to give you specific tips to ensure a smooth moving day.

Tips to avoid mistakes when moving:
• Sleep – Yep, seems simple enough but some people stay up late the night before the big move and don’t function as well during the day. Get a good night’s sleep so you will alert and ready.
• Cellphone – Simply put, make sure your phone is fully charged for the day. Many folks forget this and then have to have their phones charging in a place not accessible where they need to be when moving. Charge your phone, you will thank me later.
• Errands – Ensure that all of your errands and tasks are completed before moving day. You won’t have time to do them once the moving process begins.
• Rooms – Before you go to bed and when you wake up early on the big day, go through all of your rooms to make sure everything is ready for your movers. This will give you a last chance to ensure your household items are good to go.
• Insurance – Always purchase moving insurance, it’s the only way to protect your household goods from any mishaps that may happen.

There is currently a shipping and supply chain crisis directly affecting every facet of international commerce; its impact is far-reaching enough to touch the lives of consumers and businesses around the world. Simple solutions are not available in our interconnected global economy. While significant industry efforts are underway to highlight the issues and draw attention to them, the international moving industry and its customers struggle to be heard by government regulators. – Source: International Associations of Movers 

Please download the full article here

Myth: I don’t really need an appraisal.
Facts:
There are many important reasons to establish and maintain an appraisal on your valuable collections:
• Avoiding underinsurance
• Estate Planning
• Tax Planning
• Understanding your assets and how to protect them
• Planning for division of property after or before: a death in the family, divorce, or the dissolution of a family partnership where the collection is an asset

Myth: It’s too expensive.
Facts:
• Request a flat fee for the entire appraisal at the outset rather than an hourly rate; you may or may not achieve this, but it can’t hurt to ask.
• A well-executed appraisal will cost approximately $125 – $350 per hour.
• Depending on the nature of your collection, an appraiser can usually assess five to ten items an hour. Very important works or those with extensive provenance may take longer to appraise.
• Don’t hire an appraiser on a “per item” basis. The cost should be based on the time it will take to review your entire collection as a whole.
• Appraisal fees should never be based on the value of your property. This is a major conflict of interest for the appraiser, and appraisals billed this way are not USPAP compliant (see below) and will not be accepted by the IRS.
• Resist the temptation to hire a less expensive appraiser with fewer years’ experience. Your appraisal document should withstand the rigors of both time and the vagaries of the art market, and it is worth investing in a high quality appraisal from the beginning.
• Some insurance companies and insurance brokers have discounts negotiated for their clients with some appraisal firms. Be sure to ask about a potential discount.

Myth: It takes too much time.
Facts:
• For insurance, not everything needs to be appraised. Review your fine art schedule with your broker to determine a value threshold. For example, you might not want to include items that fall below your deductible.
• Many appraisers will provide a complimentary review of your schedule, identifying the top five or ten items that may require updated values.
• Once you have a comprehensive appraisal on file, future updates become much faster and cost effective, and can often be completed without further inspections.

Myth: I can get an appraisal for free.
Facts:
As they say, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Someone offering a free appraisal often has an agenda that could influence their appraisal, particularly with an auction house or a dealer. An auction house’s main objective is to gain access to your collection so they can sell it. Their values may not accurately reflect the marketplace, or best represent your appraisal needs as a client; low values might minimize your sales expectations, or high values might tempt you to sell. Sometimes a dealer may provide you with an updated value for a work they have sold to you, but keep in mind that it benefits the dealer for that value to be as high as possible, as it shows you what a wonderful investment they’ve provided while also establishing a higher baseline for their own future sales.

Myth: All I need is a value.
Facts:
• A formal appraisal should contain the following elements:
– Description of items appraised and values
– Purpose of Appraisal – this is very important as the value can vary greatly depending on whether the appraisal is for Insurance, Donation, Estate, Equitable Distribution (Divorce), Inventory, Damage/Loss, etc.
– Type of value being applied, how values were determined (appraiser’s methodology), and discussion of the marketplace
– Inspection date (nothing whether inspected in person or from images), date of appraisal preparation, and effective date of the values
– Appraiser’s biography, resume, and signature
– Fee structure
– The appraiser should also confirm:
o The appraisal is USPAP compliant
o They have no interest in the items appraised or their values
o They have no reason to question the authenticity of the items appraised or the information provided

• Each item on an appraisal should have the following information addressed:
– Full description (including title, artist, dimensions, materials, etc.)
– Provenance
– Exhibition and publication history, if applicable
– Catalogue Raisonné number, if applicable
– Condition of item
– Comparables – this establishes what similar sales were used as a basis for valuation, and may include further analysis of comparables and bearing on value of this item
– Statement of value (this should not be an estimate or a range)
• For IRS appraisals, the following additional information should be included:
– Confirmation that the IRS has not disqualified the appraiser
– Required IRS forms
– Appraiser’s Tax ID number
– Photograph of artwork – see strict IRS criteria for photographs: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/art_appraisal_services_photographic_requirements.pdf
• A properly executed formal appraisal should be USPAP compliant – Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice:
• The amount of information included in a proper appraisal can be rigorous. It is important that the appraisal contain this information in order to “stand the test of time” with regard to insurance values, the IRS, etc. Whether you are basing your insurance off of this value, or submitting it to the IRS, you want it to be as accurate as possible to avoid potential negative consequences of underinsurance or inaccurate tax-related information.

Myth: The IRS will know what I have.
Facts:
• Appraisals are confidential, and appraisers only share their documents with you or parties you designate. Documents are not filed with any authorities or made public.
• The IRS is well-versed in personal property appraisals and understands the difference between an insurance appraisal and a tax appraisal. When the IRS reviews appraisals, it is done by a special fine art advisory panel.
https://www.irs.gov/compliance/appeals/art-appraisal-services
• Before making any assumptions about how an appraisal may affect your tax liabilities, contact your tax attorney for advice.
• Your collection is an asset and should be considered like any other part of your estate. By taking an inventory and establishing values, you can clearly identify the complete contents of your collection for your heirs, properly understand value to set aside estate tax funds, or even minimize the tax burden on your heirs. An appraisal document is a helpful first step in allowing your heirs to prove clear title, should they someday wish to sell inherited works.

• Many of us assume we can simply tell our heirs which artworks they can take after we die. But what happens when they later try to sell this work? How do they prove their ownership? If they go to auction, the auction house will need to establish the heir has title. If the artwork has not passed to your heir through the normal channels, and taxes have not been paid, either as a gift before your death or as part of your estate, the IRS will inevitably find out whenever it comes time to sell. Estate taxes will have to be paid, and usually there will be additional capital gains on the work.
• It is a good idea to have an updated appraisal as you make estate plans. This document will give you an objective understanding of your collection’s value and can aid in how you distribute your estate. Having a clear plan in place, an appraisal on file, and a complete inventory of items will help avoid potential administrative fees from attorneys and trustees as the estate is settled.
**You should always consult with your tax attorney and accountant when making tax decisions. **

Fact: Who do I call for an appraisal?
• The appraiser should be Senior Accredited Appraiser affiliated with one of the recognized industry associations (such as the Appraisers Association of America, American Society of Appraisers, or International Society of Appraisers) and should be USPAP Certified.
• Appraisers Association of America – Organization with professional requirements in order to be a member – Search by location/type of item to find a local independent appraiser http://www.appraisersassociation.org/
• American Society of Appraisers – Organization with professional requirements in order to be a member – Search by location/type of item to find a local independent appraiser http://www.appraisers.org/
• International Society of Appraisers – Organization with professional requirements in order to be a member – Search by location/type of item to find a local independent appraiser
www.isa-appraisers.org
• Winston Art Group – Appraisal Firm with many experts (artwork, jewelry, coins, memorabilia, etc.) http://winstonartgroup.com/
• Pall Mall Art Advisors – Appraisal Firm with many experts (artwork, jewelry, coins, memorabilia, etc.) http://www.pallmallartadvisors.com/
• Gurr Johns – Appraisal Firm with many experts (artwork, jewelry, coins, memorabilia, etc.) New York
https://gurrjohns.com/
• Fine Art Appraisers – Appraisal Firm with many experts (artwork, jewelry, coins, memorabilia, etc.)
http://www.nyfaa.com
• Allyson Lee Art Appraisal Services – Independent Appraiser in Boston
http:/www.aleeappraisals.com/

Fact: How do I know if an appraiser is “certified”?
• Appraisers should be “USPAP Certified” which means that they comply with the requirements of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. This dictates ethics, report requirements, etc. https://www.appraisalfoundation.org/
• The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is the generally recognized ethical and performance standards for the appraisal profession in the United States. USPAP was adopted by Congress in 1989, and contains standards for all types of appraisal services, including real estate, personal property, business and mass appraisal.

See “Putting an Estate Value on the Assets Unique to You.” The New York Times September 27, 2013 for more information on this subject. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/your-money/putting-an-estate-value-on-the-assets-unique-to-you.html
The elements of appraisals information were derived from Jane H. Willis, Appraisal Writing Workshop.

This week, I’m going to provide you tips if you plan to move to Tokyo.

Tokyo is an exciting city to visit but if you plan on laying down your roots there, you’ll need to prepare. It can be a culture shock even for those that are used to living in big cities:
• Visas – Plan at least two months in getting a visa and make sure you get the correct one. If you plan to work, apply for a work visa. Tourist and general visas are also available.
• Language – Something that a lot of people don’t know is that most Japanese don’t speak English. In addition, there are not a lot of accommodations for English speakers. Just getting around requires knowing the basics of the Japanese language.
• Apartment hunting – It can be daunting to not only find the right place for you, but to pay the upfront costs landlords require. Deposits and other fees are a lot higher there than in the U.S. sometimes requiring more than $5,000 in costs just to move in.
• City hall – All citizens staying a long period of time need to register at city hall to receive an ID card. It’s similar to a driver’s license in the U.S. This is required and you need it on you at all times.
• Like in London, you won’t need a car while in Tokyo. Their public transportation is excellent and the finest in the world.

Safe moving!

If you are flying by plane and want to also move your appliances overseas, I would leave that up to the moving experts. But if you do want to move them, here are some tips to keep in mind:
• Freight charges – Appliances are big-tickets items and will incur freight charges. Make sure to ask your moving company the prices of the charges.
• Voltage – Most countries have their own voltage systems. Check to see if your appliances are compatible.
• Size – Make sure to check the size of your new home because some countries have smaller spaces such as for refrigerators and other types of appliances.
• Buying – You might want to consider purchasing the appliances in your new country. Check the costs, it might be a more convenient and inexpensive way to go.
• Warrantees – Check to see if your current or new appliances have warrantees that will cover the items overseas.

Safe moving!

This week, I’m going to give you tips on how to organize a storage unit like a pro.

After you move, and you still have to store some of your personal belongings, rent a self-storage facility near you and make sure it’s a climate-controlled facility. Once that is completed, follow these tips:
• Inventory – Create a list of all of your belongings. After months and years go by, it’s easy to forget what you have in your unit. Use a spreadsheet and list all your furnishings.
• Clear bins – Consider using plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes. Both are fine but clear bins make it easier to find your items.
• Frequent items – If you have items you plan on using during the year, make sure they are placed near the front door of your storage unit.
• Furniture in the back – Store large and heavy furniture items in the back of the unit. Larger and heavier items should always be on the bottom to allow for lighter items to store on top to minimize damage.
• Disassemble furniture – To maximize space, take apart large furniture items prior to putting them in storage. I’d store all items upright vertical except for beds that should be down flat. This provides you plenty of more room.

Use these simple tips to become a storage unit pro.

Safe moving!

2020 was to say the least, a very tough year on everyone. We made a lot of changes throughout the year, but the one thing that never changed was Rainier and Rainier’s staff’s dedication to giving back to their community. In support of the local DAWN organization and spearheaded by our very own Carrie Bredeson, the Rainier team pulled together and managed to give one family in need a very merry Christmas. DAWN (Dawnrising.org ) supports, empowers and shelters survivors of domestic abuse in King County, WA.

I am proud of our team, and thankful to DAWN for all the amazing work they do year-round. We encourage you to look them up and join them in supporting local families in need.

The below is a very sweet note form the family we were so very blessed to be able to share the holidays with.

For most families, no aspect of a move overseas is more important than the education of school-aged children. Most parents believe that an education abroad will be inferior to that at home. Here are some tips for you when selecting an international school for your kids:
• Research – Before you leave, do your research about what is available in your new country. Many countries with expatriate communities offer international schools that teach the same or similar to the curricula based on familiar models.
• Local schools – Some local school systems in other countries offer the same type of curricula including in their native languages. English is popular over the world so there are plenty of options.
• Lessons – If the school doesn’t offer everything your child would like or you prefer, there are teachers available that can teach specific courses outside of the school system.
• Plan ahead – Begin the process of looking for an international school right when you know you’ll be moving your family overseas. International schools sometimes have limited enrollments and or limited enrollment periods. Look into possibilities long before your move.

Safe moving!