An appraiser is an expert hired to examine an object or piece of property to determine its value. This determination is called an appraisal, and is commonly required for the purchase, sale, or refinancing of real estate or to gain insurance on property or make a claim if insured property is lost or stolen. Appraisers can be broad in their expertise–like real estate–or can have a specialization narrowed to only specific types of objects, like art, jewelry, or antiques.
All states require that appraisers gain a certification or license before they begin to appraise property. Which type of certification or license an appraiser must gain varies based on the type or complexity of the property they specialize in, and the specifics of these requirements can vary from state to state.
[Last updated in June of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]