FAQs

Many clients would not know where to start when calculating their contents cover. The valuation gives peace of mind that you have the correct insurance in place, helping to avoid both over and importantly under-insurance.

The report is also vital if it comes to a claim, as it provides documentary evidence from an independent and impartial specialist valuer.

We are approved valuers for all the High-Net-Worth Insurers and our valuations are accepted throughout the insurance industry which means that even if you change insurers, our valuations are still valid.

For our Bespoke Inventory and Jewellery & Watches valuations, this will depend on your contents/collection and how much detail you wish to include in your valuation. We will always ask for this information so that we can indicate the expected hours both on and off site at the time of quotation so that there are no surprises. 

Our Home Contents Appraisal, which is a set fee valuation, usually takes anywhere between 1.5 hours to 3 hours depending on your contents and the size of your property. 

We recommend that valuations for contents are updated within three years.  If you have contemporary or high value artworks, or a large amount of jewellery and watches, you may want to consider updating more regularly.  We suggest you check with your insurer as each one is different.

We offer a personal updating service for our Bespoke valuations. The valuer who visited you previously will review your report and collections along with another senior valuer. This means you can also add or remove items, making sure your report is kept up to date.

With jewellery valuations we can update a valuation we have completed previously but it would require a visit.  However, this would take less time than the previous visit and is important, as valuers can check clasps and settings and confirm the items are in good condition. 

We ask that you find any relevant paperwork (such as invoices or receipts) for higher value/significant items. This is particularly important for contemporary art where the artist may not be obvious. 

If you have a previous valuation document available for our valuer on the day, this is very helpful for consistency. It allows our valuer to note items they are looking out for so that nothing is missed.

If you have items such as silverware tucked away in a cupboard, we ask that you bring these out to a dining table (or equivalent) so that the valuer can access them easily. Our valuers do not go through cupboards and drawers for privacy/security reasons.  

For jewellery and watches valuations, we request all relevant paperwork to include invoices/receipts, diamond grading reports (such as GIA, HRD or IGI), coloured gemstone reports and any boxes and guarantees that the watches came in. Without the relevant paperwork, there are some items of jewellery/watches which can not be included in the report. 

On certain occasions, yes. 

If we are valuing just a few items of art and antiques, we can value these remotely if we have the relevant paperwork (invoice/receipt) and clear photos of the item/s. 

If we have visited your property in the past and have carried out our more detailed valuation (Bespoke Inventory), on most occasions we can update this remotely at reduced costs. 

When it comes to art, works of art and antiques, yes, we can. We have a 1-3 item home visit valuation which offers an economical way to ensure a special piece (or two/three) is correctly insured.

With regards to jewellery and watches, yes we can, but our minimum call-out still applies. This means it would be far more economical to have a collection valued. 

Ideally, yes. Previous valuations are extremely helpful for our valuers because it helps with consistency, keeping time and cost down and with making the valuation run more smoothly. 

Ideally, yes. Often there are items which the valuer will want to discuss with you in more detail. Your presence also allows you to point out any items of particular significance or sentimental value. 

Our valuers do not open cupboards/drawers for your privacy and so with full contents valuations, the valuer will want to sit down to discuss items which may be tucked away such as clothing/linen/luggage etc. 

The above said, we do carry out valuations where the client cannot be present. We simply ask for your assistance by email to fill in any gaps. 

All our valuers have been carefully vetted and we have robust procedures in place to make sure your data is as secure as possible. We use password protection when sending reports and your valuation is then archived on a stand-alone encrypted server unconnected from the internet.

We also do not share your report with any third party (ie broker or insurer) without your permission unless you request us to do so.

We are members of the Society of Fine Art Valuers and Auctioneers and are also FSQS qualified meaning we must maintain the highest level of security and professionalism.

The valuation can be tailored to provide the level of detail you would like. Therefore, it is completely up to you. As a guide however, you may wish to consider the following: 

• Checking with your broker or insurer regarding the level at which you are required to specify items on your policy.
• Items that hold sentimental value which you wish to catalogue.
• High value items such as artworks, antique furniture, silverware, or porcelain.
• Items that are more likely to be stolen or damaged or are often removed from the property.
• You may wish to gift items in the future to family and having the items specified will make the division of items more straight forward.

Our fine art and antiques valuers have decades of experience in valuing and have all worked for one or more of the major auction houses in the UK (such as Bonhams, Christies or Sotheby’s). For more detailed information on your valuer, please see the ‘Our Team’ section of our website. 

Our jewellery and watches valuers all belong to either the IRV (Institute of Registered Valuers) or the JVA (Jewellery Valuers Association). This means the valuers have reached the highest standard in terms of qualification and the quality of their work is continually reviewed.

Yes, we do. Our valuers are scattered across the country, and many will travel further afield to cover those harder to reach areas (such as the Highlands or Islands). Our travel costs are always quoted upfront so there are no surprises. 

Jewellery and watches are not included in our content’s valuation services (Home Contents Appraisal or Bespoke Inventory). However, we do have jewellery and watches valuers who can look after this for you. 

Jewellery and watches require a specialist valuer who is a trained Gemmologist and a member of the professional bodies IRV (Institute of Registered Valuers) or JVA (Jewellery Valuers Association). As such, these valuers only value jewellery and watches (and not other contents). If you would like a quote for your jewellery and watches, please contact us. 

Yes. After we have completed the valuation and your valuer has conducted the necessary research, you will be sent a draft (password protected if preferred). This allows you to review the report and ask any questions you might have before the report is finalised. Often clients do not have any remarks, however if you forgot to show the valuer an item (this excludes  jewellery, which must be seen at the time) or find some paperwork relating to an item which may affect its value, this is the time to iron out any discrepancies to ensure your report is as accurate as possible. 

Fixtures and fittings are usually covered under your buildings insurance, rather than contents. These include items in the house such as the following: 

• Fitted kitchen cabinets
• Built in wardrobes or bookshelves 
• Hardwood flooring
• Fire Surrounds

We suggest you check with your insurer to make sure items are not missed or duplicated when insuring your buildings and contents.

Yes. The valuers will include any item that would normally be covered under contents insurance such as garden furniture, ornaments and stoneware and garden tools.