Insurance carriers, estate attorneys, and the IRS each ask for the same thing: a qualified appraisal from a credentialed appraiser. Every RICA Certified Appraisal is prepared under the five-pillar RUG Index Standard and issued as a signed PDF. Choose your tier below.
Most appraisals are completed within 3–5 business days. Estate and legal priority available, quoted on request.
In-person inspection is available in the Chicago metropolitan area for high-value or complex pieces. Contact us to arrange.
Free dealer estimates are biased — the dealer wants to buy your rug, sell you another, or both. Online tools have no methodology, no liability, and no signature behind the number. Insurers, courts, and the IRS generally expect written reports formatted to meet documentation requirements, from a qualified, certified appraiser working to a published standard — acceptance is subject to individual requirements.
| Dealer Estimate | Online Tool | RICA Appraisal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formatted for insurance documentation | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| RICA certified | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Formatted for IRS Form 8283 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (Estate tier) |
| Formatted for legal use | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (Estate tier) |
| Certified, accountable appraiser | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Written, signed report | Sometimes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | "Free" (biased) | Free (estimate) | From $175 |
Our Certified and Legal, Estate or Tax Appraisal reports are 100% remote — submit photos from any state and receive your signed RICA Certified report by email in 3–5 business days (Certified) or 5–7 (Legal, Estate or Tax Appraisal). Formatted to meet documentation requirements commonly requested by U.S. insurance carriers. Acceptance is subject to individual carrier requirements and policy terms. Reports are formatted for potential use in probate and legal proceedings; admissibility is determined solely by the court. Formatted for IRS Form 8283 submission.
Searching for rug appraisers near me? Browse RICA-certified appraisers across 20 metros, or simply start your remote appraisal below — there is no need to find a local specialist.
Yes. Our Certified and Legal, Estate or Tax Appraisal reports are fully remote — submit photos from anywhere in the United States. We have completed appraisals for clients in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, Miami, and dozens of other markets. The Chicago address on our footer is our HQ; the appraisal product itself is nationwide.
Fill out the booking form on this page and upload clear photos of your rug — the entire top surface in natural light, the back (so we can see the knot construction), any visible damage or repairs, and a tape measure laid across the rug for scale. Include any history you have (where it was purchased, when, family provenance). A RICA-certified appraiser reviews the submission and issues the signed PDF report by email.
Yes. Our Certified and Legal, Estate or Tax Appraisal reports are RICA Certified Appraisals — prepared under The RUG Index Standard and the RICA five-pillar methodology — and formatted to meet documentation requirements commonly requested by insurance companies, estate and probate courts, and the IRS; acceptance is determined by each carrier, court, or agency.
For nearly all insurance, estate, donation, and resale needs, the remote Certified or Legal, Estate or Tax Appraisal report is what you need — the reports are RICA-certified and formatted to meet documentation requirements commonly requested by U.S. insurance carriers; acceptance is subject to individual carrier requirements. In-person is currently available in the Chicago metro area; the RICA appraiser network is expanding to other cities. If you have a high-value antique that would benefit from a hands-on inspection, contact us — we can arrange a video-review call as part of every Certified appraisal at no extra cost.
More frequently asked questions — photo requirements, turnaround, payment, and report delivery — are answered on our FAQ page.