Frequently Asked Questions

The valuation tool gives a reliable estimate consistent with the certified value in most cases. It uses the same five-pillar formula as our certified reports. For binding use in insurance, estate, or legal matters, you need a certified appraisal from a RICA appraiser — but for getting a sense of value quickly, the tool is the fastest online option available.

The tool produces four values: Resale Value (fair market value for private sale), Insurance Value (full replacement cost including dealer premium), Retail Replacement (what it would cost to replace at a retail dealer), and Auction Estimate (expected hammer price at public auction).

This is correct and expected. Insurance value reflects the cost to replace the rug at a retail dealer, including dealer markup, sourcing time, and the risk premium. If your rug was destroyed tomorrow and you tried to replace it at a dealer, you would pay significantly more than another private seller would accept for the same rug. Most insurance policies for rugs should be written at the insurance replacement value, not the resale value.

Select "Medium — 80–199 KPSI" as the default for most hand-knotted rugs. If your rug is very fine silk (like a Qom or Hereke), select Ultra-fine. If it's a coarser tribal piece you can feel the knots on the back of, select Coarse or Tribal. When in doubt, Medium is the right default for Persian, Turkish, and Indian workshop rugs.

A RUG Index certified appraisal is a written appraisal report prepared by a RICA-certified appraiser using the RUG Index five-pillar grading standard. The appraiser reviews the photos, measurements, and documentation you submit, then produces all five pillar scores with multipliers, the full calculation, and four certified value outputs. It is signed and sealed by the appraiser and formatted to meet documentation requirements commonly requested by insurance carriers and estate courts; acceptance is subject to individual requirements.

Appraisals are conducted remotely from the photos and measurements you submit — there is nothing to schedule. Reports are delivered as certified PDFs within 3–5 business days of submission. Estate/Legal reports with priority handling are available within 1–2 business days.

No — appraisals are conducted remotely. You submit clear photos of the rug (front, back, pile detail, selvedge, and any damage) along with the measurements, and the appraiser works from those. In-person inspection is available in the Chicago metropolitan area for high-value or complex pieces.

Yes — RUG Index reports are formatted specifically for insurance use. They include the insurance replacement value and retail replacement cost that underwriters need to set coverage limits. We are actively working with regional carriers to list RICA appraisers as preferred providers. If your carrier has a question about our methodology, contact us and we'll speak with them directly.

Our Legal/Estate reports ($195) are formatted for IRS compliance, including the qualified appraisal requirements for Form 8283 (used for charitable contributions over $5,000). Always consult your CPA or tax attorney regarding specific deductibility questions.

Yes. Every Certified and Legal/Estate report is a RICA Certified Appraisal — prepared under The RUG Index Standard and the RICA five-pillar methodology, signed by a RICA-certified appraiser, and formatted for insurance documentation, estate proceedings, and IRS submission.

Origin & Region, Material Quality, Age & Provenance, Condition Grade, and Knot Density (KPSI). Each pillar is a multiplier applied to the base square-footage value. The full formula is: sqft × $12 × origin × material × age × condition × kpsi = resale midpoint. See the full standard for all multiplier tables.

Because without a standard, every appraiser uses their own judgment. One appraiser might weight condition heavily while another focuses on age. The RUG Index standard eliminates this by specifying exact multipliers for every variable. Two RICA appraisers examining the same rug should produce consistent values relative to each other.

The $12/sqft base rate represents the average cost of a basic hand-knotted rug before any quality or origin premiums are applied. It was derived by analyzing hundreds of documented rug transactions across condition grades, origins, and ages, then back-calculating the base rate that produces the most accurate midpoints when the multipliers are applied.

RICA stands for RUG Index Certified Appraiser. RICA is the proprietary designation used by The RUG Index to identify appraisers trained on our methodology. It is specific to The RUG Index platform and is not affiliated with the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), the International Society of Appraisers (ISA), the Oriental Rug Retailers of America (ORRA), The Appraisal Foundation, or any government licensing body. RICA requires completion of our training course, passing our certification exam, and submission of a practice report. Annual renewal with CE credits is required.

RICA is an independent credential. Prerequisites are a minimum of 3 years of Oriental rug evaluation experience, demonstrated knowledge of rug construction, origin identification, condition assessment, and market valuation, and completion of The RUG Index certification process. USPAP training or equivalent professional appraisal education is preferred but not required.

$595 for initial certification (includes training, exam, and first year). $195/year for annual renewal (includes required CE credits and continued access to all RICA tools and referral network).

Your coverage should be at the insurance replacement value — not the resale value. For a rug with a resale value of $10,000, the insurance replacement value is typically a multiple of the resale value. This reflects the cost to source and purchase a comparable rug from a retail dealer, including dealer markup and sourcing time. Under-insuring at resale value is one of the most common mistakes rug owners make.

Yes. RUG Index reports are formatted specifically for insurance use and include all the information underwriters need: the insurance replacement value, the RICA number, physical description, condition documentation, and photographs. If your carrier has a specific form they require, contact us and we'll work with your appraiser to format accordingly.

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. We do not store credit card information. You can pay with any major credit card, debit card, or Apple/Google Pay where available.

Appraisal fees are refundable in full if you cancel before an appraiser is assigned. Once the appraiser has begun the review, the fee is non-refundable. If we fail to deliver a report within the stated timeframe, a full refund will be issued.