Appraisal Fees

We offer our customers Elliot’s (San Diego Gem Lab, SDGL) appraisal service. This is an “Insurance Appraisal” sometimes required for insurance or estate evaluation and is based on industry standards. It is not our service; it is SDGL’s. Elliot sets his own appointments and will usually do the appraisal while the customer waits. If a customer calls in for an appraisal, transfer them to Elliot’s extension. If he’s not here, take a message with complete information and email it to him.

Sometimes LHFJ customers have repair work to be done, and in addition want an insurance appraisal for that or a different item. If it’s a piece being taken in for repair, email Elliot and let him know to prepare the appraisal. Then when the customer comes to pick up the item, charge them for the repair work done and invoice for Elliot’s appraisal on a separate invoice. If it’s for a separate item, let Elliot set the appointment for the customer to have that appraisal done.

The fee for an insurance appraisal is $135 for one item. When the customer has more than one item for appraisal the fee is $135 for the first item and $85 for each additional item. For example, if the customer has 3 items to be appraised the fee would be $135 for the first item and then $85 for each of the remaining two items, for a total of $305. Should the customer return in a few days with 2 more items, the charge would be $135 for the first item and $85 for the second. Other (non- insurance) appraisals are charged at an hourly rate, currently $250 per hour. If the client you are speaking to is unsure of what kind of report they need, please take down their name, phone number and email and Elliot will get back to them as soon as possible.

All appraisals need to be invoiced separately from other repairs or purchases. Take the payment as a deposit for appraisal. Accounting or SDGL then invoices the appraisal under SDGL store using serv-272.

The appraisal stat and commission go to Elliot and SDGL.