The Machinery & Technical Specialties (“MTS”) appraiser is responsible for determining values for non-real estate, capitalized personal property assets used by businesses for the production of income. Additionally, the MTS appraiser values personal assets for estate and gift tax purposes. Generally, this includes machinery and equipment in its most broadest definition. The Machinery & Technical Specialties appraiser can specialize in the following specialty areas:
Agricultural Chattels
Focuses on the valuation of farm-based property, including livestock, single harvest crops, and farming machinery and equipment. Common valuation purposes: collateralization, estate planning, purchases/sales, and futures markets.
Aircraft
Specializing in reciprocating engine and turbine-powered aircraft valuation, develops current and projected values for corporate, commuter, and private aircraft. Common valuation purposes: insurance, leasing, purchase price allocation, tax planning, and ad valorem tax.
Computers and High-Tech Personal Property
Establishes values for electronic and semiconductor-based equipment ranging from personal computers and the capital equipment that produces their circuit boards to medical equipment, data centers, and telephone switching systems. Common valuation purposes: purchase price allocations, tax and financial planning, financing, and insurance.
Cost Surveys
Allocates value among the various components of real property and personal property in commercial operations. Common valuation purposes: insurance, purchase price allocations, and tax and financial planning.
Industrial
Devoted mostly to heavy industry and process-based facilities, appraises both individual heavy equipment assets and refineries and mill operations in their entirety. Common valuation purposes: purchase price allocations, ad valorem tax, insurance, and tax and financial planning.
Inventory
Opines on values of inventories related to product-based manufacturing, distributing, and retail operations. Common valuation purposes: asset-based loans, purchase price allocations, and futures markets.
Machinery and Equipment
Generalizes in the valuation of capital assets in industries such as agriculture, high-tech, medical, heavy equipment, construction, and offices. Common valuation purposes: tax and financial planning, ad valorem tax, and purchase price allocations.
Marine Survey
Performs damage surveys and appraisals for commercial vessels, small crafts, and yachts. Common valuation purposes: purchases/sales, cost-to-cure, ad valorem tax, and purchase price allocations.
Mines and Quarries
Determines values for mineral rights and reserves excepting oil, gas, and other fluids, usually based on engineering and mathematical methodologies. Common valuation purposes: ad valorem tax, property sales, and litigation.
Oil and Gas
Specializes in valuations of hydrocarbon reserves under the Earth’s surface whether proven, unproven, developed or undeveloped, including determining values for interests in minerals, subsurface leases, and unexplored properties. Common valuation purposes: futures markets, and purchases/sales.
Public Utilities
Interprets both tangible and intangible values for public utility property, requiring specialized knowledge in order to take into account the unique economic and value characteristics of this property. Common valuation purposes: eminent domain, purchases/sales, insurance, and property tax.
