SERVICES: Appraisals   |   Brokerage   |   Liquidation

ISA Accredited Appraisal Service:  [return to top]
Pia Stratton: Appraiser of personal property and household contents for estates division and assessment, insurance, donation, individuals and businesses. Pia’s Appraisals is equally owned and operated by, Pia Stratton, Mary Teloh, and Barbara Norman. As a professional appraiser, my specific area of expertise is in but not limited to antique furniture, lighting, rugs, porcelain, pottery, glass, objects d’art, decorative art, mirrors, silver, silver plate, art, metal ware, and other collectible items. My expertise and interest leans specifically towards English and Continental antiques, porcelain, pottery, and decorative arts.

Working alone and in conjunction with Mary Teloh and more recently Barbara Norman, I have prepared of appraisals at the request of banks, insurance companies, law firms, businesses, and prominent individuals.
All of our appraisals are prepared in accordance and within the specifications of the International Society of Appraisers and follow the rules and regulations of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP.)

QUALIFICATIONS
I have been doing appraisals for twenty-five years and have had extensive experience in almost every venue of the personal property appraisal field.

I own and operate a large Antique Store in Nashville, Tennessee called Pia’s Antique Gallery. We have been in the same location for over forty years. I am the principle buyer for the store and most of the merchandise is handpicked by me on my worldwide travels throughout the year. I am therefore very familiar with the current market value of antiques and collectibles.I have conducted many estate sales where I have priced the items and sold them.

In the past seven years, I have developed a large Internet business, in which I sell my own items as well as brokering items for individuals and businesses from one piece to an entire estate. I have up to date computer systems as well as technicians who aid me in this endeavor. We are very proficient in using modern computer both to sell our merchandise and to appraise. We also incorporate digital technology into our current appraisals.
Along with using the Internet for research I also have an extensive Library. I also visit antique shows, museums, auctions, and travel extensively. I feel this gives me a wide exposure to worldwide trends in the Antique market.
I have attended personal property appraisal seminars and successfully passed the Ethics exam portion for the Appraisal Society of America. For five years 1988-93, I hosted meetings at my shop, for the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers.

In August of 1999, I attended the American Society of Appraisers Convention in Boston, Massachusetts where I attended several classes in personal property appraising as well as completing the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course, and took and passed the subsequent examination

Served in court as an expert witness on several of my appraisals.

Fully accredited member member for the International Society of Appraisers.

2003 ISA’s Expert Witness Course

Donate appraisals for community fairs/outreach programs on a yearly basis.

Pia and her team will assess and photograph your item(s) or your whole estate and provide you with a subsequent written appraisal for Fair Market Value, Replacement Costs, Damage or Total Loss, or for Insurance Amount. Please contact us to set up an appointment to discuss your appraisal needs.


Internet Brokerage: [return to top]
We understand that selling antiques can be a difficult process. Here at Pia's, we will sell your piece for you on the Internet, leaving all the hassle of accepting payment, answering questions, shipping and packing the item, to us.We take high resolution digital pictures of your item(s) and list your things for sale on the Internet. We sell items in predominately five areas or web sites; our own, Ruby Lane, Go Antiques, eBay, and eBay Live Auctions, sometimes using a all or a combination of these sites to best expose your piece to the most people.
There is a one-time $50 set-up fee for photographing your item, and listing it on our site(s). We will continue to try and sell your item for as long as you wish. We do charge a 25% commission on all things that sell for under $1,000, and a 20% commission on things over $1,000. Most other consignment shops/services will charge 30% no matter the price, and maybe even a buyers premium!


Estate Liquidation: [return to top]
Moving the contents of an entire Estate can be a tricky and time-consuming process. We are fully able to completely liquidate your estate by using a combination of Internet sales and having an estate sale. Our team will come and tag all of your items for sale, and fully handle to whole process of settling the estate.