In an effort to standardize online appraisals, the newly-formed Association of Online Appraisers has already established online-specific report writing standards in keeping with USPAP as well as with the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) guidelines. The ISA is the largest association of educated and trained personal property appraisers in the United States.

The non-profit Association of Online Appraisers has a two-fold mission, according to founding president Mark Stuart. The first is to promote professionalism and ethical conduct in online appraising by helping its member appraisers gain the necessary training and knowledge. The second is to provide the online appraisal user public with a benchmark by which to gauge the professionalism of the online appraiser's work product. Stuart, who is CEO of CollectingChannel.com, conceived of the organization as a natural outcropping of the professional online collecting community.

By bringing all online appraisers under one professional umbrella of ethics and conduct, we help make the Internet a more convenient and professional place to do business,” he said. Stuart points out that the Internet technology that creates a virtual appraisal environment also shrinks collecting geography. “Now, with the advent of the Internet, collectors seeking professional appraisals have an entire worldwide network of experts at their fingertips -- the Association of Online Appraisers will connect collectors with an online appraiser virtually anywhere who will adhere to the very highest professional appraising standards.”

The AOA will also act as an industry watchdog, alerting members to emerging issues concerning online appraisal practices, promoting interchange between the public and members, and establishing a codified set of standards to be used in all online appraisals. Membership in the AOA is open to any individual or group offering online appraisals, including appraisal practitioners, appraisal management companies, educators and related organizations.

The AOA is governed by a prestigious group of directors that includes certified appraiser Dave Maloney, Jr., ISA CAPP, author of Maloney’s Antique & Collectibles Resource Directory, and the former host of PBS’s popular Collecting Across America series. Maloney is an internationally known appraiser and former ISA officer and board member. Other AOA board members include: Andrew Coleman - eBay Vertical Marketing Director; Stephen J. Abt, III - President, Artfact, Inc.; Kathy Kamnikar, President, Antique Networking, Inc.; Mark A. Stuart, CEO, ChannelSpace Entertainment, Inc.; and Barry Friedman, Co-Chairman and Co-Founder, ChannelSpace Entertainment, Inc.

For more information, contact the Association of Online Appraisers at 301-228-2279, www.AOAonline.org or email info@AOAonline.org.