Jack Holowczak — personal property appraiser, Toronto

Insurance Loss & Theft Claim Valuations

USPAP-Compliant · Personal Property · U.S. & Canada

After a burglary, a theft, or a loss such as fire or flood, the claim turns on a question the items can no longer answer for themselves: what was there, and what was it worth? The valuation must be reconstructed from documentation — and documentation-driven valuation is this practice's standard methodology in every engagement, not an accommodation.

The practice values stolen, destroyed, and damaged personal property — jewelry, watches, handbags, fine art, collections — for insurance claims and the disputes that follow, retained by policyholders' counsel and by carriers. Common engagements include valuing a jewelry or handbag collection lost in a burglary from photographs, receipts, and records.

Services

Valuation After a Loss. Post-loss engagements establish value as of the date of loss, under the standard of value the policy and forum require — replacement value for scheduled and unscheduled contents, fair market value where the dispute calls for it. Every report states the standard of value applied and why, in accordance with USPAP Standards 7 and 8.
Reconstructing What Was Lost. Photographs — including incidental appearances in family photos and social media — purchase receipts, card and bank records, prior appraisals and insurance schedules, repair records, and provenance documents: value is developed from the record the items left behind, with comparable-sales analysis from primary auction records and licensed databases. The scope of work and assumptions are disclosed in the report.
Both Sides of the Claim. Engagements come from policyholders' counsel and from carriers. The analysis is the same regardless of who retains it, and fees are never contingent on findings, appraised value, or the amount of any claim.
When the Claim Becomes a Dispute. Where a loss proceeds to policy appraisal proceedings, arbitration, or litigation, the practice provides valuation analysis and, where the authenticity of surviving or replaced items is at issue, authentication — see the expert witness practice.
Fees. Quoted by engagement letter based on scope of work, time, and complexity; never contingent on appraised value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can items that no longer exist be appraised?

Yes. Value is developed as of the date of loss from the documentation the items left behind — photographs, receipts, schedules, prior appraisals — with the scope of work and assumptions disclosed in the report. Retrospective effective dates are standard appraisal practice.

What documentation helps after a theft or burglary?

Photographs of the items in use or at home, purchase receipts and card statements, prior appraisals, insurance schedules, repair and service records, and provenance documents. More documentation narrows the assumptions; engagements routinely proceed on partial records.

Do you work for insurers or for policyholders?

Both. Engagements come from policyholders' counsel and from carriers, and the analysis is identical either way. Fees are never contingent on findings or on the amount of any claim.

Is this claim advocacy or public adjusting?

No. The practice provides independent valuation and expert analysis; it does not negotiate claims or act as a public adjuster. Counsel and licensed professionals handle advocacy, and the reports serve whichever forum the claim reaches.

How much does a loss claim valuation cost?

Engagements are quoted by engagement letter based on scope of work, time, and complexity — the number of items, the state of documentation, and the intended use of the report. Fees are never contingent on appraised value.

Engage Appraisal Services