About MTS

This appraiser specializes in developing current and projected market values for used reciprocating engine aircraft and turbine-powered aircraft, as well as all types of airline equipment and aviation support equipment, such as spare parts, special tools and ground support equipment.

These specialists appraise all types of computers, from small personal computers to the largest mainframes, and all of their related components. They appraise complex electronic equipment including everything from large telephone switching systems to oscilloscopes, from medical and dental equipment to small hand-held instruments to X-ray machines and CAT scanners.

Appraisers in this specialty are involved mainly in allocating value among the various components of real property and personal property in commercial and/or industrial settings. They are experts in the cost method of valuation (required for insurance coverage), insured loss analysis, accounting and tax allocation in mergers, acquisitions and other forms of business sales.

The industrials appraiser values the property, plant and equipment of heavy industry and the process industries, including, but not limited to, oil refineries, steel mills, smelters and mineral mills, extrusion and sheet and plate manufacturers. In such operations, it is extremely difficult to separate the values of the real property, machinery and equipment and intangibles in a meaningful way, yet the appraiser must consider both total and component values.

Appraisers in this specialty are professionally qualified to evaluate all types of industrial properties; machine shops; refineries; hospitals; communications facilities; transportation equipment; process facilities; construction equipment; office machines; as well as the entire contents of buildings. The M&E appraiser provides estimates of fair market value in use and valuation for ad valorem tax purposes. Additionally, equipment analysis for future and residual values is fast becoming one of the more common assignments for today's M&E appraiser.

Both commercial surveyors and yacht surveyors practice under this specialty. They perform damage surveys and appraisals detailing descriptions of the nature and extent of damage to yachts, larger vessels or marine cargoes and recommend and estimate repairs to restore property to its prior condition. Similarly, surveys and/or appraisals are required to determine condition and value upon sale of yachts, small craft and ships.

These specialists are concerned with the value of mineral reserves (other than oil and gas) whether available through surface or underground mining or quarrying operations. Coal, industrial minerals (talc, bentonite, clay and limestone) and construction materials (sand, rock, gravel and marble) are valued by engineering/mathematical methodologies for purposes of taxation, property sale and litigation.

These valuation experts are concerned with the value of hydrocarbon reserves under the surface of the earth. They also determine values of various types of interests in minerals, subsurface leases and unexplored properties. Often with backgrounds in engineering, geology and mathematics, these appraisers are concerned with present and future values in an environment of economic and technological uncertainty.

These appraisers estimate both tangible and intangible values for properties in connection with rate case studies, sale or acquisition, eminent domain (condemnation), property tax appeals and insurance placement. This specialty requires special knowledge in order to take into account the unique economic and value characteristics of public utility properties and to properly recognize regulatory factors that influence value conclusions.