Mobile estate and insurance jewellery appraiser

Estate lawyers, executors, insurance brokers, financial advisors and families settling an estate.

An hourly or per-item fee, often with a minimum charge per visit and a travel fee for distant locations. Repeat referrals from professionals can bring steady work.

• Gemmology training and appraisal knowledge
• Professional, discreet manner
• Organized record keeping and photography
• Report writing to a standard lawyers and insurers accept

• Professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance, and check whether your cover applies when you carry items off-site
• Personal safety and security when travelling with equipment and visiting unfamiliar homes
• Check whether your province or insurers require particular credentials or standards for valuations
• Winter driving and rural distances can limit how many visits you can book
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on your equipment, training, insurance and travel setup. Treat this as an estimate and cost out your own plan before you begin.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many visits you book, your hours and the estate and insurance clients you attract. It is an estimate, not a guarantee.

Things to check: professional liability insurance and whether it applies when you carry items off-site, personal safety when visiting unfamiliar homes, any credentials your province or insurers require, and GST/HST registration past the small supplier threshold.