Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraisal Services
Prepared by AMEA Certified Equipment Appraisers (CEA). USPAP-compliant. Forced Liquidation Value (FLV), Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV), and Fair Market Value (FMV) opinions, prepared in the form banks, lenders, bankruptcy courts, and insurance carriers expect.
We appraise industrial machinery, heavy equipment, manufacturing plants, forklifts, trucks, trailers, and complete facility contents, from single machines to complete facilities.
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On-site inspection.
Defensible valuation.
Prepared for courts & lenders.
Our Appraisers
Who Prepares Your Appraisal
KD's appraisals are prepared by our AMEA Certified Equipment Appraisers, Tim Pfister, CEA, and Peter Lenstrohm, CEA.
AMEA awards the CEA designation to individual appraisers, not to firms. Both are listed in AMEA's Find an Appraiser directory.
Tim Pfister, CEA
Certified Equipment Appraiser (CEA), AMEA
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Peter Lenstrohm, CEA
Certified Equipment Appraiser (CEA), AMEA
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Definitions and Guides
- Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV)
- Forced Liquidation Value (FLV)
- Fair Market Value (FMV)
- USPAP
- Certified Equipment Appraiser (CEA)
New to the process? Start with how equipment appraisals work. Lenders and trustees can see how an appraisal fits a full disposition on our asset liquidation page for banks and trustees, and receivers can read about receivership liquidation.
Valuation Standards
Types of Equipment Appraisal Value
Every appraisal engagement specifies the value standard required. We provide all recognized standards.
Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV)
Value achievable in a reasonable timeframe with proper marketing. The standard benchmark used by asset-based lenders to assess collateral recovery.
Forced Liquidation Value (FLV)
Value under immediate or auction conditions: most conservative estimate. Required by courts, receivers, and trustees for distressed asset proceedings.
Fair Market Value (FMV)
Value between a willing buyer and willing seller in an open market. Used for estate, insurance, financial reporting, and tax purposes.
Replacement Cost New (RCN)
Cost to replace in-kind with new equipment. Used for insurance coverage determination and capital expenditure planning.
Equipment Coverage
What We Appraise
Our appraisers cover all categories of industrial and commercial equipment.
Banks · Lenders · Courts
Appraisals for Lenders, Bankruptcy & Legal Proceedings
We understand what banks, trustees, and courts actually need: AMEA credentials, USPAP compliance, and defensible methodology that holds up under scrutiny.
Asset-Based Lending (ABL)
OLV and FLV opinions for line-of-credit collateral. We understand what lenders need: clean reports, defensible methodology, and AMEA credentials that hold up to scrutiny.
Bankruptcy & Chapter 7/11
Court-accepted appraisals for 363 sales, plan confirmation, and liquidation analysis. USPAP-compliant reports prepared in the form trustees and bankruptcy courts expect.
Article 9 / UCC Dispositions
Pre-sale valuations for secured party sales under UCC Article 9. We understand the timeline and documentation requirements for commercially reasonable dispositions.
Receivership & Assignment for Benefit of Creditors (ABC)
Rapid appraisals supporting court-supervised receivership and ABC proceedings. Experience coordinating with receivers, legal counsel, and secured lenders.
SBA & Commercial Loan Collateral
Equipment appraisals meeting SBA and commercial lender requirements for loan origination, renewal, and covenant compliance.
Insurance & Replacement Value
Replacement cost new appraisals for property and casualty insurance placement on industrial equipment and manufacturing facilities.
Desktop Appraisals
Fast Remote Equipment Valuations
Remote valuations using photographs, serial numbers, and market data. Cost-effective preliminary values, ideal for lenders assessing collateral before committing to a full on-site appraisal.
What You Provide
- → Photos of equipment (multiple angles)
- → Make, model, serial numbers
- → Location and condition notes
- → Purpose of appraisal
What You Receive
- → Written appraisal report
- → Forced Liquidation Value (FLV)
- → Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV)
- → Fair Market Value (FMV)
- → Appraiser signature and AMEA credentials
Prepared to the Standard Lenders & Courts Expect
AMEA CEA
Association of Machinery & Equipment Appraisers
AMEA awards its Certified Equipment Appraiser (CEA) designation to individual appraisers, not to firms. Our appraisers, Tim Pfister, CEA, and Peter Lenstrohm, CEA, hold it and prepare reports in the form lenders and courts expect.
USPAP Compliant
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice
All appraisal reports comply with USPAP, required by banks, SBA lenders, and courts for collateral-backed financing and legal proceedings.
Dual Advantage
Appraisers Who Also Run Auctions
Our appraisers actively participate in industrial auctions, which means our valuations are grounded in real market transactions, not just desktop research.
FAQ
Equipment Appraisal Questions
What is an Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV) appraisal?
OLV is the estimated amount that would be realized from the sale of equipment in a reasonable timeframe, assuming proper marketing to willing buyers. It is the most commonly requested value standard for asset-based lenders assessing industrial equipment collateral.
What is the difference between OLV and Forced Liquidation Value (FLV)?
OLV assumes a properly marketed sale with adequate time, typically 90 to 180 days. FLV assumes a shorter, compelled sale with limited time and marketing. Because the seller has less time to find the right buyers, FLV is usually the lower of the two figures; how much lower depends on the equipment, its market, and the timeline. Courts, receivers, and trustees use FLV in time-constrained liquidations.
Are your appraisals prepared for banks and courts?
Each lender and court makes its own decision, but our appraisals are USPAP-compliant, prepared by our AMEA Certified Equipment Appraisers, Tim Pfister, CEA, and Peter Lenstrohm, CEA, and prepared in the form asset-based lenders, SBA lenders, bankruptcy courts, and other legal proceedings expect. Acceptance is ultimately subject to each institution's requirements.
Can you appraise an entire manufacturing plant or factory?
Yes, we conduct complete plant appraisals including all manufacturing equipment, material handling, utilities, tooling, and FF&E. Our appraisers have experience with facilities ranging from single machine shops to 500,000+ sq ft manufacturing complexes.
How quickly can you complete an equipment appraisal?
Desktop appraisals (remote, using photos and data) can be completed in 3–5 business days. On-site certified appraisals typically take 2–4 weeks from engagement to final report, depending on facility size and complexity. Expedited 5–10 business day turnaround is available for court and credit deadlines.
Do you appraise heavy equipment, trucks, and forklifts?
Yes, we appraise all types of industrial and commercial equipment including heavy equipment, overhead cranes, forklifts, semi trucks, trailers, and commercial vehicles, in addition to manufacturing machinery and plant equipment.
What is a desktop or drive-by appraisal?
A desktop appraisal uses photographs, make/model/serial data, and market research to produce a written value opinion without an on-site visit. Faster and less expensive than a full certified appraisal, suitable for preliminary lender valuations and smaller equipment portfolios.
Do you handle appraisals for Article 9 / UCC secured party sales?
Yes, we have extensive experience providing pre-sale valuations for secured party sales under UCC Article 9. We understand the commercially reasonable sale standard and can provide the documentation needed to support the disposition process.
Disclaimer: Appraisal reports are prepared for the specific client, purpose, and date of value stated in the engagement. USPAP compliance and AMEA certification do not guarantee acceptance by any particular lender, court, or regulatory body. This website does not constitute an appraisal or valuation opinion.