Affiliations

The American Society of Appraisers(ASA) is an organization of appraisal professionals and others interested in the appraisal profession. International in structure, it is self-supporting and independent. The oldest and only major appraisal organization representing all of the disciplines of appraisal specialists, the society originated in 1936 and incorporated in 1952. The society is dedicated to the benefit of the appraisal profession. It is one of eight major appraisal societies that, in 1987, founded The Appraisal Foundation, a national nonprofit organization created to establish uniform criteria for professional appraisers. Since 1989 The Appraisal Foundation has been recognized by the U.S. Congress as the source for the development and promulgation of appraisal standards and qualifications. When you hire an ASA-accredited appraiser, you are assured the best valuation expertise on the market, because ASA-accredited appraisers bring knowledge of the market and profession, experience, and solid reputation to the job. ASA has a mandatory reaccreditation process whereby designated members must regularly submit evidence of professional growth through participation in professional activities and continuing education. This ensures that ASA appraisers keep their knowledge up-to-date.

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Founded in 1949, the Appraisers Association of America, Inc. (AAA) is the oldest non-profit professional association of personal property appraisers. Over the years, the appraisal profession has adapted to the fast-paced developments within the arts, legal, and financial communities as well as to the changing needs of private and corporate collectors. The Appraisers Association of America has been a leader in the field by ensuring that appraisers with the AAA credential continue to be a consistently trustworthy source known for the highest standards of ethics, conduct and professionalism. The Appraisers Association of America continues to serve the arts, legal, and financial communities and private and corporate collectors, with our members providing appraisals of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, and household contents to the highest industry standards. The mission and primary purpose of the Appraisers Association of America is to develop and promote standards of excellence in the profession of appraising through education and the application of the highest form of professional practice, which results in enhancing the visibility and standing of appraisers within the private and professional communities in which they serve.

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Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Traces its history back to 1792 when the Surveyors Club was formed. However, the foundations of the current modern organization really started to take shape when 20 surveyors met at the Westminster Palace Hotel. Under the chairmanship of John Clutton, they appointed a sub-committee to draw up resolutions, by-laws and regulations. This was done in order to establish a professional association to represent surveyors and the growing property profession.  This group, which had expanded to 49 members by 1868, met again at the Westminster Palace Hotel on June 15, 1868, to approve the resolutions and elect the first Council. John Clutton was elected the first president of the Institution of Surveyors. Offices were then leased at 12 Great George Street, London, which is still part of the RICS headquarters today.  The Institution of Surveyors later became the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Queen Victoria granted RICS a charter in 1881. A series of mergers followed with associations across the property disciplines. In 1946, the title Royal was granted, creating the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the RICS Coat of Arms, with motto ‘Est modus in rebus’ (There is measure in all things).   The requirement for such an organization was driven by the rapid development and expansion of the industrialized world. As it began to take shape — and the infrastructure, housing and transport links grew — there was a need for more stringent checks and balances.  RICS Americas established an office in New York City in 2001 and since has almost doubled its qualified membership. Even in parts of the world where the term ‘chartered surveyor’ is unfamiliar, the high standards of our members speak volumes. They are viewed by major financial institutions and world governments as the ‘Gold Standard’ when it comes to professional regulation in the property sector.  RICS is incorporated by Royal Charter, which sets out the objects of the Institution and requires it to: “maintain and promote the usefulness of the profession for the public advantage.  “In practice, the Charter means that important changes to the RICS constitution – its Bye-Laws – have to be ratified by the UK government, through the Privy Council, even after they have been approved by a majority of RICS members voting at a General Meeting.  Following the 2008 AGM Privy Council has approved changes to the Royal Charter and a new set of Bye-Laws to establish a new governance model for RICS. Governing Council has also approved new Regulations to support the Bye-Laws. The continued demand for Royal Charters, which may seem an antiquated concept, shows that they retain their cachet in the modern professional world as a “gold standard” of excellence and integrity.

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