Kate Kombos & Associates Appraisal Services, LLC

05/30/2026

In April, I worked with Max Video Productions out of Dallas on a project appraising antique and vintage Coca-Cola items. It was filmed at the local Coca-Cola plant, and the staff there were very supportive in the endeavor. I can't wait to show you guys the finished product!

05/10/2026

Two weeks ago, I attended the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Our conferences are a way to stay up to date on the appraisal business, stay in touch with our appraiser friends, and make new contacts. The speakers are top-notch, and our tours this year included the Phoenix Museum of Art, the Heard Museum, and the Scottsdale Museum of the West. An elective course that I took was Expert Witness Training for Appraisers. The three presenters made an eight-hour class pass quickly.

01/23/2026

12/01/2025

Sometimes, at an estate sale, consignment store, or antique shop, you will be told that a piece of art is by a “listed artist.” Don’t get too excited. Being “listed” is not a guarantee of higher value; it simply indicates that the artist’s work has been traded in the secondary market and documented. I have a painting in my office by Janos Czene Apatfalvi (1904-1984). It is a beautiful oil on canvas, approximately 36” W x 24” H, and it is in good condition. It is a still life of books, a violin, a pair of reading glasses, and a burnt-out candle. This is common in many of his still-life paintings. His art is listed 55 times on askart.com, but many of his paintings did not sell or sold for under $500.00. I paid $200.00 for my piece over ten years ago, and that was a fair price. Apatfalvi’s artwork is considered outdated by some, but it speaks to me. The moral of the story is that just because the artist is listed does not mean much until you know what his/her work has sold for on the secondary market.

05/31/2025

As an accredited appraiser with ISA, my boundaries and knowledge have expanded over the two years of working with national auction companies. In one case, I have had an excellent working relationship with a client (the seller) who has allowed me to make decisions that maximize her financial gains. Decisions such as which shipping company to use for transporting items to New York City and other locations, as well as addressing issues if things don't work out as planned, are crucial. Developing relationships with national auction companies enables me to view them as individuals and appreciate their diligence in selling clients' properties. And I must not forget my fellow appraisers with ISA, who often led me in the right direction, such as Brenda Simonson-Mohle.

02/20/2025

My husband, Jim McDonald, is an assemblage artist. Last year, when I visited Ireland, I saw a "Bug Hotel" and asked him to build one for me. Now we are just waiting for our guests.

02/19/2025

For the past few weeks, I have been working on having art transported to NYC for auction. An appraiser's job is to help clients appraise their property and sell it if they choose. I researched and accepted bids from three national companies and recommended who I thought could best do the job. I was on the job site when the pick-up was made and witnessed several job performance issues, which I addressed with the home office. My client was given a discount because the shipping company had a few hiccups. The happy ending is that the items are in NYC awaiting auction in the spring.

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01/03/2025

Gifts do not have to be from retail; support your local artists.

This beautiful piece of art was a gift to my daughter and her husband; they loved it!