When Should You Have Your Ag Equipment Appraised?

By Jacob Bryce
Published on January 14, 2015

There are times in every farmers life when you will need to make difficult decisions about your farm operation. You might have to decide how to fairly pass the farm to the next generation, or you might have to dissolve a partnership or form a corporation. These decisions often require values to be placed on personal property in order to move forward. Historically people have had appraisers perform real estate valuations, but have just come up with ballpark values for the personal property. As farm operations, laws, and ways to limit your tax liability have changed so should the idea of just anybody giving a value of your equipment.

Machinery Scope is available to perform your Farm Equipment Appraisal needs. We are accredited members of the American Society of Agricultural Appraisers and perform our appraisals per the USPAP standards. When we perform the appraisal we base the equipment values off the condition of the equipment and the current market trends. When you run into a situation where you would need a farm equipment appraisal, allow us to help preserve what you have worked so hard for!

There are several reasons to have an appraisal performed.

1. Succession Planning
2. Estate Planning
3. Tax Planning
4. Business Reorganization (formation or dissolution)
a. Partnerships
b. Corporations
c. Equipment holding/leasing companies
5. Divorce Settlements
6. Debt Reorganization
7. Auditing of Books

As you are working with your lawyer, financial planner, CPA, banker, or tax planner on planning for both now and in the future, give us a call. We would love to be of service to both you and your advisor. Every appraisal is performed for a unique reason so we treat it that way. We will listen to you and your goals to provide the appraisal that fits your needs. For more information, visit our website or give us a call at 877-694-1138!

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Equipment Extended Warranty FAQs

Having been in the business since 2013, we’ve put together a list of the most commonly asked questions we hear regarding Extended Warranty. If you have a question you can’t find here, please feel free to contact us.

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What types of coverages are available?

The parts covered are the main difference between each plan. It is important to review the breakdown of what is covered by each level of protection being offered in the terms and conditions of the coverage.

  • Powertrain: This plan includes the components pertaining to the engine and transmission that oil touches. Our plans will also provide coverage on additional related components.
  • Powertrain+: Covers the hydraulic pumps and valves. In some instances, Powertrain+ will need to be purchased to cover hydraulic drive components, such as factory installed rear-wheels assist on combines.
  • Ultimate: covers several components often found in comprehensive coverage but is not to be considered “full machine” or “bumper-to-bumper.” Covered components include, but are not limited to emissions components, starter, alternator, engine block heater, ac compressor, factory installed auto steer, front axle suspension, ROPS and FOPS.

We are always happy to talk through the details of the different solutions that we can offer so that you have the information and full transparency to decide what is best for your operation.

What are the benefits of having extended warranty on my equipment?

There are numerous reasons why having an extended warranty plan might make sense for your operation. Besides being a risk management tool on your operation, having extended warranty remaining on used equipment will translate to improved resale value. For example, we estimate that used equipment with at least one year and 250 hours of coverage will have improved resale value between 1% and 5%. For dealerships, equipment that has coverage will sell more quickly than those that do not (assuming everything else being equal).

Most importantly, an extended warranty plan can save you from the financial burden of a major repair bill. Extending the protection on your equipment provides peace of mind by helping to turn an unknown variable cost into a known fixed cost.

What are the key differences between all the companies that offer coverage?

Most OEM’s offer some type of coverage. There are also independent providers, such as Machinery Scope, that offer coverage for a wide range of equipment types, makes, and models of equipment. We are proud to offer our solutions to equipment dealers so that we can protect their mainline offerings as well as competitive trades. Machinery Scope is also proud of being deeply rooted in the equipment industry, both in our farming operations and within the equipment dealerships. Our roles within the equipment dealership have included, sales, sale management, operational management, service technician, and service management. We understand this business and we are proud to leverage that to make it easy for our dealers and their customers to do business.

Another key distinction from one program to the next is how the programs are financially supported. Programs can be fully insured, reinsured, bonded, or backed by the financial strength of the administrator and/or the company offering the policies. Additionally, commercial extended service contracts are regulated differently by each state. Certain terms, products, and or programs will vary from state to state. It is not unreasonable to ask questions. At Machinery Scope, we administer the plans we provide and are proud to be backed by CNA to provide you with a product that you can count on when you need it most.

What factors determine how much my plan will cost?

As you can imagine, the cost of the coverage varies. This will depend on the following factors:

  • Age of the equipment
  • Current hours
  • Type of equipment
  • Horsepower
  • Usage
  • Prior claims history on that model (or series)
  • Requested Years of Coverage
  • Requested Hours Per Year
  • Coverage Type (Powertrain, Powertrain+, or Ultimate)
  • Deductible