Which of the following methods is useful in the mass appraisal of personal property?

The economic age-life method is particularly effective in the mass appraisal of personal property because it allows assessors to estimate the value of an item by considering its age and the extent to which it has depreciated compared to its original cost. This method is particularly useful for items that have a predictable lifespan and patterns of depreciation, such as machinery or vehicles, making it easier to assess a large number of similar properties at once.

In mass appraisal, where time and resources are often limited, the economic age-life method streamlines the valuation process by relying on data associated with similar types of personal property and providing a systematic way to apply depreciation based on age. It enables assessors to create general guidelines for valuing large groups of assets rather than individual assessments, which can be time-consuming and costly.

While the other methods mentioned have their own merits within personal property appraisal, they may not be as efficient or widely applicable in a mass appraisal context. For instance, the replacement cost method estimates the cost of replacing an asset, which can vary significantly without providing a standardized approach for mass appraisal. The income approach relies on expected income generation, which may not be applicable to all types of personal property. The sales comparison approach focuses on market data from actual transactions, which can be difficult