> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.valuechecker.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Minimal Implementation

There are 2 key steps in performing an appraisal using the ValueChecker API. To get started, you will need an API key as described in the [Authentication](/api-reference/get-started#authentication) section.

Here are the 2 steps needed to calculate an appraisal:

<Steps>
  <Step title="CP (Claimed Product)">
    Search by a `query` string and an optional category to identify the [Claimed Product (CP)](/before-getting-started/valuechecker-service-concepts#claimed-product-cp).
    Example:

    > [<Tooltip tip="api.valuechecker.net">\{api\_url\_path}</Tooltip>](/api-reference/get-started#api-url-path)/query=iphone 11 64\&client\_category=Mobile%20Phones

    <Tip>Try it here: [/product\_search](/api-reference/default/product_search)</Tip>

    ```json response excerpt theme={null}
    {
      "product_name": "Apple iPhone 11 64GB",
      "pid": 1032089319
    }
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="RP (Replacement Product)">
    Search using a `pid` to return [Replacement Product (RP)](/before-getting-started/valuechecker-service-concepts#replacement-product-rp)
    suggestions and prices.

    > [<Tooltip tip="api.valuechecker.net">\{api\_url\_path}</Tooltip>](/api-reference/get-started#api-url-path)/prices?pid=1032089319\&country=nl

    <Info>For locale pricing purposes, country is also a required variable.</Info>
    <Tip>Try it here: [/prices](/api-reference/default/prices)</Tip>

    ```json response excerpt theme={null}
    {
      "claimed_product": {
        "master_name": "Apple iPhone 11 64GB",
        "pic_url": "https://img.valuechecker.net/,sxDbsr...",
        "product_name": "Apple iPhone 11 64GB Wit"
      },
      "grouped_prices": [
        [
          {
            "currency": "EUR",
            "in_stock": true,
            "offer_url": "https://{offer_url}/abcde123456abf1234",
            "price_date": "2020-08-26 16:45:45",
            "product": {
                "master_name": "Apple iPhone 11 64GB",
                "pic_url": "https://img.valuechecker.net/,sxDbsr...",
                "product_name": "Apple iPhone 11 64GB Wit",
            },
            "shop": {
                "shop_name": "belsimpel.nl",
            },
            "total_price": 694.00
            }
          }
        ]
      ]
    }
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>