Have you ever visited a home and found a person's antiques to be very valuable? People are surprised that their antiques were very valuable in comparison to those seen on the Antiques Roadshow. "Yes, I have...
"Yes, I have surprised a lot of people," says 2nd Time Around Antique Mall owner Claudia Reese of Twin Falls, Idaho, who has been buying, selling, and studying antiques for two decades. "A lot of people are really not interested in antiques, but they have saved a few things from their family. They are not antique collectors. These things may have belonged to a great grandmother and they have always wondered what it was worth. Television shows like the popular PBS program Antiques Roadshow spark their curiosity to learn more about the item."
When we watch television appraisal shows where an art print purchased at a yard sale for a few dollars turns out to be a museum quality masterpiece worth millions or grandmother's vase that had been relegated to the basement because nobody likes its color is worth thousands of dollars, we get excited and want to know if we also own an undiscovered treasure. While it sounds like fun to see if something in your home is worth a lot, there are many things to think about before inviting a dealer into your home.
Do your homework before you ask a dealer for help. For example, check a china bowl for any marks. Try to identify the pattern at an online auction site, the website of a china replacement company, or in a reference book on antiques at your library or local bookstore. Many out of print titles available at used book stores and through online book dealers are very helpful.
Reese also recommends checking for a free appraisal day at your local antique mall or shop. Some museums and historic homes also have appraisal days for a small fee. If your items are small enough to transport yourself, this may be a good choice.
When you decide to ask a dealer to come to your home do a little research first. Remember anyone can legally call themselves an antiques dealer with no experience, licensing, or training. Although the vast majority of antique dealers are reputable and hard working, there is absolutely no guarantee of honesty and integrity just because a person is an antiques dealer. A dealer can be a very knowledgeable antiques expert or someone who merely rents a booth in a flea market to sell whatever he or she can find at yard sales. Try to find someone who knows about the dealer's reputation. This can be a customer who has bought from or sold to this dealer. Or it can be the owner of the antique mall where the dealer rents a booth or a neighboring shop owner. Lawyers and bankers can usually provide helpful information about selecting a reputable dealer, especially in small towns.
When a dealer's honesty and trustworthiness checks out, pay attention to the inventory that the dealer offers for sale in his or her shop or antique mall booth. A dealer with a great selection of art pottery, for example, will more than likely not also be an expert on baseball cards. And the dealer with a large inventory of vintage dolls in the local antique mall may not be the best choice to tell you about your oil paintings. There are thousands of categories of antiques and no dealer can know everything.
If a dealer's reputation checks out and it looks like he or she has the same type of inventory you want evaluated, you are then ready to contact him or her about a home visit. In the 21st century, it is never a good idea to invite a stranger into your home when you are alone. This makes good sense especially when you'll be touring the whole house and showcasing potentially valuable items. Make an appointment with a dealer when a trusted friend or family member can also be present.
Be clear in advance about whether you owe the dealer payment for his or her services. Some will come for free on a "fishing expedition" hoping you will decide to sell while others charge for home consultations. Most free appraisals will only be verbal, not written, so ask in advance if you can videotape the dealer talking about the items.
Don't feel pressured to sell quickly. If a dealer spots a "diamond in the rough," consider getting several other opinions before you make a decision to sell.
