Antique Furniture Appraisers Near Me – Antique furniture from loved ones can be a huge financial investment. But how do you know the value of your heirloom furniture?
You find out that a loved one has bequeathed you furniture. Maybe it’s the old wooden chair you loved to climb on as a child. Perhaps this dresser is decorated with intricate carvings. But whatever you get, there are probably two thoughts that cross your mind:
Antique Furniture Appraisers Near Me
Whether you love or loathe antiques, one thing is certain – some old furniture can be worth a lot. But when it comes time to appraise your heirloom furniture, the process can be overwhelming and frustrating for someone with limited knowledge of the market.
What Is The Demand For Antique Furniture?
There are so many factors that go into determining the value of antique furniture, which is why so many people make expensive mistakes. We’ve all heard stories of people who kept priceless antiques hidden in the attic for decades! You could keep that old rocker. thinking it’s worth a fortune when it’s practically worthless—or worse, you could throw away something so valuable it could send your kids to college.
Before you get too excited, it’s important to note that the most expensive antique furniture is rare. Despite all the stories you see and read online, the majority of antique furniture on the market is not
Worthy. However, it’s always worth having your antiques appraised to make sure you know what’s in your possession.
How can you learn the exact value of your antique furniture? This step-by-step guide will help you navigate this process and get an honest estimate.
Antique Furniture Value Lookup: Price Guide Resources
There are many different factors that can affect the value of an antique, and some of them go unnoticed by the inexperienced observer.
A rare type of fabric on a chair upholstery or an artist’s signature can increase the value of your furniture. Even perceived “mistakes” can have enormous value in ancient history; for example, an early Beatles version credited to the songwriters “Lennon-McArtney”, sold at auction for a whopping $19,000!
This is why the first step to valuing any piece of inherited furniture is to do a long inventory of the item.
In addition to the cosmetic information listed above, it is also important to write down any known provenance of the piece. Was it your grandfather’s? Did it come over on a ship in WWII? Whatever information or story you have, document it. All of this information will come in handy when you start looking for a buyer who works with an appraiser.
Get To Know One Of Antique Trader’s Appraisers: Susan Mullikin
When you get antique furniture, you may be tempted to spruce it up a bit. At the end of the day, it’s either going to be appraised and sold, or it’s going to your home—either way, it could use a little sprucing up, right?
Wrong. Until you know what you’re dealing with, deliver the goods! Any attempt at repair or cleaning could actually reduce the value of the item.
For example, antique furniture pieces with metal parts usually fetch higher prices if they have their original patina (a green or black film caused by oxidation). Scrubbing off this patina may restore an antique to its original glory, but it can cost you thousands of dollars!
While there are some antiques that you can safely clean (like ceramics or glass), it’s best to hold off on any cosmetic changes until you’re sure of the furniture’s value. Even when you’re sure you’ve found the value of your furniture on your own, it’s still hard to guess how best to recover the item. A qualified appraiser or antique dealer should be able to tell you whether or not repairs and restorations would increase the total cost of a piece and give you instructions on how to fix it up (or refer you to a professional).
Antique Furniture Appraiser In Long Island Ny
When looking at the value of antique furniture, it’s easy to think that one price fits every scenario. But in fact, each piece of furniture has several different values or
When valuing heirloom furniture, you may think that one price fits every scenario. But the antiques market is actually more complicated than you might imagine. Every piece of furniture has several different values or prices that all depend on the end goal of the item. Find out about the following price categories:
This value is the fair market value of what a buyer would be willing to pay from a seller. It is the highest value of the three and is the most difficult price to achieve when looking to resell. This value is most commonly used by the trade and for insurance valuations. When used for insurance purposes, this is also known as replacement value, which is the cost it would take to replace a particular piece if it were lost or stolen.
If you go to a dealer looking for an antique furniture value (without buying an appraisal), the price they give you will most likely be the wholesale value. This is the cost they would be willing to pay for an item, which can be anywhere from 30%-50% less than retail value. Dealers offer this reduced retail price so that they can profit from the item.
Fine Art Transport: How To Prepare Your Antiques For Moving
Estates, attorneys, and the IRS often value heirloom furniture and other antiques based on their auction value. This value is what a particular item is expected to bring at auction. There will be a selection and is usually less than retail but more than wholesale.
If you are looking to get rid of furniture quickly, it would be best to put it up for auction. Auctions are also great if you have an item that is demonstrably rare and valuable. In fact, appraiser Kerry Shrives says that antique auctions are “the best way to realize maximum value for a rare item.” However, it is important to remember that auctions are a risky business and the value of an item can change based on the whims of buyers. For example, signed, first edition set by
Books recently failed to sell at auction at Christie’s – despite a first edition of just one book fetching over $400,000 just a few years ago.
If the right people don’t offer a specific sale, the furniture could sell for next to nothing, regardless of what the auction price said.
Appraisal Reports For Art, Antiques, Estate Jewelry & Silver
Anytime you’re looking to sell something—whether it’s an item you’ve made, an old toy, or antique furniture—it’s important to learn as much as you can about the market you’re selling in. The more you learn about the market, the easier it will be to appear confident and knowledgeable during the evaluation process.
How can you learn more about antique valuation? Start with a few books on the subject. Whether you visit the library, the bookstore, or buy a book on Amazon, there are plenty of publications that can give you an overview of identifying and valuing antique furniture.
Sometimes the easiest way to get a rough estimate of what your antique furniture is worth is to see how other similar pieces are priced. The Internet is a treasure trove of information and databases that will help you narrow down prices, once you know what to look for.
After you’ve used prints and other searches to determine the age, style, and type of work, use that information to create keywords for one of the following websites.
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Online marketplaces are popular places to compare antiques. People like to list antiques on these sites because they see a lot of traffic, they are easy to use, and in many cases listing the item is free. Common online marketplaces where you might see antiques include:
However, it is important to note that the prices you see on these sites may not be the correct market value.
Online forums are another popular place to gauge the value of an item. These sites are useful because the users who post are often hobbyists with more knowledge and experience than the average person. They can offer valuable insight – although it’s usually still worth your time to ask a professional for an opinion as well.
Sometimes it is best to leave the evaluation of antique furniture to the professionals. But remember, appraisers are not licensed, so anyone can claim to be. Here are some tips to help you find a qualified appraiser:
Is My Furniture Vintage Or Just Old?
Since appraisals can be costly, you may want to do some research using the methods above before you decide to invest in a professional appraisal. But this doesn’t mean you can skip food altogether! Appraisals are always a suitable option if you need one for food. insurance or if you suspect your item is of high value.
Of course, there are ways to get free appraisals from reputable sources. You can get free appraisals by going to an appraisal day at your local auction house or by visiting a large antique show in your area. Just remember that a free estimate will not provide any documentation to confirm the estimated value. Treat these evaluations like a starting point or second opinion—never your final evaluation.
Once the appraisal is complete, it’s up to you to decide what to do with your inheritance. You can keep and enjoy it, fully aware
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