Identifying and Selling Antique

Many people have antiques around their homes. Things passed along to us from the generations that have gone before us. In this time of economic uncertainty many people are beginning to consider liquidating some of these treasures. Some people simply lack the space to hold onto the numerous items they have acquired through the years. Whatever the reason, we all end up wondering what to do with our things and what they are worth.


What Is It
The first order of business is to identify your items. Never leave this task to someone else. While seeking expert help is important, nothing will replace your own research. Resource books are great for helping to determine what a piece is and how rare it is. Be reasonable, just because it is old does not make it valuable. Sometimes a piece is simply old. It is essential that the owner identify an item and find out as much as possible about it. Avoid getting sucked into the prices shown in a reference book. The piece is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, regardless of what a book states.


Determining Value
If you have a piece that you want to sell there are several ways to get an estimated value. Ebay is a fountain of information. Users can easily research what the current going price is for almost anything. Another good source of information is an auctioneer. An active auctioneer can provide a reasonable estimate of what things are selling for in any given geographical location. An item that is highly prized in one state might not attract any buyers in another state. The market is also volatile. What is sought after this week, might be junk next week. The lesson here is to utilize as many sources as you can locate to determine value.


How to Sell
Fortunately there are options for selling your antique items. The most convenient way is to take it to an auction house. They will charge a selling fee, usually around fifteen to twenty percent. This allows the items to be seen by a group of people who are looking for antiques. Another option is to sell it yourself on Ebay or another online auction. This is certainly not difficult, but it does require some internet savvy and research time. Be realistic about the possible monetary compensation for your items. The tougher times are economically the less money others spend on unessential items. Owners can also take their items to a consignment shop. The shop will usually display and sell the item for around twenty to twenty five percent of the selling price.

It is definitely worth investigating what those old items are and their value. Even if they are things you do not wish to sell, they may need to be insured. So get out that old brooch or toy that grandma gave you and check it out. You can have a lot of fun learning about the history of your items. Who knows you may find a true treasure.

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