The old doll you found while cleaning out your grandmothers basement may bring in a good four or five dollars at a yard sale, or it may sell for four or five hundred dollars to an antique dealer. The only way to know for sure if you have treasure or trash is to have the item appraised.
Finding a professional appraiser can be intimidating for the inexperienced. There is no such thing as an appraiser’s license so anyone can place an ad in the paper claiming to be an appraiser. However, there are ways to avoid being taken by a fake.
Never under any circumstances should you sell your antiques to the appraiser. This is what is known as a conflict of interest. You are sure to be ripped off.
Stay away from appraisals from the Internet. A good appraiser needs to handle the item to determine its true worth.
Be sure to get references for any appraiser with whom you plan to do business. Check with experienced professionals who deal with appraisers all of the time such as a trust manager or an estate attorney. Stay away from dealers as well as auction houses.
Fri, Jul 25, 2008
Buying