how to find out what your antique bed is worth

Employ these steps to observe out the value of your antique furniture one time and for all.

Whether you have a love or distaste for antiques, one thing's for sure — some old furniture can be worth a lot of money. Still, looking upward the value of antique article of furniture can be a misleading feel, especially when your noesis is limited.

There are then many factors that become into determining antique furniture values, which is why so many people brand costly mistakes. You could shop that one-time rocker thinking it's worth a fortune when information technology'south well-nigh worthless, or worse; you lot could finish upwardly throwing out something that is so valuable it could transport your kids to college.

Before you get also excited, it's important to note that the virtually expensive antique piece of furniture is rare, and the majority of antiquarian furniture on the market is not Antiques Roadshow worthy. Whether you're just curious or if you're looking for an insurance appraisement, this footstep-by-step guide volition assistance you learn more nigh the worth of your old furniture.

1. Examine the antiquarian furniture in question.

The first pace is to make a lengthy assessment of the piece of furniture in question. What kind of furniture is it? If you aren't sure of the style or what information technology's chosen, similar a Victorian settee, for example, write downwardly some basic characteristics instead.

Here is some basic information y'all'll demand:

• Find out the composition of the furniture. What type of wood? Is there marble? Listing all materials.
• Brand a note of any damage, including scratches, dents, chips, cracks, etc.
• Take clear, well-lit photographs from all angles.
• Search the slice for any labels or maker's marks. Write them down and take photos.
• Look to see if any previous repairs have been fabricated to the piece (similar a new screw replacing an erstwhile one).
• Write downwards any known provenance of the piece. Was it your gramps's? Did information technology come over on a ship during WWII? Whatever information or history you have, document it.
• Do you have whatsoever erstwhile photographs of the furniture that might help date it?

All this information is going to be useful one time you start your search or once you offset working with an appraiser.

2. Don't touch the furniture until you know its value.

Information technology can be tempting to want to spruce up your antiquarian article of furniture before selling information technology or bringing information technology to the appraiser, simply hands off! Until you know what you're dealing with, any attempted repairs or cleaning could lower the value of your slice.

Fifty-fifty when you are confident you constitute the value of your furniture on your own, it's all the same hard to make an educated estimate on how all-time to restore the slice without diminishing its value. A competent appraiser or antique dealer should be able to tell you whether or not repairs and restorations would increase the overall cost of a piece.

3. Know the types of antiquarian furniture values.

When looking upward antique furniture values, it'due south easy to remember one price fits every scenario. Merely really, every piece of article of furniture has a few different values or prices that are all dependent on the end goal with the item. Familiarize yourself with the following price points:

Retail Value

This value is a fair market value of what a heir-apparent would be willing to pay from a dealer. It is the highest value of the 3 and is the hardest price to achieve when looking to resell. This value is about commonly used past the trade and for insurance appraisals. When used for insurance purposes, this is also known equally replacement value, which is the toll it would accept to replace a given piece if it were lost or stolen.

Wholesale Value

If you go to a dealer looking for the value of antique furniture (without purchasing an appraisal), the cost they give you will most likey be the wholesale value. This is the cost they would be willing to pay for an particular, which tin can exist anywhere from 30%-50% less than the retail value.

Auction Value

Estates, attorneys and the IRS frequently get by auction value. This value is what a particular particular is thought to bring at sale. It will exist a range and is usually less than retail only more than wholesale. If you're looking to become rid of piece of furniture fast, sometimes your all-time bet would be to put it in an auction. Auctions are risky business, though. If the right people aren't behest a given sale, the furniture might sell for adjacent to goose egg, regardless of what the auction value stated.

4. Notice similar antique piece of furniture values in print.

Whether yous visit the library, a bookshop, or purchase a book on Amazon, there are a ton of publications about identifying and valuing antique furniture. Books will offer more of an overview and can't become into likewise much detail about detail items, which is why they are an excellent starting place if you are simply learning about antiques.

Hither are some popular publications that will help you identify antique furniture:

• Warman's Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide, 2016
• Kovel'due south Antiques & Collectibles Cost Guide, 2018
• Miller'due south Antiques Encyclopedia
• Victorian & Edwardian Article of furniture: Cost Guide and Reasons for Value

5. Search the internet for more than information.

Sometimes the easiest way to go a rough estimate of what your antique furniture is worth is to encounter how other similar pieces are priced. The internet is a treasure trove of information and databases that will help you lot narrow down a toll, once you know what to search.

After you have used print and other searches to figure out the age, mode and make of a piece, use that data to create search terms for any of the following websites.

Auction & Sales Databases

• Kovels
• WorthPoint

Antique Marketplaces

• eBay
• Etsy
• Ruby Lane

Online Forums

• My Antique Furniture Collection
• Treasure Hunting Facebook Group

6. If in doubt, have the furniture appraised.

Sometimes information technology's best to exit antique furniture valuation upwardly to the professionals. Simply call back, appraisers are not licensed, so anyone can claim to be one. Hither are some tips to help you find a competent appraiser:

Appraisal Tips

• Don't rely on an Cyberspace appraisement solely. A professional will need to encounter the bodily item to value it the almost accurately.
• Ask for references and check them out. A legitimate appraiser won't be offended. Reputable auction houses and professional associations such as the American Lodge of Appraisers are useful resources.
• Hire someone who specializes in what you demand to be appraised. You lot don't want a furniture specialist assessing a money collection.
• If the appraiser offers to sell your item, walk away; that'south a disharmonize of interest.
• Get the appraisal in writing, with a clear statement, non an estimate, of your item's worth, forth with a description of the methods used to brand the appraisal.
• Be prepared to spend. A reputable appraiser will typically charge past the hour, with rates ranging from $100 to $300 per 60 minutes, depending on where you live.

Since appraisals can exist plush, you might desire to exercise a bit of enquiry using the methods above before you decide to invest in a professional appraisal. Appraisals are nearly advisable if you need ane for insurance or if you doubtable your item is worth a significant corporeality of money.

seven. Determine what to do with appraised antiquarian furniture.

One time the appraisal is complete, it's up to y'all to decide what you'll practise with your inherited piece. You tin can keep and relish it, fully aware of its worth (or lack thereof). You tin sell it via an online auction service, a assignment shop or an auction house. Or y'all may decide to donate it.

However, if you lot honey it but can't quite fit information technology into your current lifestyle, you as well have the option of putting it in storage for the time being. Await for a cocky storage facility that offers climate controlled storage. This is especially of import when storing forest article of furniture that could be damaged by extremes of temperature or humidity. Wood has its moisture content and is very sensitive to changes in relative humidity. Sudden changes can cause wood to scissure or split.

Read Likewise: How to Move and Store Wood Furniture

We promise this guide helped you effigy out the value of whatever antique article of furniture in your possession. Good luck and happy thrifting!

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About the Author

Lauren Thomann has written about self storage and moving since 2015, making her our storage proficient. She earned a Bachelor's degree in English and Linguistics and has published over 150 articles on moving, storage, and dwelling organization. She is also a contributing author at The Spruce and Martha Stewart.

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Source: https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/storage/whats-worth-find-value-inherited-furniture/

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