Questions to Inquire Before Hiring an Antique Auctioneer or Appraiser
Looking for professional antique appraisal services or an auctioneer for your antique collection or inherited estate? You want to make sure you’re working with an expert in the field who will get you the most money for your pieces. But before you hire an auctioneer or appraiser, you need to ask them a few questions to make certain they’re the right expert for you.
Have They Appraised Similar Antiques?
Just because someone is an appraiser doesn’t mean they have experience with the type of antiques you have. For example, some estate jewelry appraisers may have never looked at antique furniture before. Be sure to ask if they’ve appraised antiques of the same type, age, and condition as yours. Having practical experience is often worth more than theoretical knowledge of the item.
Are they seasoned antique auctioneers?
Just because someone has served as an antique auctioneer before doesn’t mean they’re right for your antique auction. You want to make certain you’re working with antique auctioneers who understand the interest in your pieces and have connections with the antique collector community. These experienced auctioneers will be able to bring in people who understand the value of your pieces and bid accordingly.
Do They Have a Good Reputation?
This isn’t necessarily a question to ask your potential estate auctioneers appraisers, but it is a good question to research. Go online, talk to others who have had estate auctions, and ask any collectors you know. You can get a good idea of whether or not this particular auctioneer or appraiser has a good standing in the community. If you’re looking for an auctioneer, you could even find out when they’re holding their next auction and go. Don’t tell them you’re considering working with them for your own estate or antique auction. Instead, just watch how they handle the pieces and the actual auction itself to determine if their style would work for you.
How to use the internet to research the value of Antique – Antique Appraisal Online
Trying to find the value of an antique online may seem like a good idea, but it’s harder than you might think. The first question you have to ask yourself is where to look. A search for American antique appraisal is going to return thousands of results. Even if you can narrow down the results by type of antique or by a brand name, you’re still going to get many different results. Some of these results may not agree with each other on the value, either. Here are some result types you may come across.
Online Auctions
While some antique sellers rely on local antique buyers for their income, others sell their items online. You may find auctions for items that are very similar to the ones you have. How accurate are those prices? It really depends. Some online sellers do work with reputable antique appraisers, but others may price their items higher or lower than their actual value.
Price Guides
You may also come across online price guides for antiques. These guides may be better than online auctions, but they often either provide a wide price range or assume the condition of the item. They can give you an idea of what your piece might be worth, but that price may not be accurate for a piece in poor condition or one that’s outstanding.
Online Appraisal
Your best bet if you’re using the internet is to look for sites that offer antique appraisal online. These estates auctioneers appraisers usually ask that you submit a number of clear photos of the antique and provide as much information as you possibly can about its condition and history. You’ll need images taken from multiple angles that show every side or part of the item. The appraiser will then send you back their official appraisal and any notes they have on the piece.