How To Tell If Your Antiques Are Worth Anything

You know you're getting old when you visit an antique shop and they start appraising you. And speaking of appraisals, is that the way to go with antiques? How can you tell what an antique is worth, anyway? We know you have questions, so we've sought out answers, in typical House Digest fashion! But before we get into all the options you have for finding out what your antiques are worth, let's talk a little about what makes an item an antique to begin with. According to Farm Antiques, the criteria is the item must be at least 100 years old. Alternatively, the term vintage is highly subjective, but generally means anywhere from 40 to 99 years old.

In determining value, technology has brought us information at our fingertips via the internet. If we want to make a big purchase, we can easily compare prices and assess quality, see reviews, etc., resulting in the ability to make much more informed decisions. Likewise, if we want to sell an item, we can research it to get a good idea of its worth before we try to sell it, lessening our chances of getting ripped off. But when it comes to antiques, there are so many variables that it's challenging to know what something is worth, with any degree of certainty. Crawford Direct lets us know that with antiques, much of an individual item's value is determined by its quality and condition.

Additionally, with very unique items that aren't in high demand, the value is truly dependent on what someone is willing to give you for it. Researching the item thoroughly is key. Here is how to figure out if what you have is valuable.

Before even considering hiring a professional or getting a paid estimate, you have a personal responsibility to do your due diligence! Know the estimated value of your items before you request an appraisal. If you take this widely agreed upon personal responsibility seriously, you know this means actively doing at least some of your own research in an attempt to both educate and protect yourself. For instance, Antique Appraisers Auctioneers says knowing the difference between an appraisal and a valuation is important, because you may need an official appraisal for insurance purposes, especially if you have valuable antiques. A valuation is much less formal and may only be verbal, but either way is not typically accepted for any other purpose — though there are exceptions. 

The appraiser is usually hired to determine the value for insurance purposes, tax purposes, or a will. Prestigious auction houses such as Christy's or Sotheby's will have items officially appraised beforehand. The professional appraiser considers things such as condition, whether it's been restored or not, if there's a maker's mark, and supply and demand in the market. They do extensive research, and according to Consumer Reports, you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $400 an hour. Appraisal Institute reports that certified appraisers adhere to a set of professional standards that range from the structure of a review and appraisal form to ethical principles. Perhaps this is why it pays to choose a reputable, certified appraiser carefully if you need an appraisal as a legal document. Do your due diligence!

When you're sure you have something valuable, you'll still need to get a professional appraisal, and it's a smart thing to have for obvious reasons. Liberty Mutual says a detailed, written appraisal can take four to six weeks to finalize, and offers some great tips for finding a good appraiser. For one thing, find one that specializes in the antique(s) you have, if possible. That will, of course, ensure a higher level of accuracy. Also, look for one who belongs to one of the three major appraiser associations: the International Society of Appraisers, the American Society of Appraisers, or the Appraisers Association of America. Each of these organizations has a list of all members, including their level of certification, so you can find one on their websites if you like. Don't hire an appraiser that charges a percentage of the item's value. Ask what exactly they provide, their process, and how they bill you. Check references.

Money.com says a common mistake people make is getting an appraisal from any person or place that may have an interest in purchasing the item(s). Obviously, this person could be giving you a low estimate to give themselves an advantage on price. By hiring a certified appraiser from one of the aforementioned institutions, this person is bound to ethical standards which prevent them from purchasing any item or items they are hired to appraise. Money.com also lists the three associations from the above paragraph, and adds that the appraiser's background and past appraisals can be found on the websites as well, so hiring one with experience in similar items is easier. You can send the items in, or have an appraiser come to you in person. For insurance purposes, this is the way to go.

There are still many people who prefer to go the extra mile and do the pricing themselves — at least for general purposes. If you love antiques, finding out about them and how they're valued is knowledge worth pursuing, so you might consider purchasing the actual guides on Amazon or other retailers. You can also access the online version of the most important price guides, such as Kovels. This is a major authority on antique price guides, widely used, and accepted as accurate to a high degree. You can access all its convenient pricing tools with a free trial period, after which you'll pay roughly $30 a year if you decide it's worth it. Since antique prices are constantly fluctuating, we can see the value in having a membership and being able to access the latest market information on all kinds of antiques — especially if you're in the business of buying and selling them. 

Another great resource is WorthPoint. It also offers a free trial, but here you'll pay about $250 a year, or $20 bucks a month. That's a significant difference, especially if you're not an antique dealer. This website offers lots of perks, like access to a digital library with over 1,000 books about antiques, access to its comprehensive price guide Worthopedia, virtual postcards you can send for the holidays or anytime, an online research guide where you can explore marks, autographs, patterns, and a virtual vault where you can keep records of your items. For the antique aficionado, this membership may be desirable.

Another great resource for finding out what your antiques are worth is eBay. According to Columbia Daily Tribune, eBay is a terrific way to get a good idea of the current market value of any antique or collectible. It has auction-type sales and buy-it-now prices, but there's an easy enough method for finding out what similar items to yours are currently selling for. When you're on the website, you'll see a search area at the top of the page. To the right of the search box, click on the "advanced" button, where you'll see many different criteria you can choose from to help find the item you're looking for specifically. Be sure you check the box that says "sold listings," and you'll get a list of items that match your criteria that have sold and the prices they've sold for. The prices will show up in green.

According to Statista, eBay's active user base has been steadily declining for years, but today still has 138 million (second quarter 2022) active members. Sarasota Antique Buyers warns that when searching for similar items on eBay, don't make the mistake of looking at asking prices. Just look at the sold items with prices in green for what similar pieces have actually sold for because sellers often put impossibly high price tags on their items to garner attention. You can also sort the results to display the highest listed price first, allowing you to see the best-case scenario.

This option might be for you if you want to find out the value of your antiques and sell them. For instance, if you know you have something of considerable value, say over $1,000, you can go to Christie's or Sotheby's and request an estimate. They'll evaluate your item(s) and give you a free estimate if they decide to auction them for you. You can take it or leave it — there's no guarantee — and they charge a percentage. According to Indeed, a typical commission for an auction house is 10% to 15%. If you have items of high value and want to sell them immediately, this is probably the route to take.

If your antiques are yet undetermined, and you're not at all sure they're of that caliber, you can try asking a local (or online, if you're willing to ship the item yourself) consignment shop for a free appraisal. Most of them will do this if you're interested in consigning with them. But remember, if you can afford to wait for the right buyer, it may make a difference you won't want to miss. Whatever your situation, try to educate yourself as best you can before attempting to sell anything. And good luck!