ABC's Of Having Antique Items Appraised

Another Helpful Article By Tom Bassett, CAE

1.    If you are unsure of who appraises the type of antiques you have, ask the trust department or officers at a local bank or an attorney who works with estates.

2.    Ask the appraiser for references.

3.   a.  Be sure to ask how much they charge.Most respectable appraisers charge an hourly rate. 

     b. If an appraiser wants to charge a percentage of whatever they appraise, be very cautious.  This usually results in having to pay too much.

4.    Be sure to tell the appraiser the purpose of the appraisal.  Is it for your personal knowledge?  Are you planning to sell these items?  Or is the appraisal for insurance purposes?

5.    Tell the appraiser what you want appraised.  If you have artwork and their specialty is stamps, you need to find another appraiser.

6.    If you have a “house full” of items, be sure to tell the appraiser in advance.  Both you and the appraiser need to set aside adequate time for the job.

7.    Have small items displayed on tables or counters.  If the appraiser has to “dig” into closets or under a bed to find items, you’re wasting time and time is money.

8.    If you paid to recover or refinish furniture (in recent years), tell the appraiser so he/she can consider this in establishing a value.

9.    Share information you know about items, such as “it was a wedding gift to my parents in 1939” or “Grandpa made this for Mom in the 1930s.”

10. If the appraised value of an item seems especially high (or low), in your estimation, ask the appraiser why he/she gave it that value.  Maybe you paid too much, or it’s not authentic.  Maybe it’s much rarer than you imagined or the market for it makes it a high priced piece.