THE VALUE OF AN ANTIQUE
- By Elizabeth Norm
E ver wonder how much your baseball card collection is
worth? Do you still have your grandfather’s old plane or
level? How about that antique brooch, is it worth anything?
Whether you are curious about an item’s worth, need to
insure it, or you’re planning to sell it, there are many ways
to find out how much an item is worth. Remember that an
item’s worth is only what someone is willing to pay for it, so
keep your expectations at a minimum until you determine
your “must have” amount (that is, if you are indeed planning
on selling the item).
Start with an online search
The benefits of searching online is that you can find out
comparables fairly quickly, usually with photos attached
so you can see how much an item is worth, paired with its
condition. The downfall of selling an item online is that there
will be many collectors specifically looking for your particular
item, but whom you may possibly never meet in person. It’s
a world-wide-web after all.
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Do your research online and see what the item’s “lowest
minimum asking price” is, and guide yourself by that as a
starting point. Selling an antique online has opened up many
more opportunities for research and much competition,
therefore your item may not be worth as much as you were
hoping to sell it for.
Ask a professional
There are professional appraisers who focus on almost every
type of item: Jewelry, textiles, ceramics, furniture, paintings,
and so on. We recommend contacting the International Society
of Appraisers Canada (ISA) who can put you in touch with
a member by specialty, or by geographical location. If you
believe your item is of true high value, then a qualified ISA
appraiser will ensure you don’t sell too low or pay too much
for an item and that you’re not under or over-insured for
the item. A professional appraiser will charge you a fee for
their work, usually either by the hour or as a flat rate. Avoid
working with an appraiser who charges a percentage of the
item’s value. Another alternative is to ask your bank manager
or an estate attorney for a referral to a professional appraiser.
Visit an antique store
Many antique stores can often give you a verbal-
approximation of what the item is worth, while some may
even have a professional appraiser on staff. This can be a
more inexpensive (or sometimes free) option if you think
your item is more common, or you know a bit more about
it and aren’t too worried about becoming a millionaire from
your item. Antique store dealers are great resources, so this
may be a good first option and a basis to start your inquiry.