If you’re planning an estate sale, there are a few things that you should know about selling your silverware.
Yes, we’re talking about the matching set of knives, spoons, and forks that you’ve been using (or storing for a special occasion) for many years. Antique dealers, as well as gold and silver exchanges, have seen an influx of sterling silver flatware coming through the doors in recent years. It seems that the generation of today is less concerned with keeping pieces in the family and more concerned with unburdening their load; especially when it comes to a lucrative monetary exchange.
If you’re having an estate sale and you think that you’re ready to part with the set, there are a few things to consider.
Are You Ready And Willing To Let Go?
Be sure that you are ready to part with the set. We all know that traditional and formal dining has gone the way of the Sunday dinner; few and far between. Even holidays can go low stress with all of the boldly designed disposable utensils available on the market. Chances are you’ll never even use the set again. However, if it has been passed down through the generations, consider if there is a future generation you can continue passing it to. If not, and you don’t hold any sentimental value to the items, by all means add them to the sale.
Are your Sure That It’s Sterling?
Most of the time, sterling silver sets are purchased in order to melt the pieces down. Make sure that what you have is real sterling silver by checking each piece in the collection for the word “sterling,” or the abbreviation “ster.” You can also look for a “925” which means that the item is 92.5% silver. After the depression, silver plating became the standard practice and today’s silver plate is very thinly applied. Many of the items that come through the dealers are silver-plated and thus not worth much on the market.
Can It Have An Antique Value?
Your full set in good condition might sell as an antique set. Those who visit estate sales might be looking for something sentimental and elegant for their own private use as opposed to something to melt down. If the set is in good condition with ornate designs, it might appeal to someone who loves the look more than the material. Or, someone out there might have a set that is missing a few pieces and your set can offer the replacement parts they need.
The Estate Sale
At Heritage Estate Sales, we’ll appraise and evaluate your silverware (or any flatware) to make sure that you get the best price for your pieces. To us, it’s more than just a glorified yard sale; it’s a life sale. From everything that you’ve acquired through the years to the items that you have only owned for a short time, we commit ourselves to bringing you the best price that buyers have to offer.
Forget trying to discover the value of a spoon on your own, we’ll do it for you. Forget trying to negotiate with a buyer, we’ll do that, too. Give us a call and let us give you a fair and honest evaluation of your items. Let’s start planning your sale today!