Many of our clients come to us with questions about items in their estates that may be considered antiques. One of the ways that Heritage Estate Sales helps people selling their belongings is by running an appraisal and taking the guesswork out of the equation. The issue of antiques comes up frequently, especially with some of the older homes in Los Angeles, so some simple guidelines can be helpful when trying to assess a collection
- Age – As a rule of thumb, antiques are at least a century old. However, any item that is over a hundred is not always granted an antique value status, since along with the age of the belonging, there also needs to be an importance that is attached to it. Some intriguing products such as antique postcards can be highly valuable to the right collector, while others may just see them as an old picture.
- Trademarks – This has to do with products that were made by well known masters of their craft. Furniture, artwork, decorations, and even lamps can be trademarked, and depending upon who the producer was, it can certainly raise their value. Some manufacturers such as Waterford still produce currently prestigious items, and any antiques from this same manufacturer are usually worth much more.
- Condition – Even priceless antiques can diminish in value if they are not in good condition. A prime example is old Radio Flyer wagons and classic Schwinn bicycles. In mint condition, these goods can be auctioned for thousands, but if they are rusted or missing parts they may just be scrap.
- Refurbishing – Refurbished antiques are somewhat questionable, and while they may look better with the repairs that were done, original parts are always preferable to replacements. Depending upon how rare an item is, the repair work may or may not play a great part in the value. For an antique that is only accessible as a refurbished item, the amount of new parts versus the old foundation will factor into the value.
A visit to the Heritage Estate Sales website will give clients an idea of the vast extent of items that we handle and appraise. This will also help to give a sense of how we can help in ensuring that your estate sale is well handled and profitable.