Benefits of Having Your Antique Furniture Appraised

Finding or purchasing a vintage or antique piece of furniture is a rewarding experience. When you have the piece in possession, one of the first things you need to do is to evaluate the need to clean or restore the piece. Do this cautiously. Refer to a guide for help to make sure you do not alter or damage the finish. If you wish to sell the piece after it is cleaned and/or restored, consider the benefits of having your antique furniture appraised.

Getting the most from your investment

Having an appraisal done gives you a market value of what you can expect the piece to sell for at a store or auction. You can get a free appraisal by taking it to an auction house. Whenever the appraisal is done, with no obligation to sell it there, you have a professional opinion of its worth and a price range that someone would possibly pay for the piece. It is, however, important to take photos and research yourself to gain all available information as well. The appraiser's opinion along with your gathered information help determine value with a simple group of factors.

Four main factors determine value

The history of a piece is always most interesting and is a valuable part of its worth. If it has a story to tell or belonged to a prominent person, it has more appeal for purchase. Availability is the next factor considered. Are there many of these pieces still in existence or is this a rare piece? The rarer it is the more valuable it is. The condition of the piece follows next for consideration. Categorizing as poor, fair, good, excellent or mint condition further determines asking price. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the quality or craftsmanship of the piece is evaluated. When these factors are determined you have a determined value to work with when you decide to sell.

An appraisal is a great tool to aid an owner of vintage or antique furniture. It adds value to your piece through objective evaluation. It also prepares you for what you might expect from a sell of the furniture and might exceed what you may have asked if you were selling it without an appraisal. In any case, an appraisal is an easy way to enhance the valued selection piece that caught your eye and may just help you catch someone else's eye too.