How much is my antique worth?

When dealing with antiques, one question asked time and time again is "How much is it worth?" Even for those who hold onto antique items for sentimental reasons and who have no intention of ever selling their treasure, there is often a tiny part of them that wonders about its value. For others, antiques are their trade, and knowing how much they can get for an item is a critical part of their business. Before proceeding to investigate the value of an antique, be it a wall clock or any other item, it is important to ask oneself a number of questions:

Why do I want to know the value of the antique?

As mentioned above, people often want to know the value of their antiques for a broad spectrum of reasons. The motivation behind this desire should be considered before taking further steps to determine the value of the item. Owners who simply love their antique possessions and never intend to part with them, for example, may not want to spend the money required to get a professional appraisal. People who are insuring antique items, however, may need to know an exact value and seek an appraisal to get this information. For sellers of antiques, an appraisal may cut into their profit margin and they may instead choose to use other resources to estimate the value of an antique. Whatever your motivation in seeking to learn the value of an antique, it is important to ask yourself the question "Why do I want to know?" The answer to this question will likely influence the decisions that follow.

Does this item have any non-monetary value?

For many people, their antique possessions represent more than a simple object. They may be treasured family heirlooms or mementos from one's travels. For some, there is value in knowing that they own a piece of history. All of these factors come into play when estimating the value of an antique. An object of little or no monetary value can be of immense "sentimental" value to the owner. It is important to remember this when seeking to know the monetary value of an item. Don't let your love of an antique treasure be diminished by its low monetary value.

For sellers: How do I intend to go about selling my antique?

For those who are trying to sell an antique, it is important to consider the way in which you can best sell your item. Some people prefer to move an item as quickly as possible, and will consult local dealers and pawn shops. These businesses make their profits by buying items for less than they sell them, thus you are likely to find you will get a lower price than you may if you sell through other methods. Another option is to use an internet auction service, such as eBay to advertise your item to a broad audience. Before posting an item, it can be very helpful to search for similar items and select the "sold listings" filter near the top of the page to get a sense of common selling prices for these items. These selling prices can also be used to give you an estimate of the value should you decide to sell through other methods such as Craigslist or by placing an ad in the local classified section. Finally, for items expected to be of considerable value, it may prove worthwhile to obtain a professional appraisal. This can give you a very clear idea of what the item is worth, and may give you some leverage when dealing with buyers or auction houses.