Pricing and researching items and their values will take up much of your time leading up to your estate sale. It is very important that EVERY item has a price!! Pricing every item prior to the sale will make your sale day efficient and increase your sales. Some people will not bother ask you a price for unmarked items.
Antiques and Collectibles: Antiques and Collectibles and their values can be researched online. Here are some things you should look at closely:
1. Jewelry – Look for gold, silver, and names. Even costume jewelry with the right name can be very valuable. You may want to take any gold and silver to a jeweler for a value. If you have a scales that measures in grams, you can use the scrap gold calculator to figure out the gold value of your jewelry
2. Toys – There is HUGE money in toys that may not even be that old. Lego, Transformers, Star Wars, Action Figures, Dolls, Pez Dispensers, Tin Toys, Space Toys, and more. Be sure to closely research toys. eBay is an ideal place to get an idea of values as toys were mass produced. You should be able to find most items already listed there. Be careful of slight variations. If you have something that is a little different than what is found on Ebay it may require further research. Slight variations can make a BIG difference in value.
3. Books – Going through a large collection of books can be VERY time consuming. Old leather bound books, religious and historical books, and even 1st editions of more recent books can be very valuable. You can get a general idea of a books rarity/value by searching at AbeBooks.com . Keep in mind the prices on this website are retail. You should expect to sell your book for a fraction of the price you find for your exact version in the exact same condition. This website will help you differentiate between a book worth 25 cents and one that may be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.
4. Art – I would not recommend pricing your own art. It doesn’t happen often, but you do NOT want to be the person that sells that million dollar painting for $2 at an estate sale! Play it safe and have your art looked at by a professional. This Jackson Pollock painting sold for 140 million dollars in 2006. I am pretty certain I would have priced that at about $20 (and would have taken $10 if someone offered it!).
5. Coins - You can research the value of your coins at the NGC website. Condition is extremely important and would have to be determined by a reputable coin dealer or grading company. I would not recommend trying to sell your coins at your estate sale. A reputable coin dealer would be a better option as coins would require constant attention the day of the sale.
6. Guns – If you are selling guns at an estate sale, be sure to check the laws in your state. You can find gun values here. Be sure to enlist an FFL licensed dealer to assist you, they should be involved in any transfers and can help you avoid legal troubles.
More tips coming Soon…