Free Antique Appraisals Online

If you are trying to find the value of that special piece, looking for free antique appraisals online will help determine its worth. While there are numerous sites that will appraise an item for a fee, there are some resources on the Internet that will help determine the value for free.

It's important to identify your antique.

Just because something is old, does not necessarily mean it's a valuable antique. On the other hand, just because you bought something at a flea market for $1 doesn't mean it's not worth anything. It's important to know as much as possible about the item you want appraised. By learning the background, value variables and condition status, you will be better able to find an appraisal online.

Begin by asking the "who, what, when, and where" questions about the item:

• Who made it? Look for a maker's mark on the bottom, or a signature, or any distinguishing marks.
• What is it? While this may sound silly, many antiques are items no longer in use, such as butter churns, scythes, and dueling pistols.
• When was it made? Take a guess; more than a hundred years or less?
• Where did it come from? Did it pass down from a relative or was it bought in a garage sale or flea market? Try to determine what area of the country or world it originated.

To help answer these questions, look around the Internet for a similar item. Search with a rough description, like "green antique pitcher" and go through the results. Try antique store sites and eBay. Also try Prices4Antiques which has a database of items sold at past auctions. While a there is a subscription fee, you can preview pictures and prices of antiques free of charge.

Once you have a basic understanding of the background, you will be able to focus your research.

Every antique has a hierarchy of desirability. Almost identical items will have one small difference that will make one more valuable. For example, the green antique pitcher is a Mary Gregory glass pitcher. Mary Gregory glass comes in numerous colors from cranberry to clear, cranberry being the most desirable. The light green color is in the middle of the value range.

Besides color, other value variables for antiques include size, ornamentation and rarity. Age is also an important variable, but don't automatically assume that older pieces are always worth more than newer ones; the other value variables may make a newer piece worth more than a older one.

Knowing the condition of an item is vital to getting an accurate appraisal. Possible problems with condition include:

• Chips or cracks
• Broken or missing pieces
• Replaced parts
• Dirty or damaged places
• Heavy wear, especially in fabric pieces or wooden items

Look closely at your piece and evaluate it honestly. Don't be afraid of a flaw; in some cases it will affect the value little, if at all.

Once you know the background, the variables and the condition of your piece, you can look for an appraisal. Compare the value of like items to get a dollar range. Numerous free websites will tell the worth of a similar piece.

It's always worth checking eBay for comparables, or comps. Then look at other auction sites that specialize in antiques, such as GoAntiques.

Many appraisal sites, such as WorthPoint offer free trials for a limited time. Sign up for the trial to get a free antique appraisal online. Kovels offers free issues of its magazine and a free price guide.

Online antique malls, such as TIAS.com or Ruby Lane, allow you to search the inventory for comps. Read the description of a comp to determine if condition played a part in the price.

Remember that there is a difference between value and retail price. Retail price includes a retailer's mark-up; the actual value might be lower. Auction sales give a buyer's value, but auction prices can vary greatly because of factors unrelated to the item's value, such as publicity for the auction. Look at the lowest and highest prices for your piece; that will give you the range of value.

Finally, remember you can always have the piece professionally appraised by a certified appraiser. Check with the International Society of Appraisers for a member near you.

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