Appraisal of an antique requires finding an expert who is able to put a dollar amount on your antique. The first step in finding the right antiques specialist is to determine if he or she is qualified. Personal property appraisers are not regulated by the government and only have business licenses. Appraisers must have specific experience as well as education, including national examinations and continuing education. Qualified appraisers must be certified by one of three major associations, including the American Society of Appraisers, the International Society of Appraisers, and the Association of Appraisers of America. Each organization has its own membership criteria involving education and experience. They also have codes of ethics that members must adhere to.

Appraisals can be located online using different search engines such as Google. It’s important to do your research beforehand to make sure this expert has the necessary experience and education. Once you locate the correct appraiser, the next step is to take the old item(s) to the appraiser. Appraisers charge by the hour and rates can range from $150 to $350 depending on how qualified the appraiser is. The average time it takes to appraise antique furniture or fine art is 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the article.

The next step would be to wait for the article or articles to be evaluated. Once the item has been appraised, the expert will write a report that concludes with the value. This includes identification research, market research and analysis, as well as on-site inspection. If you’re happy with the report, the next step would be to take the antique to a merchant who wants to buy your item. However, he may want to get a second opinion if he thinks your item is worth more money. He may have had doubts about the appraiser’s qualifications or believed that the report he received was inaccurate. He can take your item to a more qualified appraiser who can give you a second appraisal. This provides a more reliable result as you now have an appraisal from two different sources along with different ratings. You may want to get an appraiser from two of the three different associations, which provides a more diverse appraisal.

Once you are completely satisfied with the appraisal of the antique, you can take it to a dealer for sale. It is important to do the necessary research to determine which dealer would be right for you.