Antiques - Appraisals

How does your family get along?

Most people asked that question will answer "We get along well". But, the true test of how well a family functions happens when there is an estate to divide and money to be inherited.

In my 14 years in the business of buying, selling and appraising antiques, I have heard many sad stories such as:

 

• 17 family members (yes 17) fighting over the goods in an elderly uncle's home because he died without a will.

• Two sisters hadn't spoken to each other in over 20 years because their father passed away and left one a dining room suite and not the other. Ironically the sister who inherited it did not want it and offered the other sister the suite. She also did not really want it but the point was that the father had left it to one and not the other

• Brothers and sisters that hired each their own lawyer to represent their interests in the family estate - the estate being worth less in the end than the combination of legal fees they paid out!

• Four sisters would not talk to their brother because he went to the family home and systematically took things away from the parents and sold them without the sisters knowing about it.

• A nephew who charmed his way into being given several valuable military collectibles. The family only learned later what they were worth.

Most people are afraid to speak to their parents or grandparents about the things that are of interest to them once the owners no longer have a use for them. They feel that by talking to them about death or downsizing into a senior's facility that they are in effect "jinxing" them and in a strange way telling them they want them to die.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

People who want to or know they will have to downsize or take care of personal affairs are very happy to know that a family member is interested in something that is special to them. But most people want to be fair. Your parents or even you don't want to give everything to the same person, but want to split things equally.

How do you do this?

By getting a market appraisal!

A market appraisal will give you an idea of what the objects that you hold dear are worth on the market today if you were to sell them. That helps you decide who gets gets what.

What if you are downsizing? Or moving?

A market appraisal will help you know what to sell, how much you can expect to get for your items and what is the best way to sell them.

Services:

• Verbal appraisals at your location
• Written appraisals if required

Please note: I do not do replacement evaluations for insurance purposes. Appraisals are charged on a per hour basis. Please contact me for more information on how I can help you. Click here.