Online Antique Valuations?

scrub

Owing to a few deaths in the family and downsizing the family home, my mother has a lot of vintage items that nobody wants. There are just so many bits and pieces but we have no real idea of what things are worth and what some of the things are.

Is there a good place for online valuations like an antiques forum? I know there is one site (can't think of the name) but it charges £5 per item so would cost a fortune.

We've found an antiques place that can value them but it means lugging everything twenty miles and we have some furniture that needs checking and they charge £25 per half transport.

Any ideas?

EPL

What about looking in local press directories for antiques dealers that would be willing to come to your home to value these items.

I remember a couple of years ago trying to get an old typewriter valued online and it was trouble than it was worth.

Norma_Desmond

Any decent auction house will visit you and give valuations for sale there and then.

Norman_Castle

Take photographs and get valuations based on these.

theGrinch

your local auctioneers will either visit or had work from photos and descriptions to give an indication of value.

scrub

Thanks folks. Looks like I'll have to go down the auctioneer route then.

Leif

Norma_Desmond wrote: »

Any decent auction house will visit you and give valuations for sale there and then.

After my mum died, I phoned Bonhams and the valuer came round and said which items he thought they could sell at auction. They then collected a table and several chairs, a sewing table, a chiffonier, and one or two other bits and pieces. It only made a few grand at auction. And we had to pay their fees, not unreasonable to be honest, as they need to earn a crust. The rest of the stuff was collected by a delivery van and taken to a local auction house, which is where less desirable stuff gets sold. You could also post photos in a forum, maybe even this one, and get some feedback on what the items are and the age. Antique furniture is dated by style, construction and wood.

By the way, I'd be wary of a visiting dealer who offers to buy them from you, unless you know you can trust him. There are too many rogues and scoundrels about.