best place to sell a victorian fireplace?

chickaroonee

Not sure if this is the best forum, but here goes.

I have a large Victorian surround and fire insert (missing grate) to sell, and I'm not sure where is best to sell or what it is worth. I've had a look on ebay and most of the ones I've seen have been small bedroom fires, but this is a large cast iron surround which is more intricate.

Googling it is a little like this - http://www.antiquefireplacecompany.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=048LC&cat=39

But that seems much more than I thought it was worth! (of course I know those are retail sellers and will sell for a top price, but I was thinking mine was worth less than £100).

Can anyone advice a) how much I might hope to get and b) where to sell. All I can think of is ebay, but as I said I wasn't sure really what to list it for on there.

BlueC

We're in a similar situation, but we have 3 surrounds to sell. They seem to fetch a lot at rec yards and restorers but we have found they don't pay good money for them (if any at all) which I guess is because they have the expense of having to store them and the uncertainty that they might take months or years to sell.

You could list it on ebay at a fixed price with a best-offer option? This is normally good for items that aren't highly in demand but you could be stuck with it for a while until it finds the right buyer. Or put it on 7 day auction starting at £50 and take your chances - at least it will sell.

Leif

If you do sell on ebay, make sure you take a good number of high quality photos. Make sure it is well lit, using reflectors to fill shadows. (A few pieces of white cardboard angled to reflect daylight into the shadows is enough.) Don't photograph in bright sunlight, the contrast is too high, overcast light is better, from a window say.

I recently hesitated on a nice elm chest of drawers on ebay. It went at the last second for £175. The next day the same item appeared on ebay for £400, with much better photos. It is like night and day.

As BlueC says, you could always have it on for 30 days with a buy now price of ~£400, but allow people to make offers, so you know the level of interest. It is unusual, so it won't sell right away.

chickaroonee

Thanks for the advice. Was tempted to just sell on ebay and let it find its price but then thought I'd be perhaps selling it short if it only goes for £80..but then I suppose it is only worth what someone is willing to pay! I appreciate the advice about the photos and will make sure I take several if I do sell it that way.

It is definitely unusual, the surround is curved on the top and it's very large. I've not seen one like it before and everyone who visits comments on it (I think they're slightly shocked we've taken it out but a stove is much better and actually more in keeping with the house).

Decisions, decisions. I wonder if a specialist shop would buy? There's one nearby but I think they may pay peanuts too.

chickaroonee

ps - have you decided what to do bluec?

BlueC

chickaroonee wrote: »

ps - have you decided what to do bluec?

Well we contacted a few rec yards that stock similar items but none were interested. Going to try a few other local places but I don't hold out much hope. In the end we'll probably just want shut of them so stick them on 7 day auctions - better to get something for it than nothing. One is a complete stone minster fireplace probably worth a few quid too.

The photo tips are a good shout, I have noted them too! Nothing to be lost sending a few photos to rec yards and asking them if they'd be interested.

theGrinch

ebay, plain and simple. if you can wait a bit try gumtree. reccy yards will offer 20-30% of what they sell it for.

chickaroonee

theGrinch wrote: »

ebay, plain and simple. if you can wait a bit try gumtree. reccy yards will offer 20-30% of what they sell it for.

I know a dealer will sell it for a lot more than they'll buy, but I think what's surprised me is how much they're selling them for. So if they sell for £800, that'd be say £240 to me by your rough calculation. I'm not sure they go for that much on ebay! It's really hard to tell as I can't find one like it yet on there. (I do realise I can put it on as a buy it now/higher starting price of course but sometimes think this puts people off).

The only other issue that worries me about ebay is we are quite rural and I'm not 100% sure that there's the market there would be if we were in a big city. Still, it might be the best option.

the_matrix

you could try preloved. Fab for second hand items.

theGrinch

chickaroonee wrote: »

I know a dealer will sell it for a lot more than they'll buy, but I think what's surprised me is how much they're selling them for. So if they sell for £800, that'd be say £240 to me by your rough calculation. I'm not sure they go for that much on ebay! It's really hard to tell as I can't find one like it yet on there. (I do realise I can put it on as a buy it now/higher starting price of course but sometimes think this puts people off).

The only other issue that worries me about ebay is we are quite rural and I'm not 100% sure that there's the market there would be if we were in a big city. Still, it might be the best option.

wait for one of eBay's free listing weekends and try it on for a price you feel right. If you can wait, you can then lower it next time. good luck.

the 20-30% is a rough cal based on items I have sold to reccy yards and seen listed.

mawebb81

Hi, I'm looking to buy a fireplace at the moment as the house we've just bought had a really old horrid one we took out.

Whereabouts in the country are you?

The picture you linked to is very much like the one we have in our living room so if it's similar it would match well.