Antiques

painted

My Mum recently passed away and I am staying at the house trying to sort her affairs and the contents of the house.
To be honest I want just to rehome the most of it, but there are a few items that I would like to sell, but dont know how much they are worth.

I joined an antiques forum but, as nice as the members are on there, I am getting more personal opinions, on whether they like the object, than information on maker/price/design etc.

Can anyone recommend some good antiques forums please

I would be eternally grateful, this job is an emotional hard slog at present

magn8p

Sorry to year about your mother passing away and my her soul rest in peace.

The quick way to sell them is to list them in https://www.gumtree.com or https://www.preloved.co.uk .

However, if you think they are valuable and you have time to spare you are probably better off speaking to a local antiques shop or an auctioneer.

All the best.

TonyMMM

Just get a local auctioneer to come and do a probate valuation - they will highlight any items of value (and sell them for you if you want).

They will also have a contact for someone who will take the rest as house clearance.

martinthebandit

TonyMMM wrote: »

Just get a local auctioneer to come and do a probate valuation - they will highlight any items of value (and sell them for you if you want).

They will also have a contact for someone who will take the rest as house clearance.

Is the right answer.

painted

Well, it's one answer

Gastines3

Always pays to get more than one opinion. I used to have shops selling Antique and Architectural items and valuations are fraught with problems.Often the items you think are valuable and in fact were years ago,are now out of fashion and hard to shift,obviously lowering the value.Often the odd pieces you might not value are the items wanted by Interior Designers at the moment. Also worth noting that the fees charged in Auction Houses to buyer and seller, including VAT.,can be as much as 40-50%+ between what the buyer pays and the seller eventually gets. ASk a couple of established traders and be careful of Knockers who follow the notices of Deaths in local papers.

painted

My late Dad made a 'note' about a few of the pieces and how they were worth 'some money', but as you say fashions come and go and those particular items are probably worth pennies.

To be honest I just want to finish what I have to do, in the shortest time and go home. The majority of the house is cold and draughty and everything I have to do, I shed more tears.

So, any good forums anyone please?!

LEJC

Why has it got to be a forum recommendation?

In honesty a local auction room will be much better qualified to advise.

Forums easily go off topic....and as you say they start to comment more on personal preference.

If you were to suggest what the items of value may be then perhaps someone may be able to suggest dealers in the particular item etc.

Otherwise a google search of for example antique toy forums,.....antique jewellery forums....antique furniture forums.....if you get my drift.

Ebay is also quite good....I've used it several times to sell and research items from an old family home by looking for similar things listed to mine.

House clearance is another way to go...but that tends to be a bulk price...otherwise it becomes a container of memories that become hard to get rid of no matter how hard you try.

You're also located I think in an area that has a few market towns with antique shops....maybe...a call to a dealer there may prove useful even if its just to get some idea of worth now.

maybe even reclamation centres or yards may be interested depending what it is you have.

As you say fashions change and what was worth a lot even 15 years ago has fallen now in price.....however good solid furniture is always a good buy for some.

trailingspouse

A forum may well tell you that an item is worth £50, or whatever - but that doesn't mean it will sell for that amount.

Our local auctioneers do probate valuations and house clearances all the time - it's basically their bread and butter. There is nothing in it for them to either overvalue or undervalue anything - but at the end of the day, things are only worth what the buyers are prepared to pay.

Anyone who has ever watched Flog It! will know that there are sometimes surprises, but basically they normally get it right enough. And you can set a reserve if you don't want an item to go 'for a song'. Just be aware of the seller's commission charged by any auction house you might choose.

As you say you just want to get on with it, I think this would be the way to go - ebay is hassle what with having to take photos, wait for items to time out, post things etc etc.