Getting Things Appraised
- See Also: Consignent & Appraisal
Archived Q&A and Reviews
| Questions |
Old records
Jan 2007
My 88-year-old aunt died last November. She left, among other things, a substantial collection of records (classical, popular, etc.) going back many years. My mom thinks some/all of them may be valuable. Wondering if anyone knows who I could ask, where I could take them, if there's anyone would come out and look at them (like people evaluate book collections). Any leads appreciated. Thanks. Norm
Amoeba Records is usually a pretty good place to go. record lover
Try Down Home Music on SanPablo in ElCerrito/Richmond (not sure) anyway, they are really nice, not sharky at all & if they aren't buying, will steer you honestly. Another idea is Aeomeba (sp?) on Telegraph. I know they pay more than garagesale there but actually, to be sure you don't get taken, you should talk to one of the people at Down Home first. Hope you get rich!
Informal Appraisal for eBay Sales
May 2003
I inherited a few collectables I want to sell on eBay (1930s Hummel 10'' full Nativity Set and some other cheaper porcelain figurines) and I don't know how to determine their value. Is there someone around who knows how to do this? Thanks! molly
The simplest thing to do is a search of ''ended auctions'' on eBay itself for similar items. Take note of what items didn't sell and the selling price of the items that did. Also take a look at current auctions and keep track of the results for a few weeks. This will give you a lot of information not only about how to price your figurines but also what kinds of photos and descriptions and so on are most successful. An eBay ''100'' rating
Harvey Clars Auctions on Telegraph does free appraisals for up to 5(?) items once a week or so. call them at 510-428-0100 or email info AT harveyclar.com to find out when they will next do appraisals. a happy bidder!
Dolls
Aug 2003
I have a lot of old dolls that belong to my elderly doll collecting mother, that I need to have appraised (and to sell). There are large size baby dolls, smaller size ''model'' dolls and a variety of other kinds. Some are pretty old, some not so old, some in need of repair and some in great condition. Ideally I'd like someone to come to my house because it would be a lot to take someplace. If anyone is a doll collector or knows someone who is, or knows a good resource for finding a doll collector, please e-mail me. PS. Since this is a request for a doll collector rec, and not an ad. for dolls for sale, please do not contact me if you are not a collector and just want to buy dolls. I hope that made sense. Thanks. June
Hi. I don't know if you are aware of a local auction house, Harvey Clars. The address is 5644Telegraph. Phone number is 428-0100. They also have a website, harveyclar.com.
They will appraise your doll collection and sell it for you if the value of the estate is worth a certain amount. I used to work there 3-4 years ago and the amount that was needed for them to sell an item was $500.00.
Of course, I strongly suggest you call them to get the most accurate information. You can make an appointment to have your collection valued and handled through them.
Another option is to go to the free appraisal clinic on Thursdays. I just went to the website to try to find the times for the clinic and couldn't find anything.
At any rate, check out the website. It's a great way to sell a collection without the hassle of trying to do it yourself.
Plus, they are great people. beth
Piano
Sept 2003
Can anyone recommend a piano appraiser? I purchased an antique piano from an estate sale several years ago in hopes that someone in the household would start playing. Unfortunately, no one is using it and it is taking up space in my living room, gathering dust. It is quite nice and I would like someone to help me establish a value for it. Janice
When I bought my piano, I used Mark Skowronek to help me figure out how much I should offer. He is VERY experienced in piano repairs, so he knows how to value older pianos, based on both their make, model, and year, as well as any repairs they may need. Mark can be contacted by email at: mark AT absolutepiano.com or by phone at (415) 864-4688. Hilary