Different people go to different places to get estimates of what their particular treasures are worth. Does each antique or collectible have a set value? Will you be given the same price regardless of where you take it? The answer to both questions is no.

If someone is providing you with his or her professional opinion as to what an item is worth, you have to ask yourself who is this person? What is this person’s association with the antiques business?

If you take an antique to an antique mall for evaluation you will have a completely different result than if you took that same item to an auction house or an antique show. Each person at each of these three locations has a completely different outlook as to value. Most people will speak to what they know. An auctioneer will provide you with a price that he or she thinks the item will bring at auction. The same can be said for the mall and show dealers. Each has a different perspective.

The hopes of getting a realistic quote as to the value of your item gets further complicated when you incorporate all the other important factors.

Other factors include:

1. The condition of the item.
2. Where in the country is your item going to be sold?
3. Is your item presently on the “What’s Hot” list?

The most important of these factors is condition. Condition has the biggest affect on the value of any antique or collectible because there are so many variables involved – chips, cracks, scratches, missing pieces, fading, etc. Also, there are different degrees of damage assigned to each of these that also effect price, such as a small chip that can’t be seen as opposed to a large chip that is located in a really conspicuous place.

Where an item is going to be sold is extremely pertinent. There may be a call for Early American furniture in New England but you will not find
anyone in Florida who is the least bit interested. It is all about location, location, location.Last, but not least, is whether or not your item is popular at the present time. Different antiques and collectibles fall in and out of favor all the time. You only want to cash it in during the height of its popularity. In this respect it is similar to the stock market. Buy low and sell high.

You can attempt to determine the current worth of your item yourself by using reference books or price guides. Keep in mind that the prices in most of these books represent the highest amount realized for any given item at live auction, not how much it sold for on eBay or at an antique store. Sometimes auction prices are higher than retail but sometimes they are not. Just remember that these books are giving you information as it relates to auctions only.

If you do use reference books or price guides to evaluate one or more of your items, check the publication dates of the books that you are using. Most books get reprinted or updated with new values every few years. If you are using a book that was published five years ago then that book is giving you prices that are five years old. The item or items you are researching could be worth more or less today than what the books are telling you. This is very important to remember.

Notice that no mention has been made here concerning written appraisals. A written appraisal is something completely different from a verbal appraisal or an estimate or even an opinion from an antiques and collectibles expert. A written appraisal is an official document that is recognized by the courts. It is mainly used for insurance purposes and it provides a replacement cost of an item that is damaged, lost or stolen. Written appraisals are expensive and should only be obtained for legal reasons.

Observe the dimensions. Authentic antique furniture does not have uniform dimensions since wood, which most antique furniture are made of, shrinks with age. Otherwise, there is a strong possibility that what you are eyeing for is not genuine at all. To clearly see the various angles of furniture, take the time to view it in broad daylight. Test the solidity of the item. Antique furniture has no real value if it loses its functionality. What use is an authentic antique chair when you cannot actually sit on it? Antique shops allow buyers to sit or move items for verification. Antique experts also suggest this method. Make sure that parts are available. Good quality antique furniture has complete functional or decorative parts as well.

Look for proof of antiquity. Since the age of an antique is one of the major determinants of authenticity, you should have the assurance that the item for sale passed the age definition of an antique which is at least a hundred years old. One way to verify this is to look for signs of depreciation in the item such as dust accumulation in its corners which are hard to reach by regular dusting. If these simple signs are not available, experts say, the item might not be as old as an antique should be. You must also consider whether a piece of furniture has been restored or refinished. Restoration on antique pieces may decrease the value of the item especially if done poorly.

Examine the surface colour. The surface finish of a piece of antique furniture is also a significant detail to observe. A quality piece of antique furniture should show flat colouring except for some shades which might have naturally occur due to age. The back side of a piece may differ in appearance with the surface but it should have unvaried shades as well. Interview the antique shop owner. You will get more details through a one on one interview with the shop owner. Ask about the era and style of the furniture which you may later research on to be more familiar with the item.

Consider antique restoration. While some would no longer consider unstable antique furniture, you may choose to have the item restored to its former glory through the help of a professional antique restorer. Antique restoration is the art of restoring an antique to its natural appearance with the purpose of making it appear new. In some cases, antique restoration refers to the process of restoring an antique for preservation or conservation of its features to avoid more wear and tear.

Also a reason why to decorate with antiques is that it can compliment other furniture in your house. If the furniture in the room makes it look dull, it is a great idea to compliment the furniture with an antique. This will make the room and the furniture more attractive than it was before. Some furniture really needs some item to compliment them in order for them to be noticeable. This also goes the other way around with other antique items and furniture. If the antique furniture is too noticeable for the room, you may want to add an antique painting, vase, rugs, or figurine near or on top of the antique furniture. By doing this the antique furniture which earlier was too noticeable for the room will blend in perfectly. This is due to that the attention that might be given to the furniture will be redirected to the antique ornaments.

Other reasons of why to decorate with antiques is due to that if you display such an item you will be showcasing the art and culture of the people who made it. This is a great idea especially if you have kids. Because when you display antique items to showcase the arts and culture of the makers of the antique item, you are teaching your children about the history and culture of certain peoples. If you really just want to see and appreciate fine and rare arts, it is a great idea to have your antique collection on display in your room. Also, decorating your room with antique will not only satisfy you but it will also satisfy the taste of other people that visits your room.

There are different reasons why to decorate with antiques. But, the entire effect on decorating your room with antiques is the same. You want to make that certain room more beautiful. However, you must consider several things when decorating the room with antiques. One of the things you must consider is that the room should compliment with the antique. You don’t want to place an antique together with a digital appliances or gadgets. Also, you don’t want to decorate the room with so many antiques because the room will not look great if it’s swarming with antiques. It is best to have the appropriate number of antiques to display.

The market fluctuates, making one item more popular than another at various times. If you’re thinking about trying your hand at this, it’s important to study the market and learn how to make it profitable for you.

The best way to establish yourself is to find the most unique item that you can. It or they should be fairly easy for you to acquire. The next step is to learn everything you can about it.

Some up-and-coming antique items that are becoming more and more popular among collectors can be found at opposite sides of the country. Some of these antiques can be found in

New England and date from the time of 1790 to 1860, finding heavy influence from Anglo sources. If you are able to obtain any of these antique items from New England you are sure to have a winner when it comes to an antique sale. You may find some of these pieces from New England so beautiful that you may want to keep a piece or two for your own private collection of antiques.

Other antique items that are gaining popularity come from the state of Texas. Many Texas antiques have a German influence that can be seen in the craftsmanship. The time period for
these antiques is from 1870 to 1900 and includes such items as rawhide chairs, tables, and wardrobes.  If you are unsure if one of these Texas items is actually an antique or not is by checking the dovetailing that you can find on the corners of the drawers. If the dovetailing is uniform and looks too perfect then more than likely the item isn’t an antique. Dovetailing in antiques looks rough, irregular, and handmade.

If you are new to buying and selling antiques then you must find unusual items such as the ones mentioned here. Establishing a reputation for finding one-of-a-kind pieces is essential. You also want your buyers to know that if they try to find items like you have, they will have to look long and hard.