I Am Downsizing My Antiques and Household Goods – What Are the 5 First Most Important Steps that I Should Take Before Selling?
- Posted on 8th May 2017
- in antique appraisal, antique dealer, antique dealers and buyers, antiques
- by Alan
Has the time come where you are ready to downsize? Perhaps you are moving to a smaller home, hope to travel in the future, or just need some cash right away. Regardless of the reason, selling your household goods and antiques will likely be a big item on your downsizing checklist. However, there are some important steps to consider as you prepare for your sale.
Decide What to Keep
If you are downsizing, you will want to sell some things, but not everything. It is important that you carefully consider what you want, need, and are ready to part with. Don’t keep items out of obligation or guilt, and only hold onto items that you love. You might also want to follow the “one year rule” – if you haven’t used an item in a year, it is time for it to go.
Consider Your Sale Options
If you have antiques and household items that you are ready to part with, there are several options available to get rid of them. You could auction off your antiques online or in an auction house, could list items in the classified ads, or you could host an estate sale. Each option has its benefits and pitfalls, so consider them wisely.
Don’t Throw Anything Out Initially
If you are ready to downsize, you might be tempted to go through your home and started throwing things out. What is trash to you might be valuable to someone else. Even for items that may be in need of repair, a buyer might still be out there, so hold onto those items until after your sale.
Do Your Homework Online
If you are wondering how to price your household items or antiques, the Internet is a great resource. Whether you have a ten year old refrigerator or an antique silverware set, you can do research online to find out the value of your items. You might even happen upon older sales to see what similar items have sold for in the past. This way, you’ll know what an appropriate asking price is when it is time to sell your items.
Have a Professional Evaluate Your Antiques
While an estate sale is a good way to downsize and sell some of your household goods quickly, it might not be the best option for antiques. Unless you know the value of your pieces to price them appropriately, you could miss out on a top value sale. For this reason, you should have your antiques and other valuable items evaluated by a professional.
At Sarasota Antique Buyers, this is our specialty. We can look at your collection to determine how much your antiques would likely sell for at an auction. From there, the decision is yours. You can choose to sell at an auction or estate sale, or we will buy your antiques by placing a bid just below the value. Call us today for more information.