How to value inherited antiques
1. Don't throw out, clean or donate anything yet
Valuable things hide in plain sight: a tarnished spoon that is sterling, a worn watch, a box of old postcards, costume jewelry with one real piece in it. Cleaning can also hurt value, especially for silver, coins, bronze and furniture with original finish. Sort first, decide later.
2. Group and photograph everything
Put like with like: silver, jewelry, watches, ceramics and glass, art, books and paper, coins and stamps, toys, cameras and electronics, furniture. Photograph each item, plus any marks, labels or signatures. The photos make research, insurance and sharing with family much easier.
3. Look for marks
Marks are the fastest route to value. Check the undersides of ceramics, the backs of silver and jewelry, the inside of drawers and the backs of paintings. A maker's name, a hallmark, a pottery stamp or an artist's signature turns "an old vase" into something you can look up.
4. Know where the value usually is
In most estates, a small number of categories hold most of the money:
- Gold, fine jewelry and solid silver (always worth at least their metal)
- Watches, especially mechanical ones from known brands
- Signed art and good prints
- Coins and stamps
- Asian ceramics and works of art, which can be surprisingly valuable
- Vintage toys, cameras, guitars and other collectibles in good condition
Mass-produced furniture, most glassware and common china are often worth less than people expect.
5. Research real sold prices
Search for similar items on eBay and filter by Sold Items, and look at past results from auction houses. Asking prices tell you what sellers hope for; sold prices tell you what buyers pay.
6. Know when to call an appraiser
For anything that might be worth a lot, or if you need a value for insurance, probate or dividing an estate, use a qualified appraiser. Two different values exist: fair market value (what it would sell for) and insurance replacement value (usually higher). Many auction houses will look at items for free, hoping to sell them for you.
7. Choose how to sell
- Auction houses for the best pieces
- Estate sale companies for a full house
- Consignment shops and dealers for furniture and decor
- eBay and online marketplaces for collectibles you can photograph and ship
Inherited items can also have tax considerations, so it is worth asking an accountant before selling anything valuable.
Related guides
Lots of items to sort?
Photograph each piece as you go. Worthzy identifies it and gives a value range from comparable listings, so you can see quickly which items deserve a closer look.
Get Worthzy on the App StoreWorthzy gives estimates and an authenticity screening, not a certified appraisal. For anything valuable, have a qualified specialist examine it in person.