For lack of space in the house or simply because of a change in taste, many decorative objects, furniture and other accessories end up in our attics. Old toys, vinyl records, ceramics, hunting equipment, jewellery… who knows what unsuspected treasure may be hiding in the attic? If it is difficult or even unthinkable to part with some of them which have a great sentimental value, others, on the other hand, can be the subject of a sale during garage sales or auctions.
In the context of an inheritance or in order to know the value of one’s assets for the purpose of a potential resale, one may be required to have certain goods estimated. As in the case of the resale of a car, the valuation of an old object consists in determining its financial value at a given moment. Indeed, what is called “the cost” of an antique object will evolve according to the evolutions of the market itself and therefore of the general prices at the antique dealers, of the results of the auctions, of the variations in demand, etc
The valuation of such a good is done after a professional expertise. The latter consists of the presentation of the object in question by a detailed description concerning its nature, its origins, its time, its state of conservation, etc. in order to be able to determine its rarity and therefore its value. Depending on the type of property subject to expertise, a certificate of authenticity may be provided in order to facilitate the valuation of the object and therefore its sale.
When you want to sell old objects, you must first ask yourself if you really want to part with the said object, especially if it has a particular sentimental value or if it has belonged to your family for generations and generations. Once you have made a final decision, go for a particular selling medium. Will you go through an antique dealer directly or prefer a specialized resale site on the Internet? Are you going to trust a pawn shop or rather have a stand at a flea market? Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
Using the Internet for the sale of rare and antique items is favored by many collectors and is very popular. However, we recommend that you do not go through the usual sites and prefer specialized sites, which are more secure and reliable because it is a clientele of connoisseurs and the payment methods are ultra-secure. For example: if you want to resell a vintage Breitling, the Chono24 site remains the essential sales site for lovers of prestige watches.
If you prefer direct human contact and you have a lot of old objects that you want to get rid of, having a warm little stand at a flea market can be really nice, especially if you are part of a network or a collective. However, expect not to sell all of your stock at once and have to negotiate your starting prices.
Auction is also a profitable option, especially if you are selling a very rare and coveted item. Other options are to go directly to an antique dealer, because as a connoisseur, he will give you an honest price according to the value of the object. As a last resort and if you wish to recover the valuable item but have financial need, you can go to a pawnbroker. In this specific case, you are pawning your antiques, a method which also includes a financial risk that should not be overlooked since you must repay this loan in full to recover your object. Otherwise, the pawnbroker will become the owner of this object.