Discovering the value of old furniture.
If you have a piece of old furniture, at some point you have probably wondered how much it is worth. Knowing that it is old is the first step, and since you know that fact, you have already removed one step in the process. A little research will give you a fairly accurate price for resale or insurance purposes, but you should remember that it is not an exact science. Prices, to a certain extent, are subject to market demand, usefulness or even how many exist.
Instructions
1. Check out or purchase a book on antique furniture that includes the type of furniture you are trying to find out about, such as sofas or tables. You might have to narrow your search by looking at books broken down by years.
2. Find the section, in the book, on the type of furniture that you want to know about and find your exact piece. Read about the piece and what is considered excellent condition.
3. Evaluate your piece for flaws, such as scratches or chips, and reduce the value from the "excellent condition" value, based on how much damage you find. This is subjective, an no one really knows how much a piece will bring in a sale without putting it up for sale. This, however, will give you a good idea of the range.
4. Go to an antique dealer or auction house for a more accurate estimate. They will be able to base the price on sales of similar pieces in their store or other sales on the open market. Make sure they know that you are not selling the piece, so they will give you a more accurate price. If they think you might sell, it is possible for them to reduce the price so that they can resell it for a better profit.
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