One of the busiest redecorating periods is right before the holidays.  It’s a good time to clear out the clutter and make sroom for the holiday decorations and family festivities.  Plus, need a few extra dollars for the holidays?   Who doesn’t!  Incorporate the desire for extra cash and ridding the house of clutter by reviewing your collectibles and deciding what to keep and what to sell.   The main deterrent Markdown Mom has found in getting started is deciding the worth both in sentiment and actual $ value of the collectibles.  There are several ways to get the most money for your collectibles:

1.  Take advantage of "free appraisals" by local antique experts.  Many cities and towns periodically offer this service in at local historical sites.  Much like the Antiques Roadshow, these experts will evaluate your collectibles in terms of rarity, popularity, condition, and age to give you a ballpark estimate of the value of the item. 

2.   Local Antique Shops.  In a hurry, take the item to your local antique shop dealer.  However, be sure to go to several dealers in order to get a sense of the actual value of the item.  Resist the urge to sell the item at this time since antique dealers will generally offer a lower price in order to calculate a profit into its’ resale. 

3.  Visit Local Library or Book Store.  Some libraries carry antique and collectible guides that list items by genre or popular brands like depression ware, McCoy, toys, kitchenware, Roseville, etc.  Be sure to check the date of publication of these books since that will play a part in determining an item’s value. 

4.  Check Online Auctions. Sites like Ebay™, Amazon®, and Shopgoodwill are good reference points since they  will give you a better idea in real time of the value and popularity of your item or similar items. 

5.  Check Online Experts.  The Kovels are renowned experts in this field and publish several indices for price comparisons.  Also, online you can locate appraisers that will place a value on your item for a fee.  Check  sites like antiques appraisers. org and  antique appraisers online, plus others.

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