If you own antiques, it's good to know how much they’re worth if you’re considering selling, or even if you’re just curious if you have something of value. Thankfully, you don’t need to catch a live Antiques Roadshow to get it appraised—you can do it right online. Here is how to appraise your items online and sell them on various sites.
Barnebys
For an appraisal done by experts with a lot of experience, Barnebys is fantastic. This website will determine the value of your antiques at absolutely no cost. You have to create an account to appraise your items, but it’s a good way to get accurate results without hassle. All you have to do is set up an account and send information and photos of your items, then the information is sent to auction houses all over the United States. From there, one or more auction houses contact you with appraisals by email.
If you’d rather do it yourself, Barnebys has determined prices of millions of items that can be worth thousands (or millions) of dollars. You can search for the type of item specifically, or you can use the category section to find an item of similar appearance. Granted, some prices may not accurately reflect the value on today’s market, but it still gives you a clue as to your antique's worth.
Value My Stuff
While it isn’t a free option, Value My Stuff is an excellent way to find an accurate value of your items based on advice from actual antique appraisers. The way this site works is by uploading any information you have as well as clear pictures of your heirloom. From there, the appraisal is assigned to an expert who specializes in your type of item. Finally, you receive the value of your piece through an email sent from the website. At that point, you’re free to do several things, from finding out how much it is, insuring your antique, selling it, or exhibiting it.
The pricing is simple. For one item, you can pay $15. For three, the price is $35, and finally, you can appraise 10 items for $100. Value My Stuff guarantees you’ll receive a quick appraisal without any issue. It’s safe, secure, and fun!
Shopgoodwil.com
If you’re looking to sell your antiques, shopgoodwill.com allows you to put them up for auction in a specialized “antiques” section on its website. It’s up to you how much you want to sell them for, and people all over the United States can bid on your items. No matter what you’re selling, the site will allow you to post it. This site is very active as well, and most bids receive quite a bit of attention. You’re sure to sell your antique here.
Everything but the House
Another great website where you can sell your heirlooms is Everything but the House (EBTH). According to the site, “EBTH combines the service component of a traditional estate sale or consignment shop with the excitement of an auction and the unmatched exposure and convenience of the World Wide Web.” To sell your personal property, EBTH comes to your location and takes high-quality photos of your items that will be displayed on its website. EBTH even takes care of pickup and delivery once the pieces are sold. No matter what you have, EBTH guarantees to take care of the entire process to ensure your items are handled with care. The consultation is completely free, so you can decide whether this website is right for you.
The downside is that you need to be near an EBTH location to sell your items because they come to your home to examine the pieces and take photos. Also, the items will be posted in the appropriate location category on the site, so if you live in Georgia, your item will be displayed in the Atlanta, Georgia category. Not every major city is on the site, but there are several popular, big cities such as Houston, Denver, Atlanta, Charlotte, Baltimore, Boston, and others. You also need to be in the area to purchase items if you want them delivered to your home.
Ritchie Brothers
Some items you just can’t sell on traditional auctioning websites such as Goodwill or Everything but the House. But maybe you can use Ritchie Brothers auctioneering. This site specializes in selling equipment and items involved in agriculture, construction, transportation, and more. If you have a large antique you cannot sell in any other place due to size or type, Ritchie Brothers is more than happy to create a listing for your item. It has more than 1,400 employees worldwide and 44 auction sites on five continents.
