Tips for Getting the Best Prices for Your Antiques and Collectibles

There's still snow in the yard, but my crocus and tulips are beginning to poke up through the ground, letting me know that spring is finally on its way! As folks begin their spring cleaning, lots of great vintage toys, books, kitchen accessories, knick knacks, pottery, home decor, furniture, and more will find their way into spring clean-up piles or be offered at rummage sales and thrift shops. This is the best time of year for those of us who like to make a little money selling antique and vintage collectible items. A lot of this stuff can be picked up for a song (or free, if you don't object to rummaging through trash piles and dumpsters) and sold at a profit.

Sometimes you can pick up vintage collectibles or antiques for a cheap price at estate auctions, but I've found that there are often collectors present who will bid the item up to a point where, if you top their price, you've blown your potential profit. However, attending estate auctions is an excellent way to learn what is in demand and what people are willing to pay for it to add to their own collection. There have been a few times I've found treasures in the bottom of a box lot (a box of miscellania that may or not be related items) and made a tidy profit.

There are a lot of guide books out there that give values on vintage and collectible items, but personally I've found the best way to set a price is to do some research on eBay or other online auction sites, and see what is selling and for how much. The price guide may tell you that your vintage purple and pink whoopdeedoo is worth $500, which is great, but the trick is finding someone who wants to pay that much for it. Online auction sites give you a more realistic idea of what you may be able to sell that whoopdeedoo for, and how many people are interested in buying such a thing.

You may have amassed your own collection of antique or vintage items, or inherited a collection, that you are ready to part with. If you have a large collection, consider hiring an appraiser to do a walk-through and tell you if what you have is worth anything. This is not the same as having the items appraised for value, but at least you will know if it will be worth the effort to sell your collectibles.

The appraiser can give you advice about which of your collectibles or antiques are suitable for an auction house, and what should go into a rummage sale or other sales venue. If the appraiser indicates that you have some high-value antiques or collectibles, have them properly appraised for value and keep the report in a safe place with other important documents.

A few notes about appraisers: First, be sure the appraiser is accredited by a national appraisal association. Next, NEVER sell an item to an appraiser who has offered to buy it from you if he has personally appraised the item himself, or charges you a fee based on the item's value. You're setting yourself up to get taken.

Auction Options (say that three times fast!)

High-end auction houses, either regional or national, are the best venue for selling an antique or collectible that has a high value. These auctions houses will get the best price for you, but will charge a fee that is a percentage of the selling price. You may also have to pay fees for cataloguing, insurance, or other services. Found out approximately what it will cost you to sell this item before you make the commitment.

Local auction houses draw smaller crowds and lower bids than regional or national houses, but can be a more convenient venue for collectibles and antiques of moderate value. Usually, only items of a similar nature are included in the auction. These auctions may be catalogued and/or posted online, drawing bidders from outside the local area. Again, find out what fees you can expect to pay.

Community auctions may be held weekly and include all different types of items, collectible, antique, secondhand, and otherwise. These auctions are a suitable venue for selling vintage collectibles and antiques of lesser value.

Online auctions reach millions of potential bidders, and you might be surprised how much you can get for a collectible item! As I suggested before, research how much of a demand there is for your particular collectible item and how much this type of collectible has sold for in the past. There's no guarantee you'll get comparable bids but it's a good indicator. If there are many of the same item currently up for bid, it might be worth waiting to list your auction when there isn't a glut of them available. If you don't want to take a chance on getting less than you want, you can set a reserve or buy-it-now price. For some folks, part of the fun of participating in an auction involves the challenge of winning and they will sometimes pay an extravagant amount for the privilege. By setting a predetermined price, you might actually lose money! It's partly luck, and partly a judgement call that comes from experience.

Other selling options:

Rummage sales and flea markets are the best way to sell vintage items with low values. Price your collectibles as your research indicates, but be willing to haggle on the price later in the day on items that haven't sold.

Antique shops. Most will either buy the item from you and re-sell it, or sell on consignment. If you sell directly to the shop, don't expect them to pay you what it's worth. If they sell on consignment, get an agreement in writing that protects your ownership of the collectible or antique.

Antique malls. If you have a sizeable collection, consider renting a space in an antique mall. Most antique malls will handle the selling for you, and charge either a commission or monthly rental fee, or both. All you need to do is mark prices on your items and set up your individual display in the space they provide you. You may have to furnish your own display cases, tables, or shelves.

Consignment shops will sell items for you, but usually charge a high percentage of the selling price, and they may reduce the price if your item doesn't sell in a reasonable amount of time. Get an agreement in writing that protects your ownership and states how soon after the sale you will be paid.

It doesn't matter what type of vintage collectible you have, there are people out there who collect it. Do an online search for "(type of item) collectors" and you will surely find resources for information about your collectibles, for selling your collectibles, and people who are willing to buy them. Just take care to do some research to estimate the value of your vintage collectible so you don't sell it for a pittance, only to see it featured on the Antiques Roadshow and find out it was worth a fortune!