"Help! The Kids Don't Want It." or, Learning About Antiques Before You Sell Them

Are you moving, down-sizing? Or perhaps moving Aunt Winifred into assisted living? Maybe you've been named Executor of an estate. Anyway, you’ve got stuff to sell.

What are you going to do about it? Take the easy road and call your old neighbor’s friend, Miss Irma La Fleecer, the dealer who is so sweet and so eager to get her hands on your stuff? Maybe you should learn a few things about antiques before you get started, so you know what you’re doing.

"But why learn from you, Ms Uppity?" you ask. "Are you on the Antiques Road Show?"

Well, they wanted me, but I couldn’t leave Cleveland on account of my business.

OK. That’s a lie. No I'm no TV star. I'm a local antiques dealer. (Please don't say 'antique dealer,' although I'm getting there.)

When it comes to antiques, I know a thing or two. I’ve been buying and selling antiques and collectibles for a lot of years. That’s why I get a little cranky sometimes. I get tired of hearing: “Oh look Gladys! There’s a table just like Grandma's. If only we’d kept it.” (I’ve heard enough of that.)

Why am I writing this blog? I see people selling stuff at auctions, flea markets, estate sales, and garage sales and a lot of them get taken. They don't know what they’re doing. They leave money on the table.

So I'm here to help you. Decide what you want—sweet talk, or the truth? This blog will show you how to sell you stuff right, find out what you have and what it's worth. First up, read about those thrilling days of yesteryear when furniture was made from--wait for it--real wood.