It's Only Furniture

We get a lot of calls that go something like this:

"Ive got some furniture here. It looks old, might be antique. Can you come over and see if you want any of it."

I respond, I can't take the time to come out unless I know it's worth while. I need more information.

He says, "Well, I'm not an expert. That's why I called you. I don't know what I've got. But it's only furniture."

Hm. I don't know about that. He wouldn't try to sell his car without knowing what it's worth.

Take a look at this little table. Yes, the one with the dust on it. What would you ask for it. How much would you accept? Would you be happy with fifty bucks on the spot?

I'll give you a hint. It's an early 18th Century tap table of maple and pine.

What's it worth?

It sold at auction for $8,500. Before that it sat in the shop in Lakewood for a couple months. I didn't have a price tag on it, not wanting customers to get sticker shock and run out the door. But no one asked about it. People walked right by the ugly duckling. So here's the moral:

Before you sell anything you should know three things:

1. What it is

2. What it's worth (at least a ball park figure)

3. Where best to sell it

I'll cover all three in following posts.