Trash or Treasure: Insider Info on Antique Appraisals

When it comes to antiques it can be difficult to determine what collect dust versus what collects cash. Luckily a trip to Antiques Roadshow is not always necessary.

Tom Sater, owner of Sater Conservation Inc. in Jefferson City, MO, fell into collecting by following his grandmother and mother's footsteps, and has been on the Cole County Historical Society board for 6 years. He works as a consultant for the restoration and conservation of public buildings, and as an appraiser for art and antiques.

"Occasionally I'll have someone bring in a common, everyday print from Wal-Mart that isn't worth anything," says Sater. "On the other hand we have people come in unsure of what they have, and the item turns out to be a real treasure."

Recently a customer came in to Saters store with a Civil War tintype picture after just turning down a $15 offer. Sater sold the picture on eBay for $1,065.

According to Sater the most profitable items are artwork, cut crystals, fine china, jewelry, and anything to do with the Civil War (pictures of soldiers in particular). Baseball cards, wind-up tin toys, and first editions of books are also typically moneymakers.

"We had a young man from Fulton come in with an original copy of Gone with the Wind that was his grandfather's. He thought it was worth maybe $300-400, and we sold it for $3,800," says Sater. "That young lad was just tickled to death to get a check for $2,600."

Sater Conservation does free verbal appraisals, and charges $30 for written. There are three values in a written appraisal: the Fair Market Value, which figures in 25% for the sales floor, or 35% for the Internet; the Insurance Value, which adds between 10-20%; and the Dealer Value, which is 25-50% of the Fair Market Value.

Sater says that knowing how to photograph the item, how to describe it, and where to go to sell it are the key aspects to selling. Often time items are sold online, but some may go to galleries or auctions.