Larry Shapiro from Appraisalsandantiques.com talks about the art market.

The art market is as volatile as any other market in the antique business today. Buyers must be more astute in their selection for investment. Just because an artist is listed and his or her average sale may be a certain dollar amount does not necessarily insure that the painting you are considering has a dollar amount as high as the average past sale. Now more than ever, the buyer must look closely at the subject matter, the use of color, the size, and most importantly , the execution of the work. Is is better than any of the others that have sold in the past? Is it an average work by this artist? If in fact you feel that it is a great example, you should probably buy now. If it is only average, it is a good time to sit back and wait. When the market turns around you can loosen up a bit as more and more pieces will sell more easily. In present conditions pay close scrutiny to each purchase.

Larry Shapiro from Appraisalsandantiques.com talks about buying in a difficult market

The antiques market today is difficult because of the economic uncertainty. So how do you as a dealer respond to this issue? Keep a positive attitude when buying and selling. If you reflect a negative attitude to clients who are either buyers or sellers, you are hurting yourself. Everyone is aware of present conditions. A positive and pleasant attitude will help your chances of either making the buy you want or completing that all important sale. You may not be able to pay the asking price, but negotiating with a smile goes a long way.

Larry Shapiro is an accredited appraiser with The International Society of Appraisers and the owner of Appraisals and Always Buying Antiques located in Glastonbury CT.

What is going on in the antiques market today

It is amazing to me how many people ask "What is going on in the antiques market today?" The answer is quite simple. The economy has taken a big bite out of the market. People are not selling their homes as frequently as in the past, the job market is depressed, and the average person does not have extra income to spend on or invest in antiques and collectibles. The bright spots are still in the higher end markets, but even those markets are not dependable. Lately (June 2010) we have seen a little more consumer confidence.

There have been corrections in many fields that were needed. Let's face it. Many younger people do not have interest in lots of items that the baby boomers collected. The older dealers have to be aware of new trends. Taking a short profit has become increasingly more popular amongst the savy dealers.

Larry Shapiro is the owner of Always Buying Antiques and www.appraisalsandantiques.com.

What is an accurate appraisal.

Larry Shapiro of appraisalsandantiques.com was quoted on a local radio station when asked what an accurate appraisal is. He said "An accurate appraisal is an appraisal that gives a timely value to any item for a specific reason". Shapiro went on to say. "If you are looking for the replacement value of an article, then the value would be the price you would have to pay to buy that item today at the most available level. On the other hand, the fair market value of that same item, would be less because the value would be what you could sell that item for immediately. So, if you had a sofa in your home, the replacement value would be what you would have to pay for that item at a retail furniture store and the fair market value would be the price you could get if you sold your sofa on the used market today." Larry Shapiro is a personal property appraiser with The International Society of Appraisers. He can be reached at 860 646 6808.

appraisalsandantiques.com larry shapiro/ Family division

Dividing your personal property in your estate can easily be handled with a qualified appraiser. Let's say you have antiques, art, collectibles, and other items of value and you are concerned that your children will quarrel over them upon your death. Hire a qualified appraiser to assign values to each item. When you estate is settled, each child picks out what he or she would like to own. You could use the draw straws method to see who has first pick. Once the first family member has picked an item, then the process continues with each member having turns in the same order. Once everyone has chosen, the dollar value for each individual is added up. The person who has the least in dollar value is compensated with cash to equal the amounts taken by the others. When the process is over, each child has an equal amount either in objects or cash or a combination of the two. Whatever is left over is either sold to a dealer, at public auction, or donated. This system makes the process fair and equitable for everyone.

appraisers/ what to look for

When you are looking for an appraiser no matter what you need appraised, you should look for someone with credentials. Do they belong to the I.S.A. or the A.S.A.? Both of these organizations are very well recognized and all members are tested both for knowledge and background. Is your appraiser well versed concerning todays laws and tax issues? Do they know the difference between fair market value and replacement value? And most importantly, do they know how to apply values concerning your appraisal? Talk to your prospective appraiser before hiring . Give as much information as you can and ask questions. Remember, your appraisal is important to you and you want it to be accurate. Larry Shapiro I.S.A.

gold and silver buying scam

Have you noticed lately that your local newspaper is full of large ads offering to pay you "top dollar" for your old and broken gold and silver items. Many times these companies are from out of town and they set up in a hotel room somewhere locally. The reason they do this? Easy answer! They are basically hit and runners. They offer you low prices with the hopes that you will take their offer. In reality you are better off to go to two local jewelers and compare prices. There is a good chance that you will do much better. Also, if any of your items are antiques, there is a good possibility that they have higher value than the scrap value that you are being offered. Take your time, deal with reputable people, get comparisons, and if you have something good, get an appraisal. Larry Shapiro from Appraisalsandantiques.com