Larry Shapiro selling on Craig's List versus Ebay

When asked which way is better to sell personal property, Craig's List or Ebay, Larry Shapiro the owner of Appraisals and Antiques.com answered the often asked question with another question. "What are you selling?" If you have large usable items like furniture or a wood burning stove, Larry says: "Try Craig's List" "It makes sense to sell it locally unless it is really something rare or special". "Use Ebay for those small collectible items that are in good condition. Small antiques and collectibles and even modern electronics etc will do well on Ebay. It is a lot of work between listing, shipping, and emails, but if it only involves a few things it may be worth it. Using Paypal to get your money from the sale before you ship is a great way to avoid scams. Beware of scams on Craig's List. Have all your money in hand before you let the item go. If a buyer mails you more money than you asked for, it may be a scam. " If you don't know the value of your items and you think they may be valuable, hire an appraiser to help you out. What you spend on an appraiser may increase your bottom line a great deal."

Appraisal for divorce written by Larry Shapiro from Appraisalsandantiques.com

Larry Shapiro from Appraisals and Antiques.com who is both an appraiser and buyer of antiques advises his divorce clients to approach their personal property and antique appraisal in an objective manner. Have all joint property appraised at fair market value. Do not tell the appraiser who may get what, what you may sell, or that a specific item has been passed down etc. You want the appraiser to compare apples to apples using todays market prices. If there is going to be a fair family division, then let the appraiser work without being influenced by circumstances that really are not his or her concern. When the appraisal is completed the parties involved will have a useful tool to work from. The division will be equitable and each side should be satisfied.

A great time to buy antiques collectibles

"The economy is bad." "The younger people don't like antiques." "The internet has hurt the antiques market." These are three of the most common complaints that antique dealers in the U.S. can be heard repeating over and over again at shows, auctions, and in the marketplace. Well, guess what? There is a great deal of truth in all of these statements. But, is this the first time that there has been a depressed market? No! There have been many times in the past that the market has been down. It has not alway been exactly like this trend, but nevertheless, markets have recovered in the past. It appears that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Jobs will increase. Houses will sell. There will always be collectors. Survey the situation and buy accordingly. You may not want to invest in a collectible that is being offered on the internet along with 5,000 other examples that have been mass produced. But, you may want to consider a scarce antique in any collectible field that is in excellent condition. Dealers are anxious to sell right now. They need to sell in order to pay their expenses. The buyer is now in the drivers seat.

How to buy at an antique auction

If you want to buy antiques at auction it is wise to do your homework before the sale. Make certain that you arrive with plenty of time to inspect the items. Look closely for damage, repairs, evidence of age, and reproductions. If it is a chair you are looking at, make sure that you sit in it before you buy it. Make certain that the table you are considering is high enough to sit under with the right size chair. Check paintings with a black light to look for repairs or an added signature. Most auctioneers sell items "as is where is" so don't expect a refund on the "mistake" you made unless the auctioneer represents the item incorrectly. If the marble top table you are looking at is represented as an antique and you find out it is a reproduction, you have recourse, but if it is represented as simply a marble top table and it turns out that it was made yesterday, then you own it. Don't be afraid to ask the auctioneer beforehand if the blue paint on the blanket chest is from the period or added later. The value of that blanket chest can vary greatly when the age of the finish is taken into consideration. Get to know dealers and appraisers that you can trust for advice on objects. Many will be happy to help you unless they are interested in the same item. Set a limit to what you are willing to pay for an item ahead of the sale. Don't get carried away with your bidding. When you make a mistake learn from it. Every dealer and appraiser will make a mistake on occasion. The key is to keep them at a minimum by "doing your homework".

Restoration of antiques/ Larry Shapiro/ Appraisals and Antiques

We are always asked the question: "Is it o.k. to restore an antique?" The answer to that question is very complicated but quite simple at the same time. Each antique, each personal situation, and each restoration project is different. If you have a piece of antique furniture with the original finish and it is missing one leg, is it o.k. to add a new leg? Of course you would add the leg. You should have it completed professionally. But, you would not refinish the whole piece of furniture. You should have the leg constructed and finished to match the original. If you have an antique blanket chest in the original blue paint but you want to paint it red, it would not be wise to repaint the chest. If the present finish is not old, it really doesn't matter.

Every situation is different. The degree of restoration, the value, and the likes and dislikes of the owner are all a concern when considering restoration. Lets say you own a rare hanging chandelier but the original hanging device is broken and you are not able to use it in your home. A professional restoration would allow you to enjoy the use of the fixture. The value of the fixture if restored properly would not be as high as if it were all original.

Don't make rash decisions when considering restoration. Consult a professional appraiser or dealer. Weigh the options and then make an intelligent choice. Over the years we have seen too many costly mistakes that people have made concerning restoration.

Buying antiques with a guarantee

Larry Shapiro owner of Appraisals and Antiques.com advises to "get it in writing". When buying antiques at a show or one on one from a dealer ask for a written guarantee concerning your purchase. In todays market there are many fakes, repaints, copies, etc. Know what you are buying and make sure you get a signed receipt from the seller with everything he or she has represented about the item you have purchased. Sometimes dealers are fooled when they are the buyer and pass along their mistakes to the unsuspecting customer. If the seller does not agree to the guarantee, you should just simply cancel the sale.

antique furniture at auction today

Larry Shapiro antiques buyer and appraiser from always buying antiques and on the web at appraisalsandantiques.com recently said: "Antique furniture in general at auction is a steal." "The current economic climate, grouped with the lag in housing sales, and the addition of the younger people habitually buying inexpensive modernistic junk has led to a downturn in the prices of antique furniture at auction today". "Everything from a victorian oak chest of drawers to an antique American highboy has been affected"." The dealers have lost confidence and money in this economic situation we are in and the market is suffering." "In my opinion, we will see an upturn as soon as houses begin to sell and when the younger set realizes that what they own for furniture is not good quality." "Right now you can buy excellent quality antique furniture at auction for half the price of what it was selling for five years ago."