Why get an antique furniture appraisal? Other than simply being curious about the value of that old rocker in the attic, an antique appraisal provides a written estimate of the value of an item.
Aardvark Antiques and Estate Liquidators receives many requests for Norcross appraisals. Whether it’s an in-store appraisal or an appraisal in Norcross conducted in your home, the accuracy of Aardvark Antiques and Estate Liquidators appraisals just can’t be beat.
Now that antiquing has become so wildly popular, finding great values can be less and less easy to come by. There are however, a few good rules of thumb to live by when looking for a great deal on an antique.
The first rule being quite obvious, shop frequently. Early Friday and Saturday mornings are a great time to attend Norcross estate sales and garage sales. Also many valuables have been picked up for a fraction of the cost in thrift stores across America. It may feel like you’re scouring for weeks, but when you do stumble across a hidden treasure or that rare item you’ve needed for your collection, it makes it all worth it.
When attending flea markets, estate sales, and antique markets, browse through early. If something catches your eye but you’re not sure on the price, come back towards the end of the sale. Prices will bottom out as closing time approaches, making for an even sweeter deal.
Knowing about the item you’re looking for will make for easy shopping. Carrying around an antique reference book isn’t always ideal, but having one in your car is handy. Ask for your item to be held while you slip to your car to do a quick check. There you can refresh your memory of what characteristics to look for or to look up a rough estimate.
You can also phone a friend to help out. If you’ve found something and you’re not sure what you have, a quick call to a friend who has access to a computer can be a great help. Have them look up the item on Ebay or reference other antique resources available on the web.
Another good rule to follow is to keep any items that catch your eye in your hand. Carry it around with you until you decide if you’d like to purchase it or not. And keep an eye out for how other shoppers react to the items you’re carrying. If you feel you have someone watching you, waiting for you to place down that item so they can snatch it up, you may have something great in your hands. These items are often referred to as “sleepers”. Now you must make a decision. Do you take a chance and buy it or call a friend for help? Asking them to hold this item while you check your references is not a good idea in this situation. It’s in your best interest to keep the sleeper in your hands until you’ve decided to purchase it or not.
Even with all the advice we can give, you never really know what you have until you’ve had your items properly appraised by an expert. All of our Norcross antique furniture appraisals are conducted by Charles Pharr Jr. (Mr. Aardvark) of Gainesville, Ga. with the help of a meticulous group of antique appraisers. Because the antique field is a vast one, we don’t rely on the knowledge of just one person. We have a team of appraisers who are considered experts in their particular field of antique knowledge. Collectively, these experts make up a superior team of appraisers. And because we’re certain of this, we stand behind all of our appraisals in Norcross. When we give you an appraisal or information on a piece, you can be sure we’ve thoroughly researched your item. We will never mislead you. In the rare instance we don’t know, we’ll tell you. We have established an outstanding reputation for uncompromising honesty, integrity, professionalism, and service.
Aardvark Antiques and Estate Liquidations offers professional appraisals of antiques and/or personal property by an accredited appraiser for insurance, estate liquidation, or antique value purposes. Why not hire us to provide complete, accurate, and reliable information at a reasonable hourly market rate?
Our services not only include appraisals in Norcross, but also appraisals for Atlanta and surrounding areas including Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Decatur, Duluth, and Sandy Springs. Please contact us for more information.
Deductions Over $500 But Not Over $5,000
If you claim a deduction over $500 but not over $5,000 for a noncash charitable contribution, you must have the acknowledgment and written records described under Deductions of At Least $250 But Not More Than $500. Your records must also include:
How you got the property, for example, by purchase, gift, bequest, inheritance, or exchange, The approximate date you got the property or, if created, produced, or manufactured by or for you, the approximate date the property was substantially completed, and The cost or other basis, and any adjustments to the basis, of property held less than 12 months and, if available, the cost or other basis of property held 12 months or more. This requirement, however, does not apply to publicly traded securities.
If you are not able to provide information on either the date you got the property or the cost basis of the property and you have a reasonable cause for not being able to provide this information, attach a statement of explanation to your return.
Deductions Over $5,000
If you claim a deduction of over $5,000 for a charitable contribution of one property item or a group of similar property items, you must have the acknowledgment and the written records described under Deductions Over $500 But Not Over $5,000. In figuring whether your deduction is over $5,000, combine your claimed deductions for all similar items donated to any charitable organization during the year.
Generally, you must also obtain a qualified written appraisal of the donated property from a qualified appraiser. See Deductions of More Than $5,000 in Publication 561 for more information.
Charles Pharr Jr. AAI/ISA
Aardvark Antiques.com
Isa-Appraisers.org