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Essential Guide

Go to MaxSold.com/Sell or call 1-888-672-3677 Ext. 2 to sell everything in under two weeks!

Downsizing and estate sale clients, trust officers, lawyers, real estate agents, move managers and retirement home managers have done their research and hired MaxSold.

As featured by...

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO

Selling Goods at Downsizing and Estate Sales


Essential Guide


Essential Guide

Table of CONTENTS

Contents .................................................................................................................

About the Authors ................................................................................................. 1

About MaxSold ..................................................................................................... 2

Introduction .......................................................................................................... 3

Framed Art ............................................................................................................ 5

Is it a Print or Painting? ................................................................................. 6

Is the Painting an Oil or an Acrylic? .............................................................. 6

A Note on Numbered Prints .......................................................................... 6

What About Giclée Prints? ............................................................................ 6

What is it painted on? .................................................................................... 7

About the Artist: Is there a date, signature or monogram? .............................. 8

Is there documentation to verify the provenance?........................................... 8

Contemporary Art ......................................................................................... 8

In Summary ................................................................................................ 12

Learn More .................................................................................................. 12

Silver ................................................................................................................... 15

A Few Tips on Silver Value .......................................................................... 16

Learn More ................................................................................................. 17

Collectibles.......................................................................................................... 19

Limited Market ........................................................................................... 20


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Figurines ..................................................................................................... 20

Militaria ...................................................................................................... 21

Coinage ....................................................................................................... 22

Stamps ........................................................................................................ 23

Books .......................................................................................................... 23

Vinyl Records .............................................................................................. 24

Toys ............................................................................................................ 25

Comics ........................................................................................................ 26

Furniture ............................................................................................................. 28

Keeping it Green ................................................................................................. 31

Rugs .................................................................................................................... 32

Jewelry ................................................................................................................ 34

China, Ceramics and Glass .................................................................................. 38

Tools ................................................................................................................... 40

Bronze ................................................................................................................. 42

Trendy ................................................................................................................. 43

Modern ............................................................................................................... 45

10 Most Common Product Mistakes ................................................................... 47

Practical Considerations ...................................................................................... 48

Values vary and can be trending up or down ............................................... 48

“How much do you think I can get for this?” .............................................. 49

Hiring MaxSold .................................................................................................. 50

Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 51


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About the AUTHORS

Barry Gordon, CAI, AARE, CES, CPPAG

Barry Gordon has over 35 years of experience as an appraiser and auctioneer. He is a past board member of many regional and national auction associations and has been inducted into the National Auctioneers Association’s Hall of Fame. He has been a guest speaker and seminar presenter in over 20 states and four provinces. Barry is also a Paul Harris Fellow, named for his community involvement and 15-year career in Municipal government. Barry Gordon, Manson Slik and Alicia Gordon are the co-founders of MaxSold.

Sushee Perumal is the CEO of MaxSold. Before joining MaxSold, Sushee executed the development and implementation of projects that involve innovation in use today, a process which spanned multiple time zones and impacted 8,000+ employees at Bell, AmEx and Dell. He holds a Masters in Business Administration and a degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering. Sushee is constantly delivering the latest in marketing, operations and technology to make the process for those downsizing and settling an estate safe, reliable and efficient through an engaged team of local MaxSold professionals internationally.

Sushee Perumal, B.Eng., MBA

We hope you will benefit from this practical guide. Feel free to reach us through our website (www.maxsold.com/sell), email ([email protected]) or by phone at 1-888-672-3677 Ext. 2. With over 350+ employees across North America, there’s a MaxSold team near you to make your job easier to sell everything in under two weeks!


Essential Guide

About MaxSoldMaxSold is a local, online auction expert solution company with roots in helping clients with downsizing and estate sales since 1978. Having served a broad range of clients, from homeowners to businesses, MaxSold is the first international hybrid online and on-site asset liquidation service for consumers and businesses, with a focus on the growing needs of those downsizing or settling an estate.

The Amazing Variety of Goods Found in MaxSold Auctions,Coast to Coast:

This is typical of the variety of items one encounters when helping seniors downsize or settle an estate with thousands of auctions completed and hundreds of

thousands of products sold.

Seattle, WA

Bay area, CA


Essential Guide

INTRODUCTIONThis book was written for educational purposes to help anyone who is considering liquidating household goods. Perhaps you are downsizing, moving, settling an estate, or helping someone who is. Whatever the reason, the value of the goods to be sold will be a concern, along with how best to sell them.

More and more people are buying and selling items online. Television programs, such as the Antiques Road Show, have raised expectations about valuable items that might be found around the home. The reality is, that the items that make it to onto TV are the rare “diamonds.”

Will your possessions be the exception? How can you be confident about the value of goods? What would be the best method to sell the different types of goods? When should you turn to an appraiser? When might doing so actually cost you more money than your profit? With the product awareness you will gain in the following pages and resources we refer you to, you can avoid common mistakes and maximize the success of your sale.

When you confront any products with a question of value, the first thing to remember is that you are not an appraiser. However, with our help and the information in this book, we hope to provide you with enough information to give you the confidence level of a competent consultant.

You most likely already know enough about typical items for a successful sale, and you will find that most goods are straightforward to deal with. Discover how the MaxSold auction process can help you identify and deal with rest.


Essential Guide

Gustavo Montoya signed painting Sold on MaxSold for $10,250


Essential Guide

FRAMED ART

Approach art with caution. You should always assume that a piece of art is not rare or valuable until it is proven to be, or at least until some significant evidence comes to light.

High-end clients often recall where they bought a piece of art and may consider themselves collectors. If that is the case, they probably know where they can resell the pieces. These clients will not expect you to know how much these items are worth, as they will likely already know themselves.

For sellers who don’t fall into this category, read the following tips to help you ascertain an artwork’s authenticity, rarity and market appeal.


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Is it a Print or Painting?

Oil paintings, water colors and acrylics typically have texture, but sometimes prints have texture as well. A simple way to find out which one is which is to use a loupe (a high-clarity magnifying glass often used by jewellers) or another magnifying glass. If you can see pixels, it’s a print; if you can see brush strokes, think painting.

Is the Painting an Oil or an Acrylic?

While there is no foolproof way to know, short of a laboratory test, there are some distinguishing characteristics you can use as a guideline. Both can have a smooth or textured surface, but thick paint on an acrylic piece tends to be rubbery to the touch. As acrylics are a relatively new art form, they won’t have the cracks that aged oil paintings can have. Also, colours of an acrylic piece tend to be sharper and brighter.

Oil paintings are usually deemed more valuable than acrylics and watercolors, and prints yield the lowest price.

A Note on Numbered Prints

Some artists will have limited edition prints made of their work to maintain the value. For example, if 100 prints were made and you see 3/100 (usually by the artist’s signature), this means that it is the third print out of a run of 100. Lowered numbered prints are more valuable than higher ones (such as 75/100).

What About Giclée Prints?

Giclée, a term derived from the French verb, glicer, means to squirt or spray. This sophisticated print-making process was developed


Essential Guide

in the late 1980s and involves spraying pigment on a canvas from a high-resolution printer. The results are stunning and, with a raised texture, they are often indistinguishable from an original oil or acrylic painting. Unscrupulous dealers have passed off giclées as originals and even fooled auction houses. However, if there is enough other evidence of significant value, you might remove the frame and inspect the side edges to confirm that it is not giclée.You will see the painter’s rough, uneven brushstrokes if it’s an original oil or acrylic.

What is it painted on?

You’ll want to run your hands over the piece to determine if it was painted on canvas, board or paper, because this is a detail which has an impact on value. Also, just because it is on canvas does not mean it’s an original. These days, reproductions can be put on anything, so remember your loupe!

“La Sirene” Original Poster Sold on MaxSold for $1,600


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About the Artist: Is there a date, signature or monogram?

Look for signatures, of course. Signatures are most often found in the lower right or left-hand corner, but there’s no conventional rule. Sometimes a black light can help you find it.

Are there any gallery stamps or stencilled marks on the back of the art? If you’re in luck, you’ll see a sticker from a gallery, identifying if it is real or a print. It will say something like “Joe’s Print Gallery, Queens New York,” so you then you’ll know where you can get confirmation on authenticity. Sometimes artists will sign a painting on the back as well as the front.

In general, older works will be more valuable, so a date will be a helpful bit of evidence.

Is there documentation to verify the provenance?

Check if your client has any records related to the art piece. Other members of the family may recall information that can help you in your search. Do some web research to help you with the description. If you can read the signature, it makes an easy starting point. Well-established artists will most likely have several references, especially if they have exhibited at galleries. To find previous sale records, do a search at www.artprice.com.


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Contemporary Art

Contemporary art is artwork that is produced by artists living today. It is much more difficult to establish value or to find a strong resale marketplace for contemporary art than compared to older pieces.

Art by contemporary artists that exhibit (they will have a gallery or galleries that represent them), can be resold if you can link an art piece into that community or following.

Pieces featuring people and animals have sentimental value and tend to fetch a higher price. This is largely because these works are often more difficult to paint and are more interesting to the average viewer than, for instance, a still life or a landscape.

Original Art Nanni Bensa L’adolescente Sold for $910 on MaxSold


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Danielle O’Connor Akiyama Oil on Canvas Sold on MaxSold for $910

Australian Aboriginal Art Sold on MaxSold for $2,953


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Wm. Shayer, Sr. Oil on Canvas Sold on MaxSold for $4,050

Bruno Cote Original Art Sold on MaxSold for $2,111


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FACTOR Less Value Some Value More ValueMethod Print, Giclée Watercolor, Acrylic OilBase Paper Board CanvasSignature Unsigned Signed Known SignatureReputation Unknown Known FamousDate Recent Antique AncientProvence Unknown Uncertain Well-documentedRarity Many Some FewSubject Disturbing Still-Life, Landscape People, Animals

In Summary

There are a number of factors that indicate potential value in a piece of framed art:

If something seems valuable, for example, if it has many of the attributes that indicate “more value,” then it may be a good idea to get it appraised. Otherwise, skip the appraiser; his or her fee could cost more than the art piece is worth.

Learn More

Get Smart About Art Webinar

In about 15 minutes, learn everything you wanted to know

about buying and selling artwork at a downsizing or estate sale.

MaxSold.com/Education


Essential Guide


Essential Guide

Sterling Silver Tea Set Sold for $2,350


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Silver

Many people think that their pieces are sterling silver when actually, they are not. Some people, on the other hand, think they have plated silver pieces, when in fact, they have sterling silver. The following information will help you distinguish one from the other.

Sterling silver is 925 parts per thousand pure silver and is lighter than silver plate. Sterling Silver will be hallmarked in some fashion. Hallmarks, or the 925 purity mark, can be seen on the item using the naked eye. If the stamps are worn, a magnifying glass or loupe is helpful. It will either say “sterling” as in Birks Sterling, it will have the number 925 on it as a stamp, or it will have other hallmarks on it. The hallmark for sterling for the UK is a whole lion, with the head on the left and the tail on the right. Ireland’s hallmark is a harp with a crown on top and Scotland’s is a thistle. All are easily looked up online; you may find www.925-1000.com helpful.


Essential Guide

You can Google “sterling marks,” and you will find quite a bit of information showing the difference throughout the years. For example, in the UK they would stamp it:

• Once for the maker

• Once for the year it was made

• A stamp for the town it was made in; and

• Another stamp if it is sterling

• . . . A total of four stamps!

Silver Plate may have the letters EP or EPNS (for electro-plated nickel silver), but this is not always marked. Once in a while you will come across plate silver that has been stamped to make it seem like sterling. It will have hallmarks, but not the right ones. Always look up the hallmarks to be sure. There are really only two or three that you are going to come across in most cases.

A Few Tips on Silver Value

Any repairs can reduce the value of an item, for example, a repaired knife blade. Early American silver is rare and valuable and was usually marked with only the maker’s name or initials. Often the word “sterling” is stamped on the item.

Silver is going to be valued for the most part by its weight, not for other factors, such as age. In fact, most of it is not old. So, weight multiplied by the current price of silver provides a fair estimate of sterling’s value in almost all cases.


Essential Guide

Birks Sterling Sold on MaxSold for $2850 (11 knives, 10 forks, 6 salad forks, 34 tea spoons, 6 grapefruit

spoons, 6 soup spoons, 8 tablespoons, 10 butter knives, 2 cake servers, meat lifter, cheese knife, 2 fish forks, gravy ladle, serving

spoon, 2 small candy dishes.)

Learn More

Polish Up on Your Silver Knowledge Webinar

In just 18 minutes, learn everything you wanted to know about buying and selling silver at a downsizing or

estate sale.

MaxSold.com/Education


Essential Guide

Memorial Cross sold for $440 on MaxSold


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Collectibles

Almost everything in the market today is worth less than it was 10 years ago with the exception of less than 1 per cent of household goods. What has gone up in value are things that are rare, old and in good condition. For example, early Tiffany items or things you would find in a museum, such as the Smithsonian or the Met, have increased in value because they are rare and are great examples of the art form.


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Limited Market

The type of items that have depreciated in value the most are collectibles. Why? The generation that drove the value up are your clients today who are looking to sell. They are all downsizing what they have or they are passing away, so there is a tremendous volume of collectibles coming on the market and fewer people looking to buy them.

Figurines

Royal Doulton and Hummel will always have a stamp on the bottom. Some older or limited editions are more valuable, but, by and large, all are saleable. They’re just worth quite a bit less than they used to be. Beswick will typically be stamped on the foot and will often be animal figures.

Royal Doulton sold for $130 on MaxSold


Essential Guide

WWI And WWII Medals Sold on MaxSold for $457

Militaria

Militaria are artifacts or replicas related to the military and police. WWI and WWII values are higher than later events. Early War medals are going to be worth more than newer items. In addition to the medals, military books can be valuable as well.

Many people possess a few of these types of items because they have someone in the family who was in the military. Other than collectors, however, very few people will have a large collection. If their collection is valuable and important, they probably know quite a bit about it themselves and will not have to rely too much on you to tell them what the items are worth.


Essential Guide

Coinage

Many people are still interested in coins. Coins are one of the only collectibles that younger generations will be looking for.

The types of coins that are of most interest to collectors include:

• Those that circulated for only a brief period of time

• Coins with mint errors

• Beautifully designed coins; or

• Historically significant pieces

German Coin sold for $230 on MaxSold


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Stamps

Stamp collecting is one of the world’s most popular hobbies, but not all collections have high values. Stamps are becoming less interesting in the collector world except for the very rare.

Books

GB Penny Black and 2d Blue sold for $350 on MaxSold

Walter J. Phillips Art Book Sold for $1,350 on MaxSold


Essential Guide

Book prices generally depend on the demand for a given book, the number of copies available, and the condition of the book. When people want to read a book now, they may read it on their laptop or a different electronic device rather than go for the new actual book, but some early books have value. The photo in the previous page is an example of an artbook that was sold in a MaxSold online auction.

First editions in very good condition, as well as old books that are non-religious and non-educational, are the kinds of books that have value. Many people have a bible or educational books that are a hundred years old, but surprisingly they typically have little value.

Military Books Sold on MaxSold for $310


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Toys

The origin of toys is prehistoric; dolls representing infants, animals, and soldiers, as well as representations of tools used by adults, are sometimes found at archaeological sites.

In general, the kind of toys that are found in downsizing and estate sales are not worth much, but they are still saleable. Some collectors specialize in the toy business, and there are some very high-end auctions for toys as well. Some cast iron items or toys that feature moving parts, such as banks with a drawer that opens when a button is pressed, tend to sell for a higher price.

Toy Tow Truck sold for $200 on MaxSold

Vintage Metal Toys Sold on MaxSold for $185


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Comics

To distinguish a really early comic book, look for a really low price on the cover. If it is in mint condition, it will be all the more valuable.

Vinyl Records

Albums by the Beatles, and other ‘60s and ‘70s pop and rock stars are collectible. Sealed records from that era and limited editions in good condition are valuable. There is some value in Edison records, but in general they are not high-end.

Comic Books sold for $60 on MaxSold

Beatles collection sold for $170 on MaxSold


Essential Guide

Antique Polyphon Sold for $2,171 on MaxSold


Essential Guide

Furniture

Display Cabinet cabinet Sold on MaxSold for $2,300

Last-generation furniture has suffered the fate of being out of fashion, despite its solid construction and workmanship. Younger people tend to be less concerned with quality and durability, opting instead for lower-priced furniture with a modern look.

Collectors will still buy antique furniture for a fair market price. The word “antique” is often used improperly, though; the piece must be at least 100 years old to warrant that designation.

The highest value items are early American furniture pieces. In fact, handmade furniture or pieces manufactured in very small numbers, can be worth a fortune.

If you find Stickley furniture from the 1900s made from heavy oak, it can be very valuable. Look for maker labels in drawers and on the back of the furniture.


Essential Guide

Antique Credenza Sold on MaxSold for $1,630

Stickley Bow Arm Morris Chair Sold for $810 on MaxSold

Screws were rarely used on furniture built before 1830 and the circular saw did not exist before 1830.

Painted furniture, even if it’s quality furniture, is less desirable to collectors and therefore not as valuable, unless it features its original early paint finish.


Essential Guide

Patent numbers started in the US in 1836. Before 1900, most furniture was made with walnut, oak, mahogany, rosewood, fruitwoods, and rare wood veneers and inlays. They are often worth restoring to keep, but maybe not worth restoring if you are trying to resell them.

Marble Hall Table Sold on MaxSold for $2,550

Gentleman’s Shaving Dresser Sold on MaxSold for $750


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Keeping it GreenThanks to MaxSold sellers, and thousands of environmentally conscious buyers, we have saved - and continue to save - an unimaginable variety and quantity of things from going to landfills everyday. Below are a few examples of our buyers cherishing their MaxSold purchases...

Reclaim. Repurpose. Reinvent. MaxSold employes considerable marketing efforts to promote the concept of giving items a new life. Please visit MaxSold’s Pinterest page at Pinterest.com/MaxSold/ for ideas and inspiration.


Essential Guide

Rugs

Silk rug sold for $1,250 on MaxSold

The vast majority of homes have rugs that are made after 1970 and those rugs are machine-made, even though they appear to be handmade. They are often not worth that much.

Persian rugs are handmade and come from Iran; also referred to as Oriental. Other countries, such as Turkey, make similar rugs.

You can quickly tell the difference between a handmade rug and a machine-made rug by turning it over. If the back of the rug is similar to the front, it is handmade, and worth more. These rugs are decorative, and in most cases, many beautiful rugs sell between $200 and $1,200 dollars. Larger rugs, which were more costly and time-consuming to make, are worth more than a smaller rug of the same quality.

Silk rugs are less common than wool rugs and are more expensive. They sometimes increase in value with age and often may have been bought to hang on a wall rather than to lay on the floor. To tell if a rug is really made of silk, look for intricate design patterns (due


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to the high knot count). If the rug is rubbed vigorously, real silk will feel warm, but artificial silk will feel cold. A sure way to determine if a rug is really made of silk is to do a complex chemical test.

If you think that you own a really luxurious rug that you paid quite a bit of money for, you can have it appraised by a rug expert. Rug appraisers will be able to tell you a lot about a rug from a picture, sometimes just as much as they would by making the trip to look at it personally.

Claire Murray Style Hand Hooked Rug Sold on MaxSold for $1,561

Area Rug (with lots of wear) Sold on MaxSold for $1,250


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Jewelry

Tiffany & Co. Sterling Jewelry sold for $310 on MaxSold

0.88 carat Diamond Ring sold for $1,100 on MaxSold


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Vintage Coral & Turquoise Jewelry Sold for $3,950 on MaxSold

There are two broad categories of jewelry: “costume” jewelry and “real” (also called “precious”) jewelry. Real jewelry is what has the most value and may require a gemologist’s appraisal, but costume jewerly has grown in popularity as well, so don’t write it off! It can be sold, too.

“Real” jewelry may feature:

• Diamonds, rubies, opals, sapphires, emeralds,

• Pearls

• 10k and 14k gold,white gold, silver, and platinum

For real jewelry, an appraisal from a gemologist can be helpful in giving potential buyers confidence. Note that these appraisals are going to reflect the insurance value or the high-end of the range of retail replacement costs, rather than the expected auction value.


Essential Guide

You can expect the auction price to be much less, about 20-40 per cent of the appraised value, depending on how interesting and how desirable the item is. For example, a solitaire diamond of a reasonable size, color and clarity might get 30-40 per cent of the appraised value. If the piece of jewelry is something that is no longer in fashion today, like an old-style ladies watch, it may be appraised high for $3,000 because of the gold content or gems it contains, but you may be lucky to get $600 because it is less desirable.

Look for a signature or stamp on jewelry, such as Tiffany’s, a great American maker. Anything with Tiffany markings on it is going to be more interesting.

Jewellery Ladies 18K gold ring with Cubic Zirconia (i.e not diamond) Sold on MaxSold for $800


Essential Guide

Carved Metal Bracelet with Stone Sold on MaxSold for $830

Vintage Gruen Watch (14k gold) Sold on MaxSold for $726


Essential Guide

China, Ceramics and Glass

Royal Crown Derby sold for $1,300 on MaxSold

Herend China sold for $1,900 on MaxSold


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This Depression Glass sold for $170 on MaxSold

Porcelain Marks: Most porcelain marks on fine antique china, using iron red and cobalt blue pigments, were “under-glazed,” which means they were applied to the piece prior to firing.

Limoges porcelain designates hard-paste porcelain produced by factories near the city of Limoges, France beginning in the late 18th century, but it does not refer to a particular manufacturer.

Art glass can be described as vintage and/or antique and is hand-blown. Examples of expensive and rare art glass are Tiffany, Steuben and Lalique.

The Depression ware came in a variety of colours, such as pink, green, and yellow, and used to be really popular in auctions 20 years ago. Like mostly everything else today, it is all collectible and saleable, but the value is significantly more modest than it used to be. China will often have a mark on it that will identify the maker or the period it came from. Royal Crown Derby, Herend, Lenox and Copeland Spode are popular names.


Essential Guide

Tools

Yale Propane Fork Lift Model sold for $7,300 on MaxSold

12” Jointer Sold for $930 on MaxSold


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Twenty years ago there was far less variety in tools. They tended to be high quality and there were fewer brands. Today, there are so many different grades of tools: professional grade, hobby and consumer goods, for instance. This makes it harder for the buyer to understand an item’s worth. Always check the functionality, age and usage of a tool.

Functional tools include:

• Woodworking, automotive, gardening, and metal working

Antique tool brands include:

• Stanley, L. Bailey Victor, Millers Falls, Seneca Falls, Disston Saws, and Chelor Planes

Honda gas snow blower HS724, with manual Sold on MaxSold for $1,812


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Often people think that their piece is bronze when in reality it is white metal. An easy tip is to lift it; bronze is much heavier than white metal is.

There are many “fake” bronze reproductions in the marketplace. Always look for signatures as quality pieces are typically signed. Some prominent names are: Russell, James Fraser, Remington, and Barye.

Count on the item in question being a fake unless someone proves otherwise. If the seller has some evidence of its provenance or history, that will help. Like most things, where it was bought and any documentation the seller has on the item will tell the story.

Bronze

Neil Clifford Bronze Statue sold for $920 on MaxSold


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Trendy

Two teak chairs sold for $1,000 on MaxSold

Vintage Purses sold for $890 on MaxSold


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Mid-century modern furniture (1970s) is currently on-trend in the marketplace, which is driving up the prices. People will buy these pieces because they are typically smaller in scale, which work well in a small space, unlike big buffets which require more room to accommodate.

Vintage items, such as the purses pictured above, are also very popular, although the word is loosely used.

Decorative is a nice way of saying not real or authentic!

Art Deco (1930s)

Retro (1960s)

Modern & Contemporary (1990s-present)

Old Dress Patterns can have some interest and value.

Old Photos can also be collectible. Don’t throw them out!

Postcards that reflect early scenes of now developed places. Look for postcards that would have been unusual or made in limited numbers.

Herman Miller Rolling Chairs Sold on MaxSold for $711


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Modern

Leather Sectional Sold for $2,150 on MaxSold

8-Person Hot Tub Sold for $2,450 on MaxSold


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Lloyd Flanders Patio Set Sold for $920 on MaxSold

2011 Cadillac CTS Sold for $24,250 on MaxSold

MaxSold frequently sells useable everyday items from patio sets to hot tubs, and even cars. Modern, high-quality furniture typically sells well.

In all cases, be careful in how you describe an item. For example, don’t say “Tiffany” lamp when in reality, it’s actually a “Tiffany-style” lamp.


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High Value Low ValuePainting Print

Oil OiletteSilver Silver-plated

Crank Grandfather Clock Battery Grandfather ClockLeather Letherette

Oak, Maple Particle Board, PlywoodBronze White MetalCrystal GlassTiffany Tiffany StyleReal Fur Faux Fur

10 Most Common

Product Mistakes


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Practical Considerations

Values vary and can be trending up or down

For average goods, the trend is currently down with no reversal in sight. Even experts have limited information. The best determinant of value is to look for a similar item in a recently closed auction. Usually, with a reasonable bit of research, you can determine the rough range of value and identify specialty high-value items to refer to experts for appraisal or sale.


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“How much do you think I can get for this?”

Do your best to answer this question, using the following approach:

• Set expectations that value estimates are rough; this holds true for professional appraisals as well

• Use it to start a discussion about the client’s needs and end goal

• Help the client move forward with a plan that meets those needs

The main thing to remember is that previous generations drove the value on many items. And, while those particular items may have provided a lot of use and worth for the client over years, it is difficult to attain a lot of money for them in today’s market.

Focus on what you can deliver on: that is, when you employ a selling process that is safe, transparent, finite, and tidy; and one that attempts to find people who are going to love the item or have a need for it (and as such, will be willing pay for it), then the client will receive fair market price for their items.


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MaxSold delivers the conversion of contents into cash – conveniently and securely, typically within two weeks.

Unlike Craigslist and eBay, MaxSold does all the work for you: cataloging and photography, marketing, dealing with potential buyers, and collection of payments. MaxSold provides competitive bidding – with the result being almost 100 per cent of goods sold, and a transparent record of the whole process. Once you decide to hire MaxSold, everything goes like clockwork. Access to your place is needed only twice.

Take a look at results from all MaxSold’s past auctions at www.MaxSold.com/past. Even antique dealers hire us to sell their contents. Hire a MaxSold local expert help to sell everything in just two weeks!

Hiring MaxSold


Essential Guide

We hope that this Product Awareness book was helpful in moving you forward in the information continuum, as you seek to better understand the value of the items that you or your clients have to sell.

To learn more about products found in a typical downsizing/estate sale, you can sign up for MaxSold’s educational webinars, which are FREE for a limited time:

Product Awareness Webinar

A one-hour, information-packed webinar in which MaxSold shares its product

knowledge and experience gained from selling over 250,000 items across North

America.

www.maxsold.com/education

Get Smart About Art Webinar

In about 15 minutes, learn everything you wanted to know about buying and selling

artwork at a downsizing or estate sale.


Polish Up on Your Silver Knowledge Webinar

In just 18 minutes, learn how everything you wanted to know about buying and selling

silver at a downsizing or estate sale.


Conclusion


Essential Guide

Go to MaxSold.com/Sell or call 1-888-672-3677 Ext. 2 to sell everything in under two weeks!

Downsizing and estate sale clients, trust officers, attorneys, real estate agents, move managers and retirement home managers

have done their research and hired MaxSold.

© MaxSold Inc 2018

“Things were made to last forever and guess what, forever hasn’t come yet. They still have a lot of life left.” - Barry Gordon, MaxSold founder

"I would strongly recommend MaxSold to any person needing to liquidate the assets of an estate. Their staff were very knowledgeable and careful and I felt fully informed and involved at all stages of the process." - Wendy J. Earle, Partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

"Netted more money for our client with MaxSold than I could have by a long shot using any other method we have used in the past..." - Elaine Frost, Trusted Transitions

“We used MaxSold when we downsized. An excellent company, very organized, supportive, knowledgeable and efficient. A great experience and highly recommended.” - Gerald and Judith Roy

selling goods at downsizing and estate sales · oil paintings are usually deemed more valuable than...

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