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What your belongings are worth, and how to sell them
Before you sell Grandpa's coins or Mom's ring, find out what they're really worth. A little homework keeps you from handing real money to a buyer who names a low price and pockets the difference.
Last reviewed: August 8, 2026
The short version:
- Find out the value first. A paid, independent appraisal gives you an honest number. A dealer's free offer comes from the person who profits if it's low.
- Never let the same person appraise and buy. That's a built-in conflict of interest.
- Get more than one offer, aim for three, and get everything in writing.
- Be wary of pop-up "we buy gold" events. Convenient, but often not the most you'd get, and the scale can be rigged.
Common questions
- How do I find out what my collection is worth?
- Get an independent, paid appraisal from a USPAP-trained appraiser you can find through the ASA, ISA, or AAA directories. Avoid relying on a dealer's free offer, since that buyer benefits from a low number.
- What's the difference between an appraisal and a buy offer?
- An appraisal is an unbiased professional value you pay for. A buy offer is what a dealer will pay you, and the same person profits if the price is low. Never let one person both appraise and buy.
- How much do estate sale and auction companies charge?
- Estate sale companies typically keep about 30–50% of sales. Auction houses add a buyer's premium (often 10–30%) on top of the bid and also charge the seller a fee.
- How do I avoid getting cheated selling gold or coins?
- Appraise first, get several offers, keep valuing and buying separate, watch the scale and keep items in sight, be wary of pop-up buyers, and get the sale in writing.
How do you find out what something is worth?
Get an appraisal, a professional's written opinion of value. There are two very different kinds:
- An independent, paid appraisal. You hire an appraiser who doesn't buy or sell your item. You pay a fee and get an unbiased value for insurance, an estate, a donation, or setting a fair price. Because they don't profit from the number, the number stays honest.
- A dealer's free "buy offer." A shop tells you what they'll pay. Fast and free, but the person naming the price is the one who benefits if it's low.
The IRS makes the conflict plain: a "qualified appraiser" can't be a party to the sale (for example, the dealer who's buying your painting can't also appraise it), and an appraisal fee can't be a percentage of the value. Look for an appraiser who follows USPAP, the national appraisal standards. Personal-property appraisers aren't licensed by law the way real-estate appraisers are, so credentials matter. Find an accredited one through the American Society of Appraisers, the International Society of Appraisers, or the Appraisers Association of America.
Who values what?
| Item | How it's valued / who to ask |
|---|---|
| Coins & currency | By rarity, condition, and metal. Two services grade coins 1 to 70 and seal them: NGC and PCGS. The nonprofit American Numismatic Association is the hobby's education body. |
| Jewelry & precious metals | Diamonds and gems are graded on the "4Cs" by the GIA (which grades quality, not dollar value, so you still need an appraisal). Gold is valued by weight and karat: 24K is pure, 18K and 14K are less. Sterling silver is marked "925." |
| Antiques, furniture & art | A personal-property appraiser, ideally USPAP-trained and a member of ASA, ISA, or AAA (above). |
| Clocks & watches | The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors is the national body; use a specialist for valuation. |
| Firearms | A specialist dealer. Transfers have legal rules; an inherited firearm can pass to an heir, but selling across state lines generally must go through a licensed dealer. |
Where can you sell, and what does it cost?
Each channel trades price for speed and effort. The estate-sale and consignment figures below are industry ranges, not official numbers, so treat them as rough.
| Where | Typical cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Estate sale | Company keeps about 30–50% of sales (often ~35%) | Clearing a whole house fast |
| Consignment shop | Shop keeps roughly 40–60% of each sale | A few quality items, no rush |
| Auction house | Buyer's premium added on top (often 10–30%), plus a seller's fee | Truly valuable or collectible pieces |
| Specialty dealer | No commission; the dealer buys below resale and profits on the markup | Fast cash, one category |
| Online marketplace (eBay) | About 13.6% per item (up to $7,500), plus a small order fee | Mainstream and collectible goods you can ship |
A note on auctions: the buyer's premium is added to the winning bid and kept by the house, while the seller's commission comes out of your proceeds, so fees hit both sides.
How to avoid lowball offers and scams
- Find out the value before you sell, so you can judge any offer.
- Get three offers where you can, and compare.
- Never let the same person appraise and buy. Keep valuing and buying separate.
- Watch the scale. Have gold weighed in plain view, make sure it reads zero to start, and don't let items leave your sight, they can be swapped.
- Be wary of pop-up buyers, "one-day" hotel or mall gold events and "gold parties," where scales may be rigged and the host earns a cut.
- Get it in writing: a receipt with the buyer's name and address, the date, the metal, the purity, the weight, and the price.
- Separate items by karat before selling so higher-purity pieces aren't paid at a lower rate.
- Know the impersonation scam: no real government agent will ever tell you to buy gold or hand over cash. That's always a scam.
Keep or sell? Don't decide under pressure
Some things are worth more to your family than any buyer will pay. Before you sell, ask whether it's a piece you or your children would regret losing. A reputable buyer won't rush you, "limited-time" and "prices are about to crash" lines are warning signs, not reasons to hurry. If something has real sentimental value, it's fine to keep it, or to appraise and insure it instead of selling. You can always sell later; you usually can't buy it back.
Sources
- American Society of Appraisers -- find an appraiser. https://www.appraisers.org/find-an-appraiser
- International Society of Appraisers -- find an appraiser. https://www.isa-appraisers.org/find-an-appraiser
- Appraisers Association of America -- find an appraiser. https://www.appraisersassociation.org/find-an-appraiser
- IRS Publication 561 -- determining the value of donated property (qualified appraiser rules). https://www.irs.gov/publications/p561
- The Appraisal Foundation -- USPAP & personal property appraisal. https://appraisalfoundation.org/pages/uspap
- NGC -- coin grading scale. https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-grading/grading-scale
- GIA -- the 4Cs, and whether GIA appraises value. https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/4cs-of-diamond-quality/
- FTC -- buying platinum, gold, and silver jewelry (karat marks). https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buying-platinum-gold-and-silver-jewelry
- NAWCC -- National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. https://www.nawcc.org/about
- ATF -- firearms questions and answers (transfers). https://www.atf.gov/firearms/questions-and-answers
- eBay -- selling fees. https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4822
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs -- selling precious metals & jewelry. https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/News/Brochures/Selling-Your-Precious-Metals-and-Jewelry-Brochure.pdf
- Michigan Attorney General -- selling precious metals. https://www.michigan.gov/consumerprotection/protect-yourself/consumer-alerts/shopping/selling-precious-metals