How Much is Your Antique Furniture Worth?

If you inherited a sizeable collection of antique furniture from a parent or grandparent, then you might not be sure what to do with it, or how much it may be worth. Your first instinct is perhaps to store it in the attic or the basement, but then common sense kicks in, and you realize that those areas could put the antiques at risk of damage. At EZ Storage® in Pittsburgh, we can help you find the ideal self-storage unit for your antique furniture, and it will be protected until you decide what to do with it.

Once you’ve stored your furniture, you might begin looking into what each piece could be worth. You can do research online and find similar pieces, but until you have your actual furniture appraised, you won’t know the exact value of each piece. In this post, we’ll look at some steps you can take to creating a comprehensive overview of your antiques.

Take Photos

One of the best ways to inventory your antique furniture is to take photos of each piece. By doing so, you’ll have a quick and easy reference once everything is in the storage unit. You won’t have to get anything out of the unit until you really need to, and you can keep things safe until you’re ready to sell or move a piece.

Write Down Details

Before you take a piece to an antique appraiser, be sure to write down any details you know about the furniture. What is it made of? Where did it come from? You’ll also want to write down any defining marks on each piece, such as scratches or dents that could impact the value. An experienced appraiser will notice these things, but it’s good to have them written down for your own benefit, if nothing else.

Don’t Restore It

When you acquire or inherit an antique piece of furniture, you might think that the first thing you should do is restore it. While this may seem like a good idea at first, it can actually be severely detrimental to both the piece and its inherent value. Restoring and cleaning can actually bring the value down, since you may end up compromising the piece’s materials. Antique wood and leather need to be handled with care, and you should always consult with an expert before any restoration or repairs are done, should they even be necessary.

Keep It Covered

dreamstime_xl_15690667 (1) When you put antique furniture into storage, it’s imperative to keep it covered and protected. Dust can be an antique’s worst enemy, and you’ll want to pad each piece as much as possible. Keep the furniture away from sharp or heavy objects, and make sure nothing can fall over and damage the pieces. Do some research to find what type of covers are ideal for your specific pieces, and make sure you have plenty of material to adequately drape over each piece. A climate-controlled space can also be a great option, and we can help you find the right space at one of our facilities.

Storing antique furniture doesn’t have to be a challenge, and if you want to keep some pieces safe until you can have them appraised, then visit EZ Storage® in Pittsburgh today. We can help you find a self-storage unit that meets your needs and fits your budget, and with our month-to-month leases, you only have to rent for the time you need. Each one of our locations has state-of-the-security, 24/7 surveillance, and staff and resident managers who keep an eye on things at all times.