How to Appraise Estate Sale Items
To value estate sale items yourself, identify the maker from its marks, judge the condition honestly, and check what the same item has recently sold for. For insurance, estate tax, probate or a donation, use a credentialed appraiser instead.
Download FlipAI FreeStep 1: Sort what's ordinary from what might be valuable
Most of an estate is everyday household goods. Set those aside first, then focus your time on items that are branded, signed, marked, handmade, unusual or old enough to have a collector market. Sorting first keeps you from spending an hour researching something that will sell for very little.
Step 2: Find the marks
The maker usually matters more than age. Check bases, undersides, back panels, inner rims and seams in good light. Look for:
- Hallmarks and purity marks on silver and jewellery
- Stamps or impressed marks on the base of pottery and porcelain
- Signatures on glass, artwork and prints
- Paper or metal labels on furniture, often under seats or inside drawers
- Maker names and serial numbers on watches, clocks, tools and electronics
Write down exactly what each mark says and photograph it. Our antiques worth money guide covers which marked categories still attract buyers.
Step 3: Judge condition honestly
Note chips, cracks, repairs, replaced hardware, missing parts, refinishing and whether electrical or mechanical items work. Compare your item only with examples in the same condition — a damaged piece and a perfect one are different items for pricing purposes.
Step 4: Check recent sold prices yourself
Use what identical items have actually sold for, not what sellers are asking. Good places to look are auction results and the sold filter on marketplaces. The IRS makes the same point in Publication 561: actual sales of comparable property are the best evidence of value. If you use an auction result, the International Society of Appraisers notes that fair market value includes the buyer's premium.
Your own valuation vs a formal appraisal
What you have done so far is an informal valuation for buying and selling. A formal appraisal is a written report prepared for a specific purpose. The Appraisers Association of America describes different appraisal types, including insurance, estate, donation, equitable distribution and inventory. The ISA points out that the same item can have very different values for insurance, estate tax, resale or donation.
When you need a professional appraiser
Most estates and most items don't need a formal appraisal. A few situations do call for one:
- Federal estate tax return. Only if the estate has to file Form 706, and most estates don't. On Schedule F of that form, art and collectibles worth more than $3,000 at the date of death need an appraisal attached.
- Charitable donations. Per IRS Publication 561, claiming a deduction of more than $5,000 for an item or group of similar items requires a qualified appraisal and Form 8283.
- Insurance. Insurers may ask for a written appraisal before covering a valuable item.
- Disagreements between heirs. An independent written valuation can help when people disagree about what something is worth.
How to choose an appraiser
- Search the official directories: the American Society of Appraisers, the Appraisers Association of America and the International Society of Appraisers.
- Personal property appraisers aren't licensed the way real-estate appraisers are. The AAA says to look for someone who has completed the USPAP course (the profession's standards, set by The Appraisal Foundation) within the past 24 months.
- Ask about fees up front. The ISA says hourly, flat or per-item fees are acceptable. Avoid anyone charging a percentage of the appraised value or a contingency fee; the IRS won't accept an appraisal done that way.
- Ask for experience with the specific category, such as silver, furniture, art or jewellery.
State and probate notes
Whether probate needs an appraisal, and in what form, depends on where the estate is handled. Requirements vary by state; ask the estate's attorney or the probate court.
Where FlipAI fits
FlipAI is a quick starting point when you're standing at a sale table. Take a photo of any item or scan its barcode, and it shows current eBay asking prices (live listings, not sales) plus an AI estimate. That helps you decide what deserves a closer look. It is not an appraisal and isn't valid for insurance, probate or tax. Before you price or sell, check recent sold results yourself as described in Step 4.
More on buying at estate sales: the estate sale app page, our estate sale flipping tips guide, the antique value checker and what's it worth?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I appraise estate sale items myself?
You can value items yourself for buying and selling decisions: identify the maker from its marks, judge condition honestly, and check what the same item has recently sold for. That is an informal valuation, not an appraisal. A formal written appraisal for insurance, estate tax, probate or a donation should come from a credentialed appraiser.
How much does an appraisal cost?
Fees vary by appraiser and job, so ask for the fee in writing before work starts. The International Society of Appraisers says hourly, flat or per-item fees are acceptable. Avoid any appraiser who charges a percentage of the appraised value or a contingency fee; the IRS will not accept an appraisal done on that basis.
Do I need an appraisal for probate?
Not always. Requirements vary by state; ask the estate's attorney or the probate court what the estate needs and in what form.
When does the IRS require an appraisal?
Two cases are spelled out on IRS forms and publications. If an estate has to file the federal estate tax return (Form 706), and most estates don't, art and collectibles worth more than $3,000 need an appraisal attached. If you claim a donation deduction of more than $5,000 for an item or group of similar items, you need a qualified appraisal and Form 8283. Neither rule means every estate or every item needs an appraisal.
What is fair market value?
Fair market value is the price a willing buyer would pay a willing seller when neither is forced to act and both know the relevant facts. When an auction result is used as evidence, the International Society of Appraisers notes it includes the buyer's premium.
Can I get an appraisal online?
If you need an appraisal for insurance, estate or donation purposes, it should come from a credentialed appraiser. Ask how they will examine the item and what written report you will receive. A FlipAI scan is not an appraisal.
Is a FlipAI scan an appraisal?
No. A FlipAI scan shows current eBay asking prices (live listings, not sales) plus an AI estimate. It is a quick starting point for buying and selling decisions and is not valid for insurance, probate or tax.