Antiques Roadshow Ruined Your Expectations
We all grew up watching people find out their dusty attic junk was worth a small fortune. But the reality of the antique market is far colder than the PBS theme song suggests.
The Appraisal Trap
The biggest misconception is the difference between 'insurance value' and 'market value.' While an appraiser might tell you a vase is worth $5,000 for insurance purposes, finding a buyer willing to hand over $5,000 in cash is a different beast entirely. Most items lose 50-70% of their 'roadshow value' the moment you try to sell them to a dealer.
The Changing Tastes of Generations
Brown furniture—the heavy oaks and mahoganies our grandparents loved—is currently at an all-time low. Modern minimalists don't want giant armoires. Unless it's Mid-Century Modern or highly specific pop-culture memorabilia, those 'heirlooms' are often just expensive firewood in the eyes of the current market.
The Rarity vs. Demand Paradox
Just because something is old and rare doesn't mean it's valuable. Value requires demand. There might only be five known copies of a 1920s tractor manual, but if nobody is looking for them, they stay worthless. Expectations are built on the outliers, but your garage is likely full of the average.
Download Valued to get instant, realistic resale ranges before you sell anything.
