Appraisal Archives

The Value Hustle

March 4, 2026 by Heather Filed Under: Appraisal, Collections Leave a Comment

Even before I began working as a personal property appraiser, I’d often encounter questions and concerns about the value of objects.

What’s it worth? Should I sell or consign it? If so, where?

All common questions each of us might consider for ourselves or others as we eliminate our possessions.

In researching other perspectives and ideas about value formation, past and present, I came across a really interesting article Understanding Value: Why Some Things Are Worth More Than Others.

It was written by Ajay Singh Rathore (a research scholar), who writes on topics related to economics, technology, philosophy, and the politics of these topics. That’s a pretty broad perspective. I want to use that post to discuss value, from my appraiser’s perspective and expertise. Value propositions vary depending on the intended use of the appraisal. Below are the nine points discussed in the article. The focus of his article is the creation of value.

Scarcity vs. Accessibility
Utility vs. Perceived Value
The Hidden Concept of ‘Perceived Effort’ and Pricing
Leverage: The Multiplier of Value
Psychological Value: Humans Buy Meaning, Not Just Function
Risk and Uncertainty: Why Playing Safe Pays Less
Social Tiers and Market Segmentation: Why Every Product Has a Buyer
The Future of Value: Why Physical Labor is Losing Importance
The Evolution of Value Systems: How Economic Shifts Redefine Worth

The focus of this post is to help you understand the factors that drive value, economically, socially, and emotionally.

I think that point #1, scarcity vs. accessibility, is pretty easy to understand. It’s basic supply and demand.

Worth considering in todays market is context. We are talking about NEW goods/objects/stuff. Consider how much stuff is out there in the market already and what is still being made. This complicates matters.

Rare but desirable items may command higher values, regardless of quality or provenance (this is always a factor).

In today’s secondary market, objects are being resold through auctions, estate sales, thrift and consignment shops, Etsy, Facebook marketplace, etc. There are many outlets, which speaks to point #7 above, the market is segmented and tiered. You may find something very similar or the same selling for entirely different prices in different locations. Confusing, right? I think this is a good point of reference for point #9, how value and economic shifts are evolving. We are in the midst of a huge transition where technology and a huge flood of goods are and will continue to flood the market over the next thirty or so years. This period of wealth transfer (that began in the last decade) is known as the Silver Tsunami, and it, combined with technology, is the two largest factors I see impacting the evolution and future of value systems.

The reason we have so many markets and tiers is that we have created so much stuff, but I digress…

We can also look at this as an opportunity to do research and find the best fit for resale of our items.

Let’s go back to the points made above and address #2: utility vs. perceived value. Here we really get into the weeds, but it’s actually not that complicated. Let’s consider how luxury goods are positioned not as utility but as highly desirable, playing upon our emotions. It’s not that one handbag or pair of shoes costs more to produce; it’s the desirability and sometimes limited availability (due to market restrictions/often self-made) that drives prices up. Some of the value is entirely manufactured by branding, marketing, advertising, and promotion of these goods, which create an emotional connection #5 and market tiers #7. Goods that are strategically positioned may have both utility and desirability. We often choose items that extend our identity or the story of ourselves we create through the goods we choose.

This directly relates to #3, perceived effort and pricing, because some brands create the illusion of highly skilled work. Unfortunately, skill doesn’t always (or even usually) equal higher pay. This is an unfortunate outcome of the Industrial Revolution. Before this period, the value of items was directly correlated with the skills of the person (s) making them.

When machines began making goods, we also manufactured the illusion of skills and perceived value was born.

Another outcome of the industrial revolution, as it relates to manufacturing and the value of goods, is the impact each has on the marketplace. If you make one coffee mug, no matter how gorgeous it is, how wonderful it feels in your hand, how easy it is to use, it will likely only impact a few people’s lives. On the other hand, a public vehicle like a bus, ambulance, train, or plane will impact thousands of lives and therefore will always be more valuable than a coffee mug. This is what is understood as value multiplier, #4 above. The more people something impacts, the larger the effect on its value.

Risk=reward, #6. The higher the risk of creating goods or services, the greater the reward in the marketplace. Building a massive, towering skyscraper costs more, not just because of the volume or scale of the project, but because of the associated risk. The architects, engineers, and laborers will likely be compensated more than they would be on a smaller, less risky project.

Finally, and sadly, due to technological shifts (a new era of industrial revolution-IR, maybe the AI revolution?), human labor and skills are being replaced. The IR had a lasting impact on the value of goods that we still see today. The machine era detached human skills from the objects we live with and use every day. I am not a Luddite; I believe that technology can revolutionize the quality of life, but it can also do a lot of harm. We are in the midst of another shift, #8-9, where we don’t yet know how tech will further impact the value of goods or the labor to produce them. I am optimistic that there will always be people committed to the creative (and maybe even rebellious?) act of creating things by hand. We have hands for a reason (not just to type or hold our phones).

If you read the article above linked, the author goes on to outline the history of labor-markets & value and makes some predictions about where we are headed. I am not in a position to do that, and it’s not useful here to this discussion about the value of goods we own, today. I still strongly believe there will always be people who value the qualities inherent in and perceived in handmade objects.

How does this help you determine the value of something you own?

Knowing your ‘why’ will make it easier to come to a conclusion you can live with when letting things go.

Start by detaching from emotional associations with the goods you own. If you can’t do this, you will never arrive at an honest and true market valuation. That’s okay too. If you are that emotionally attached, you may not listen to experts, friends, or family, and you may not be ready to let go. Set it aside and let that sink in for a while, then revisit it depending on your circumstances. Emotions are not a trustworthy factor in determining value and are one of the most volatile aspects of market fluctuation. I am not an economist but I’m quite certain that ‘runs on the market’, enflamed by fear and scarcity mindsets are just one example of the impact on global market valuations.

Keep your emotions out of the value equation and run through the other points above to identify the biggest factors impacting value.

Maybe you have a lot of furniture you inherited, but it’s a reproduction, unmarked, or not luxury, and there are many similar items on the market. That will help you to understand the market range. Maybe you see one example at $50 and another at $500, and you need to sell something similar. You can ask yourself whether it’s an exceptional example worthy of the higher price; if not, you can make adjustments accordingly. Market saturation (#1) is probably the biggest factor to consider when pricing items or seeking valuations.

Not every point above is equally applicable to all goods. If scarcity or risks are not big factors in the goods you need to value, then set them aside and focus on the factors that you know have a big impact. It is always helpful to be armed with as much technical information (who, when, what, how) as possible to begin with. Once you have that in hand, ask yourself why you want or need to know the value. If you are not sure, see this post I wrote about appraisals and markets used to identify values.

In conclusion, I hope you will keep three key things in mind; leave your emotions out of the equation, there is not one value for one object (there is a range, based on what the market can bear), and the market changes and is impacted by many factors (above) and nothing will stay the same value forever.

Get Sentimental this summer

July 7, 2025 by Heather Filed Under: Collections, Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Have a Sentimental Summer and use these tips for sorting school work and kids’ memorabilia.

Summer is perfect for getting a handle on all those sentimental school objects, papers, and artwork you and your kids are keeping. Perhaps you have a designated spot where you dump things throughout the year? Before you sit down to sort through the sentimental savings, it helps to understand how sentimental you are. Do you want to keep everything, are you detached, or somewhere in between?

Having an awareness of what we learned from our upbringing will be a great guide to your decision-making process moving forward!

Reflect on your childhood and how your parents handled your memorabilia. Sometimes, how our family “taught” us is how we respond, and other times, we want to do the direct opposite. Did your parents keep everything and then hand it over to you after college or when you moved out? Or did they dump it in the trash? What did you do with your sentimental treasures from childhood? Do you still have those things? When was the last time you looked through your memory albums, boxes, etc.? Be aware that what you do today will impact your kids’ behavior tomorrow, and they may already have a strong opinion about what they want to keep or discard (which might differ from yours).

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The Genesis of Collecting

June 27, 2025 by Heather Filed Under: Collections Leave a Comment

The genesis of collecting in my life stems from memories of my childhood collections. My ability to remember isn’t always great—by this, I mean the quality of my memories is unpredictable, sometimes arriving in soft sweeps, other times in sharp detail. Tucked within those brushstrokes are flashes of fondness: childhood activities—forts under the dining room table, outings to the pool or corner store to get candy, collections—stickers, stuffed animals, and more, and the objects in our family home—grass-cloth wallpaper, the orange velvet sofa, and green wool wall-to-wall carpet.

The textures and colors of my childhood rise to the surface of my memories.

While I struggle to recall vivid moments (but not feelings) from my youth, I can often remember where a client’s vase sat years ago, or how we organized their holiday linens with picture-perfect detail. This contrast between short-term and long-term memory remains a curious aspect of my life. I’m not sure if there’s anything I can do about it, but I stay mindful by practicing remembering and writing about it, both here and in my journal. I pause with my memories, I stretch back further to give them space to resurface.

Memory is something you don’t think much about when you are young; you might take it for granted. For some, it’s like a reliable friend who will always be there. For others, it fades gently; and for others still, it disappears in heartbreakingly swift ways. Memory can feel like a loyal friend or an elusive shadow.

In our homes and our collections, memory leaves little breadcrumbs—clues that quietly shape the way we organize and interact with the objects around us.

A friend recently reminded me of the collections I had as a child. That moment sparked a reel of recollections: my sticker books, stuffed animals, dolls, and their wardrobes. And then the more unexpected ephemera—paper cocktail napkins and matchbooks—odd perhaps for a child, but full of color, character, and meaning. Those weren’t just things. They were place markers—souvenirs of time and people.

Our memories can be a roadblock or a roadmap to understanding the objects we keep, collect, and surround ourselves with.

Objects have a kind of magic, to hold space for memory, even when we’ve misplaced the story. The genesis of collecting, for me, is a link to these fond memories that tie back to who I am today.

The simple reminder from my friend brought back these collections in crisp detail—pages of albums filled with bright colors and patterns, gleaming foil accents, graphic fonts, and witty slogans that all spoke to the time and place created. I didn’t need the physical collection to bring back the feeling. The memory had merely been waiting for a nudge of rediscovery.

Looking back, I can see a quiet connection between my child self and the creative adult I became. The one who would create textiles using colors and patterns. I was always attracted to objects with strong graphic qualities.

My love of textiles, graphics, and visual storytelling—perhaps it all started with the small colorful tokens of my childhood.

So today, I offer this gentle prompt: What did you collect as a child? Were they just things… or tiny echoes of who you were becoming?

What is the genesis of collecting in your life’s story?

Speaking of Genesis…that’s another fond memory tunnel to travel down into “The Land of Confusion.”

In my work and life, I’ve learned that collecting is never just about the object. It’s about our identity, our memories, and the emotions they contain and sometimes release, allowing us to enjoy them over and over again. It’s about honoring what matters—and deciding what stays.

What Is Provenance—and Why Does It Matter?

May 30, 2025 by Heather Filed Under: Appraisal, Art & Design, Collections Leave a Comment

Whether you’re a seasoned collector, just starting to curate your first pieces, inheriting, or simply curious about a few objects, provenance comes into play. Understanding the story behind them is as essential as the value of the object, and may even influence its value. You might have heard the term tossed around in art circles, estate sales, or even on antiques shows—but what exactly does it mean?

What Is Provenance?

The French origin of the word comes from provenir, meaning “to originate”. In the simplest terms, provenance refers to the documented history of ownership and origin of an item. Think of it as a paper trail (sometimes literal, sometimes not) that tells the story of where an object has been, who has owned it, and how it made its way to you. For collectors, provenance is more than trivia—it’s a vital part of an object’s identity. It helps verify authenticity, establish value, record social and political history, and deepen your connection with the piece.

I developed an interest in object stories and provenance while growing up, as my parents collected objects from their travels around the world during their military service. My interest deepened during my master’s program, as we employed interdisciplinary research methods to investigate the history of craft objects, particularly those that were not well-documented, considered less valuable, or created by marginalized individuals, such as enslaved people, women, and indigenous peoples. Most recently, I attended an appraisal conference and met an instructor from the International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR). I decided to take a month-long class that explored the challenges and methods of provenance research. It did not disappoint, and my skills will be a valuable asset to my appraisal work and collections advising for clients.

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Why Provenance Matters

Authenticity

Provenance can help confirm the authenticity of an item. For artworks, antiques, and historical artifacts, knowing who created, owned, or displayed them lends credibility and reduces the risk of buying reproductions or forgeries.

Value

An object with a rich and well-documented history is often more valuable. For example, a vintage watch once owned by a notable figure or a painting featured in a museum exhibition may command a higher price than a similar item without that background.

Storytelling

Let’s not underestimate the emotional impact of knowing an item’s past. Maybe that mid-century vase came from a Parisian flea market in the 1960s, or that quilt was passed down through generations of a single family. Provenance adds character—and character turns objects into treasures.

Resale Potential

If you ever decide to sell or donate a piece, having a clear provenance can make the process easier and more lucrative. It gives future buyers the confidence and context they’re looking for.

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How to Document Provenance

If you’re building a collection (of your own art, or any objects), it’s a good idea to start tracking provenance now. As an appraiser and having recently completed a

Here are a few tips for getting started:

Keep receipts and invoices from galleries, dealers, or estate sales.
Save correspondence with previous owners or experts.
Photograph items in situ when you acquire them.
Note oral histories or anecdotes shared with you—write them down while they’re still fresh! Oral history is really vital and has become a more valid means of documentation.
Create a digital archive where you store records, certificates, and photos in one place.

Provenance transforms an “object” into a “story.” It turns collecting from a hobby into a form of storytelling and stewardship. Whether you’re collecting artwork, vintage furniture, family heirlooms, or quirky flea market finds, take the time to understand and preserve the provenance of each piece.

Future you—and future collectors—will thank you.

Navigating Appraisals and Auctions

February 4, 2025 by Heather Filed Under: Appraisal, Art, Collections Leave a Comment

As a Professional Organizer and Personal Property Appraiser, I often help clients understand the best resources for valuing items in their homes.

Navigating appraisals and auctions can be intimidating and overwhelming.

Maybe you’ve inherited books, coins, or artwork you no longer want or have space to live with. I frequently work with clients who are downsizing and need to sell items. My first approach is to identify valuable items and cross-reference them with the items a client is willing to sell or give to family or friends (now or later). Sometimes, we don’t know the value of what we’re examining, so bringing in someone who knows more is an excellent idea. I’ve built relationships with local auction and estate sale companies specializing in specific item categories. I find that people often think they need an appraisal when they want to know how much something is worth. Both appraisals and auction companies can be excellent resources for this, but knowing when to appraise or when to auction can be confusing. This post will explain the process in simple terms.

💫 When you need an Appraisal

Over the past several years, I’ve had many clients who need help navigating the assessment of their collections. This is why I became a personal property appraiser. I aim to spot valuable items and alert my clients while also helping them find the best resources for selling. The first and most important thing to understand about appraisals is why you need one. There are three categories for appraisal. Each will help the appraiser determine what kind of valuation to apply to the appraised objects. The first appraisal categories is for insurance value, either before a policy is applied to or after a damage claim. The second category is donation appraisals for tax deduction and they require Fair Market Value. The IRS requires singular items over $5000 as well as collections that fall under other guidelines to be accompanied by a qualified appraisal. Finally, divorce or estate disbursement of assets often require valuations.

Each appraisal requires a specific approach to determine the value, which is accessed on different circumstances. It gets complicated! Before you ask for an appraisal, know that a qualified and accredited appraiser will first ask you why you need it. Becoming accredited is ‘governed’ by the National Appraisal Foundation, which sets the industry’s educational, ethical, and professional standards. Several appraisal trade organizations exist to implement these qualifications. I am a qualified International Society of Appraisers (ISA) member. If you find an appraiser who says they are licensed, ask questions. There is no such process of “Licensing” appraisers in the USA. Many excellent appraisers have been practicing since before these standards were implemented in 1989, and they chose not to maintain these standards. You may not need a qualified appraiser. This is when working with an auction company might be worth considering.

💫Selling Items at Auction

Some auction companies specialize in specific items; others are generalists. Some sell antique and high-end items, others sell mid-tier ‘decorator’ items. Many auction companies and estate sales companies are happy to look at photos of items via email. They may also offer free consultation to see if you have items of interest to their clientele. Since COVID, most auctions are posted/cleared through online sites like Live Auctioneer reaching local and international clients. Ask the auction company who their clients are (local, specific types of collectors, etc). Look at their online presence with these clearing sites. You can set up a free profile before your objects go to market so that you can follow the process.

Understanding the buyer’s and seller’s premiums is essential before you agree to work with any auction company. It’s also important to understand the process of setting minimums for each object.

This way, if a specific price is not realized, the item will pass (not sell at a price lower than you desire). Not all auction companies recommend or offer this, so discussing their procedures is essential. Most auction companies do not disclose this on their website, so making some calls and emails to discuss your client’s details will be necessary. Have photos ready, look at past auctions to see what sold or didn’t, and see if items are similar to what you want to sell.💫Collectibles

Coins will always have a minimum of scrap metal value. This doesn’t mean you should sell them at a pawn shop! Books can be tricky, but if you know a few things to look for, you can narrow your selection to items likely to interest book resellers. Artwork, fine crafts, antique, vintage furniture or clothing, glassware or cut crystal, paperweights, shells, objects from global travels, and more. There are many reasons that people collect. A collection might start with an object or two; purchased, gifted, or inherited. It may start as a way to memorialize a special occasion. Many people don’t consider themselves collectors because they don’t equate monetary value with their things. There are all kinds of collectors and many reasons for collecting. Once we have identified what we love and are collecting, it’s helpful to write down why and how the collection came to be and document the history of objects (provenance matters).

💫Decorative Objects/Decorative Arts

We live with decorative objects; lamps, baskets, decorative accessories, sculptures, glassware, silver, ceramics, and more. I recently worked with an specialist to help a client with a fine southern antique silver collection. With the pieces accessed by a specialist auction company, they realized thousands more than they would have received with a smaller (generalist) company. It pays to seek experts and get second opinions. It’s also an excellent opportunity to learn from them!

💫Artwork

When looking for an auction house specializing in artworks, it is essential to find the right expertise. Those specializing in specific artists, styles, periods, regions, etc. I have worked with several auction houses in South Carolina, depending on the client’s needs and collections. I always invite the best auction company for the most prominent work in a collection to look (via emailed photos and/or in-person) and make first choices. With this “top-down” approach I learn from the prominent auction companies what work they want, then find alternate opportunities for the remaining items. Art can be expensive to crate and ship, but that may be the best option for some artwork if it will command a much higher price. This is important to consider before agreeing to work with anyone specifically. Before signing with any auction co, it’s helpful to know if a reputable and appropriate company closer to you can represent your assets and reach the market needed to sell goods at top prices.

I hope this short post is helpful and provides more information about what, why, and when to seek out an Appraisal or Auction Company. Please leave a comment below if I can answer any more specific questions.