 
Art Appraisals : Buy or DIY?
Whether you're looking to buy or sell fine art, art appraisals are a
quintessential first step. Frequently you hear about people who've
paid 75% more than the market value for a particular piece, or
conversely you hear about people who've bought a painting at a
garage sale for a few dollars, only to find out that it is worth
over a million dollars! To be on the winning side, it's a good idea
to get your work appraised, ideally by a professional. While it will
cost a few dollars initially, the money you'll save by getting top
dollar or the best value will be far greater.
There are several steps in getting an art appraisal. First of all,
note whether you have original artwork, and if it was directly
created by the artist. If you are unsure, visit a frame shop or art
gallery to help you figure out if you have a print or the original.
Next, find the artist signature to ascertain the artist. Some
auction houses will accept works without a discernable signature, so
long as you provide clear pictures. Thirdly, gauge the condition of
the art you possess. Are there any rips, signs of over-painting or
corrections? Has the color faded, are there watermarks or does it
need cleaning? Never try to fix a painting up by yourself! There are
professional restoration experts who can carefully, gently improve
the overall appearance of the work, without making it obvious.
If this painting has been handed down from generation to generation,
or owned by prominent figures, then the value of your piece could
increase significantly, although it's rare to find paintings with
complete ownership/artists records. You can check with the Fine Art
Registry to see if your piece has ever been tagged and logged into
the system.
Sometimes you may come across a place that is willing to provide
free art appraisals. While at first this may seem like a fantastic
deal, one should exercise caution. Sometimes these criminals are
simply looking to buy your artwork for cheap and resell it at a
higher value! You may think you're getting more money than
anticipated, but it could be a fraction of what the appraiser can
get for it! A smarter do-it-yourself tactic would be to simply
peruse AskArt.com or FindArtInfo.com for a list of current market
values. However, be aware that these prices are just a rough
ballpark figure and can often be deceiving.
You may find yourself strapped for time and gumption. Trying to
guesstimate the price of your artwork may not be suitable, if you're
looking to sell for top dollar, or if you know your piece is worth a
lot of money. In this case, it's wise to check out the Art Dealers
Association of America. They've been doing art appraisals for over
40 years and have seen more than 23,000 works, some with total
values exceeding 2 billion. Additionally, one may find
not-for-profit appraisals at the American Society of Appraisers, the
International Society of Appraisers or the Appraisers Association of
America. Be aware that the price for a fine art appraisal may be
$250 or more.
Art Auctions Information
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