What items in your home might command big bucks? Lori Verderame, aka Dr. Lori, offers a few guidelines:
• Fine art, jewelry, other precious metals and architectural elements such as lighting fixtures are most likely to be valuable. Don’t ever give them away or sell them without first finding out their worth. Even if you don’t intend to sell, an appraisal will help you insure them properly.
• Don’t assume unsigned artwork has no worth. It might.
• Ugliness is a first clue to value. Just because you don’t like an item doesn’t mean it’s worthless.
• For metal items, weight indicates quality.
• Books have value only if they’re in decent condition and odor-free.
• The value of a toy increases if it’s accompanied by the original box.
• Old glass Christmas ornaments are in demand.
• If an item is marked “collectible,” it’s not. Those items are made in such large quantities that they’re too common to be worth much.
