Antiques: The ins and outs of estate sales

Disposing of an estate is something many of us encounter during our lives, and it's not an easy task. The obligation often comes along unannounced and ill-timed, requiring many decisions without a lot of time for deliberation. Family squabbles can erupt, lawyers can intrude, and friends and neighbors sometimes show up to collect on vague long-ago promises.

It's also an emotional time for all involved. Antique galleries like ours are often called in to evaluate the objects and art that remain, and it's one of the most delicate and fulfilling things that we do. If you find yourself with an estate on your hands, expect the following.

First, there will be some surprises, some good and others perhaps less so. The Depression years were a fact of life for the Greatest Generation, the result of which was a tendency to hold onto things long past their useful lives. Old letters and photos may have some value to collectors but you might not want them falling into unknown hands.

Revelations of past relationships or medical conditions may be unsettling too. On the plus side, make sure you check for safety deposit boxes and old fully-paid insurance policies. If there's a safe in the house or old hiding spots, check those too. Many homes hold secrets.

Next, when it comes time to sell off the estate contents, it's a process. Times have changed since the 1990s when people collected all sorts of things that have little value today. Also, mere age does not impart value. Sometimes an old book is just an old book. Jewelry boxes often contain a mixture of fine and costume jewelry, but it takes someone both knowledgeable and trustworthy to tell the difference.

Even a modest estate will occasionally have wristwatches or pieces of inherited jewelry that should be separated from the rest. Flatware and tea sets should be inspected for sterling silver markings and, if the markings are found, set aside. It's sad to say, but today, most crystal, porcelain, and silver plate, however lovely, is the stuff of estate sales and thrift stores.

As for furniture and larger pieces, consider consignment retailers, auction houses, and thrift stores that will pick up your items. Furniture can be valuable, especially authentic mid-century furniture here in the valley, but late 20th century oak furnishings and even dark Victorian-era items can be difficult to sell. Likewise, most rugs and wall art are best moved expeditiously unless you have reason to think there is something special about them. One of our favorite outlets is the Habitat for Humanity store near the Costco in Palm Desert. Their building is large enough to accommodate almost anything and you'll be supporting a most worthwhile charity.

Finally, keep your expectations reasonable and remember that time is indeed money. There are businesses specializing in estate sales that can do almost everything for you, and that's a viable way to go if time is short.

However, a little bit of due diligence to separate wheat from chaff is almost always worthwhile. Identify the valuable pieces to sell separately, donate the larger difficult-to-handle items, and bring in an estate seller to move the rest. If you know your estate to be of the higher-end variety, contact a few auction houses or galleries like ours to get some third-party opinions. There's no one-size-fits-all solution to estate selling, but a few guidelines like those above should help with the process.

Mike Rivkin and his wife, Linda, are longtime residents of Rancho Mirage. For many years, he was an award-winning catalogue publisher and has authored seven books, along with countless articles. Now, he's the owner of Antique Galleries of Palm Springs. His antiques column appears Sundays in The Desert Sun. Want to send Mike a question about antiques? Drop him a line at [email protected]