Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I have to pay for the appraisal?
Yes, our customers purchase credits which give them access to various appraisal packages. For example, a single credit gives you one appraisal within 48 hours, two credits will give you either two appraisals at the same speed or one express appraisal within 24 hours. We also sell bundles for a higher number of appraisals at a discounted rate. Please see our pricing page for more details. Read our guide for further information on free valuations and what to watch out for.
Do we buy any items?
No, we are not in the business of buying items that we do appraisals for. If we were to buy, we believe it would compromise our objectivity and could have a detrimental effect on the accuracy of our appraisal. We want to stay as objective as possible throughout the whole process, and we pride ourselves on having a completely unbiased approach toward each of your items. This enables us to provide the most precise and professional appraisal possible.
What is the value or estimate you provide us with?
The estimates you will receive within 48 hours (or 24 hours with our express service) are both an auction estimate and an insurance estimate. The auction estimate is the price range that our experts believe your item would fetch at auction if it were to be put up for sale today. For example, your chair could be expected to fetch between $3,000 - $5,000 in the current market. As a rule of thumb, insurance estimates are generally double the lower auction estimate. In this example, therefore, the chair in question would carry an insurance value of $6,000. We will generally provide you with both auction estimates and insurance values.
Do you provide Certification of Authenticity?
The core service of Value My Stuff is to appraise all types of collectibles. We're not a third-party platform where you can authenticate your items. For such services, we recommend companies like PSA/DNA. When submitting an appraisal at VMS, you'll receive an appraisal certificate where our experts write the auction and insurance values. The certificate does not guarantee the authenticity of the item.
How much information do I need to give when submitting a request?
Once you have uploaded your photos, you are taken to a screen where you can fill in details that are relevant to your object. Please give us as much information as you can - the more detail we have, the more accurate our appraisals can be. Measurements, marks, signatures, condition, and provenance (the item's ownership history) are all key pieces of evidence that we need. Any additional information is most welcome, and we always look forward to reading the unique stories that accompany your items! If you don't know anything at all about your item, don't worry - we are here to help!
Do I have to submit a photo?
Yes, our system only works once you have uploaded at least one photograph. The better the quality of the photo, the more accurately we can value your item. If there is a signature, mark, or inscription, please send a clear close-up image of this as well. If you don't have a good photo, but you have an old auction reference such as a sale number, lot, and date, we could also use this to provide an appraisal based on archive data. This might take a little longer than the 48-hour response rate we guarantee but rest assured, we will work hard to stick within our self-imposed deadline. You can also copy and paste any web links that you think might be relevant to your appraisal request.
How do I receive my appraisal?
We will send you an email with your appraisal link. Within this link, you can access the report in two ways:
1. A PDF file featuring the Appraisal Report relating to your item. This is an easily printable A4 document, which you could even frame! Most people can open PDF files, but if not, we can send you a text file instead.
2. A unique web link for your item, which you can share with friends or family.
Is your pricing competitive?
Yes. Our pricing is highly competitive. As 58 of our 62 experts have Sotheby's and/or Christie's heritage, our expertise and the value we deliver are second to none.
How does the appraisal submission process work?
We have a handy guide you can review to take you through the appraisal submission steps, click to learn how it works.
Do we sell items?
If you are interested in offering your object(s) at auction, once your item has been appraised, it would be our pleasure to reach out to our auction house affiliates on your behalf. Simply click the 'Sell item' button* in your MyPages or on your completed report email.
*Selecting Sell Item does not guarantee a response or sale of the piece as per our terms and conditions. A member of our team will contact you directly in the event that one of our affiliates is interested in consigning your object.
What information should I include in my object description?
Please, include as much information as you can - the more information we have, the more accurate your valuation will be. Of particular importance are: measurements, marks, signatures, condition of the piece, and provenance (an item’s ownership/sale history). Any additional insights in the artist, date, country or region of origin and the like are also greatly appreciated.
Will my insurance company accept your valuation?
Yes, most insurance companies will accept your ValueMyStuff valuation for their policies, we advise checking with your insurance company.
How many objects can I submit for each valuation request?
Each valuation request is for a single item, unless the item is part of a set (e.g. a set of porcelain, flatware or jewellery). For larger collections, ValueMyStuff offers great deals on bulk credit packages, making it easier to have multiple items valued without paying full price per item. Click here to see our pricing options and buy a bulk credit package.