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Whether you've got one fine antique hutch, or a house full of antiques for sale, understand before you begin that selling will take time if you want to get a price approaching the real value. There are many markets in which to make a sale. All of these markets have their drawbacks. Let's discuss the pros and cons of various selling venues. You decide which best suits your circumstance.

Many people think that a call to an antique dealer is all you need to do to sell your piece. You may be able to sell your antique, but a dealer will only give you about a third of what it's worth. To be fair to the dealer, he's got overhead on his shop, staff, the time required to come take a look at your antiques and he's got the item in inventory until he sells it. A dealer may advise you to sell to a private party for the best price.

For just a few bucks, you can place an ad in your local paper. To make the most of your ad, you've got to know what you have and price it right. Investing in an antiques price guide will help you identify the particulars of your piece and establish a realistic price. Then, when someone calls, you can speak authoritatively on its characteristics, age, markings and value. However, you've got to expect that you'll get a lot of calls from people looking for a bargain who are not knowledgable. If you're lucky, you'll find a taker who appreciates the value of what you're selling.

eBay is another obvious choice, with numerous categories of antiques for sale. If you're not conversant with the eBay selling procedures, find a friend who has made sales at this auction site and knows the ropes. Again, an antiques price guide is invaluable. You can check out other antiques for sale, similar to what you're selling. The drawback here is that if the antique is a heavy piece of furniture, you'll need to deal with packing and shipping. Yes, the buyer pays these costs, but packing and shipping that 19th century English walnut buffet is not a simple task.

Another online venue for selling your antiques is craigslist. You can place an ad for free, in the antiques for sale category in your locale. You'll reach potential buyers who can come and look, and transport your antique treasure to their own home. This can work, but be prepared for potential buyers looking for a bargain and not knowledgable of the true value of your antique for sale. Many such lookers don't pan out.

When you've got antiques for sale, you'll need to invest some time and money to make your sale. Choose the venue that suits your circumstances. Aunt Betty will be proud of you.