How to Buy Underpriced Silver at Estate and Home Sales
Today, we would like to explain some strategies for buying underpriced silver items at estate, garage and driveway sales.
Look for Silver at Home Sales, not Auction Galleries or Antique Stores
Experienced silver-hunters tell us that they find much more silver at home sales than they find in antique malls, where everything has been picked over by antique dealers or estate sale specialists. If you’re lucky, you may stumble onto entire boxed sets of sterling silver tableware – you might even find an heirloom set of Old English silver.
Experienced Silver-Hunters look for sterling silver spoons and forks like these at estate, garage and driveway sales. Credit: MartinPBGV/iStock
Arrive Early in the Day
The earlier you arrive at sales, the more items you get to consider.
Buy Silver Items Fast
If you find a silver spoon tagged for $3.00, just buy it and ask questions later. Even if it turns out to be worth only a third of that, how much have you lost? Experienced silver investors tell us that over time, buying first and asking questions later is a profitable strategy. Note, however, that they do examine all items for stampings that indicate the silver content.
Don’t Expect to Find Ignorant Sellers
Today, it only takes a moment for sellers to check values on eBay. The days are gone when the son or daughter of a recently deceased person will say, “This old box of silver can’t be worth much, let’s just sell it off a table in the driveway.”
Ask the Sellers about Knives for Sale
Here’s a good tip from experienced silver-hunters, who say that individuals who are setting up home sales often do not want to put out silver-handled carving knives or forks for people to peruse. Some of those knives are pretty big and dangerous looking. But if you ask sellers a simple question like, “Do you have any carving knives to sell,” the sellers will often bring some out for consideration. (Note that in nearly all cases, such knives have steel blades and silver-plated handles.) Sometimes, the knives that sellers bring out will be in silver chests that contain other silver or silver-plated items too. Once they are out in the open, you can talk about them and negotiate on a price.
Call Us to Learn More
If you have silver or silver-plated items you would like to recycle for top dollar, give us a call at 800-426-2344. Recycling your silver could be easier – and more profitable – than you expect.
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