What to Do with Inherited Valuables
Inherited valuables can be difficult to assess, especially when they span different categories. Whether you have a single piece of jewellery or an entire collection, the first step is to work out what is worth keeping, valuing, or selling.
Take Your Time
There is no need to make rushed decisions. Unless there is an urgent financial reason to sell, take time to sort through the items properly. Valuable pieces are often mixed in with ordinary household objects.
Getting a Professional Valuation
Before selling anything, get items valued by a professional. There are a few ways to do this:
- Contact a specialist buyer with photos or a summary for a quick first view
- Request a postal pack to send items for a detailed assessment
- Speak directly with the buyer if you need help deciding the safest route
- Visit a local auction house for a formal valuation
A professional valuation can identify pieces that look ordinary but carry real value.
Common Valuable Items Found in Estates
Look out for:
- Gold and silver jewellery - even broken pieces have metal value
- Watches - particularly vintage or luxury brands
- Coins - individual rare coins can be worth hundreds or thousands
- War medals - especially named or rare medal groups
- Vintage cameras - film cameras from the 1950s-80s are highly sought after
- Silver cutlery and tea sets - sterling silver has significant metal value
- Old toys - pre-1990 toys in good condition can be surprisingly valuable
What About Sentimental Items?
Not everything needs to be sold. Keep items that have personal significance. For pieces you want to sell, take photographs first so you have a record.
If you have items across different categories, a buyer who handles mixed valuables can save time and reduce the need to deal with multiple specialists.
Larger Mixed Collections
For larger estates or mixed collections, start by contacting us with an overview of what is there. We can tell you whether the collection fits our buying service and what the most practical next step will be.
Contact us to discuss your situation, or request a free postal pack to send items for assessment.