Heirloom Dining Room Furniture

The dictionary defines and heirloom as �A valued possession passed down in a family through succeeding generations.� Therefore, heirloom dining room furniture is usually good quality antique furniture that has been owned by a single family for many years. It not uncommon for a elderly family member to have valuable antiques that are left to their children. In many cases, the children will only want to keep one or two items to remind them of their parents or grandparents. They will then have the furniture appraised and offer it for sale to collectors.

The first step is to find a qualified appraiser. There are organizations that certify appraisers in many different categories. You will need an expert in antique furniture. Usually the most accurate appraisals are done in person. Wither you take the item to the appraiser or the appraiser comes to you if the objects are large or heavy. Most of the time the appraiser will come to you to appraise heirloom dining room furniture.

There are appraisers who do appraisals over the Internet. The experts rely on the owner sending several detailed high resolution photographs and a third party description of the piece. Some will only accept film based photos because of the problems the ability to alter digital photos pose for liability actions for the appraiser. Others require a disinterested third party, who doesn�t have to be an expert, examine the object and testify that the photos and description are accurate.

If the heirloom dining room furniture is really valuable, I would go with the live in person appraisal. In may cost a little more up front but in the long run you should be able to get top dollar for your heirlooms because the appraiser will certify the pieces after actual physical examination.

Many people�s ancestors had very little money or jewels to leave to their descendants. Most probably never even realized that the beautiful hand made furniture they lovingly cared for over the years would be a valuable legacy. Many of their descendants will keep the heirloom dining room furniture left to them as keepsakes while others will sell them to collectors and use the proceeds to buy things that some day may become heirlooms to their descendants.