Antique Road Show May Not Have All The Answers

While popularized on television shows, an antique road show is not necessarily a bunch of antiques hitting the road to offer people a glimpse of history. In many instances the participants in a show may be showing off their collections of antiques, but they are also interested in buying and selling other antiques. While the antique road show that was broadcast on Public Broadcasting has traveled the country, offering people the opinions of expert appraisals of their possessions, not everyone is convinced the experts are all that knowledgeable.

There is no doubt that the value of an item is subjective, based on age, condition and usability. However, every appraiser, even those used with such productions as the antique road show, are going to have a difference opinion as their knowledge in a specialized area may be different. The thing to remember about appraisals, is that they are what that one person's opinion is of the item.

Similar to collectibles, the true value of an item is what another person is willing to pay for it, and there many different aspects that play into the equation. When visiting an antique road show, it is important to remember that a high appraisal by reflect the approximate value of an antique, selling it for that price may be difficult if there are no buyers willing to pay that amount.

Value Is In The Eye Of Buyer

While it has often been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, with experiences of attendees of an antique road show, the value is the eye of the potential buyer. Even if an item has received a low appraisal, if it is the one piece that a collector needs to complete a set from a certain era, they may be willing to pay an exceptional price to complete their collection.

With many items shown during an antique road show, there may be someone looking at items made in a factory that was operated by a family member generations in the past. Being able to buy something that could have been produced by a great-great-grandparent will add sentimental value to the item, in spite of any appraisal offered at the antique road show.

While many of the antique road show experts are truly knowledgeable about certain types of antiques and can offer a timeline of production, condition and approximate value, it is important to remember that an item is only as worth the price that someone else may be willing to pay to own it.