Downsizing? Determined to get rid of stuff no longer needed? Cleaning out a home or an estate? Stop. Know Before You Throw.
It is now officially spring. You certainly wouldn’t know it by the winter we’ve just had. As such, many of us go through the yearly ritual of spring cleaning, which brings to mind some folks I helped last year at this time.
A call came in from a woman asking for help with identifying a small collection of odds and ends. She was helping her mother with spring cleaning, and was getting ready to take items to the thrift store, but wanted to make sure she hadn’t overlooked something of value. During our visit, I noticed a shoebox sitting in the corner. It was filled with what she thought was junk jewelry and miscellaneous items.
She shared with me fairly common beliefs about junk or old jewelry. She said the items didn’t look like the jewelry she had seen at the mall stores. A rhinestone was oddly shaped, so she determined it wasn’t real, and some of the pieces were broken, so they must be worthless. Other items seemed to be made of plastic, like children’s jewelry. I suggested that I look through the box just in case.
What was discovered was a modest, yet desirable, assortment of vintage costume jewelry and gold items along with one diamond ring. The diamond was discovered among the oddly shaped rhinestones. This diamond was an old European cut, which looks very different than today’s modern round brilliant cut diamonds. Also discovered were unmarked gold items and plastic items that are highly collectible Bakelite pieces from the 1930s. All in all, there was about $6,800 in value waiting for the thrift store.
Don’t let pre-conceived notions about what valuable jewelry should look like impact your financial well-being. Have a trained eye determine if there’s value before you do your spring cleaning. Call me today to help you.
So, what’s in your closet?
Jon Englund has more than 30 years of experience in appraising and liquidating personal property, jewelry, art, collectibles, antiques, furniture, printed items and more, as well as more than 15 years of experience in real estate. A Midwest transplant, Jon trained at New York University in appraisal studies.
Donna Luger has assisted during that time, and is a veteran Associate Broker and Realtor with HomeSmart Realty—Elite Group.
For more information, call (480) 699-1567. You also can send an email to Jon@KnowBeforeYouThrow.INFO.