To sell your art object at its fair value, it is best to hire a professional. If you have a limited budget, you should choose the services of a free art appraiser. However, you should be careful about the scams you may encounter on the market.
Estimating your painting with the help of an auctioneer
The auctioneer is a person with a high level of expertise in evaluating and setting the value of an object. In addition, he usually organises auctions. To meet him, you will have to attend one of his auctions. Some auctioneers offer free services, in which case the painting will be estimated quickly. However, if you want to get an accurate estimate of your painting, it will be necessary to hire him for paid services. You can also ask him to sell your painting at auction. However, it is likely that the painting will be sold at a price below the estimate given by the auctioneer. If you work with only one auctioneer and do not trust him, it is advisable to ask for an estimate with other auctioneers.
Appraisal at low prices: art markets and flea markets
If your budget is limited, you can ask for help from sellers at art markets and second-hand shops. Hopefully, you will find a competent person to appraise your painting. Some of the buyers you may meet are collectors. Therefore, both buyers and sellers will give a free estimate of your object. However, you should bear in mind that most of the people you will meet at the market are not only appraisers, but also profit seekers. There is a good chance that the painting will not be appraised at its fair value.
Doing an estimate on the Internet
Currently, there are many sites that offer free and paid valuation services. Your choice will depend on your budget. To make an online estimate, the site may ask you for necessary information such as a photo of your painting, the name of the painter, the size of your work of art, the condition of your object, etc. For an accurate estimate, it is advisable to use the paid services. The paid estimate process can last a few weeks. There are also many applications that allow you to find out the value of your object. Afterwards, you can use Internet databases to find out the price of your painting. To do this, simply type the name of your painting in the search bar, or visit online flea markets to compare prices.