Selling Tips & Guide

Photograph near a window with indirect sunlight. Avoid flash — it creates harsh reflections and washes out colors. Overcast days provide the most even lighting.

White, light gray, or cream fabric/paper. Avoid patterned tablecloths, busy backgrounds, or cluttered rooms. The item should be the only focus.

Front, back, sides, top, bottom. For 3D objects like pottery or sculpture, shoot from at least 6 angles. Show scale by including a common object (coin, ruler) in one shot.

Close-ups of maker's marks, signatures, labels, hallmarks, serial numbers. Also photograph any damage — chips, cracks, stains, repairs. Hiding damage destroys trust and leads to returns.

Include dimensions in the listing AND a photo with a reference object. Buyers frequently misjudge size from photos alone.

Blurry photos signal amateur seller. Use a phone tripod ($10-$15) or prop your phone against a stack of books. Enable HDR mode for better dynamic range.

Adjust brightness and contrast if needed, but don't alter colors or remove flaws. Misrepresenting an item in photos leads to returns and negative reviews.

Put the most important words first: maker, item type, material, era. Example: "Gorham Sterling Silver Serving Spoon Set, c.1920" NOT "Beautiful antique spoon set". Buyers search by specific terms.

Include: maker/brand, approximate age, materials, dimensions (exact), condition (honest), provenance if known. A well-written description builds confidence and reduces questions.

Use standard condition terms: Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor. Describe every flaw. Buyers who discover undisclosed damage leave negative reviews and file returns.

Height, width, depth, weight (if relevant). Use both inches and centimeters for international buyers. Measure accurately — "approximately" signals carelessness.

Reference your AI appraisal in the listing: "Appraised by InstAppraisal at $300-$500 based on comparable sales." This adds third-party credibility to your asking price.

Fill in every category field the platform offers — material, era, style, brand, color. Items with complete information rank higher in search results.

"Rare" (unless genuinely rare — overused and triggers skepticism), "antique" for items under 100 years old (use "vintage" for 20-99 years), "priceless" or "museum quality" (unless it literally is), and vague words like "old," "nice," "cool," or "pretty." Use specific terms: "Art Deco" not "old style," "Mid-Century Modern" not "retro."

Your InstAppraisal gives you a market-based value range. Use the HIGH end of that range as your asking price on fixed-price platforms, or the LOW end as your reserve at auction. The market will find the right level.

Check eBay "Sold" listings, LiveAuctioneers past results, and WorthPoint for what similar items actually sold for — not what people are asking. Asking prices mean nothing; sold prices are the truth.

If eBay takes 13% and your item is worth $100, you'll net ~$87. Price accordingly. On consignment (40-60% to the shop), a $200 item nets you $80-$120.

List at 10-15% above your target price to leave room for negotiation. Serious buyers often make offers, and accepting a reasonable offer closes the sale faster than waiting for full price.

Use auctions for items with strong demand and clear market value (coins, watches, popular brands). Use fixed price for unusual items, high-value pieces, or anything where you need to control the minimum. Starting auctions at $0.99 can drive competitive bidding — but only if there's real demand.

An overpriced item sitting for months signals "nobody wants this." Price realistically, sell within 2-4 weeks, and move on. Time is money — especially with monthly listing fees.

Because it will be. Use double-boxing for fragile items: wrap item in bubble wrap, place in a box with packing peanuts, then place that box inside a larger box with more cushioning. Minimum 2 inches of padding on all sides.

USPS, UPS, and FedEx all offer insurance. For items over $500, consider third-party insurance (Shipsurance, U-PIC). Take photos of the item packed before sealing — this is your proof for insurance claims.

Don't guess — use the platform's shipping calculator or weigh/measure the packed item. Overcharging on shipping annoys buyers; undercharging eats your profit.

Items with free shipping sell faster on most platforms. Build the shipping cost into your price. On eBay, free shipping items rank higher in search results.

USPS Priority Mail for items under 5 lbs (includes $100 insurance free). UPS/FedEx Ground for heavier items. For furniture, use freight services like uShip or platform-specific white-glove services.

Ship within 1-2 business days. Fast shipping leads to positive reviews, which leads to more sales. Upload tracking immediately.

Any history you have — where it was purchased, family history, previous appraisals, exhibition history, receipts — adds value and builds buyer confidence. Even a story like "purchased at a Paris flea market in 1975" is better than nothing.

For items over $1,000, consider professional authentication. For coins: PCGS or NGC grading. For art: gallery or auction house authentication. For watches: service records from authorized dealers. The cost of authentication ($50-$200) often increases the selling price by 2-5x.

Include your InstAppraisal in the listing as supporting documentation. It shows you've done your research and the price is backed by comparable market data — not just guesswork.

Original purchase receipts, previous auction records, insurance appraisals, restoration records — save everything. Each document adds credibility and can significantly increase value.

Disclose any restoration work. Professional restoration can add value (a properly restored painting is worth more than a damaged one), but undisclosed repairs are the #1 reason for disputes and returns.

Tax refund season (Jan-March) and pre-holiday shopping (Sept-Nov) drive the most buyer activity. Summer months and December tend to be slower for antiques.

eBay data consistently shows Sunday evening (6-9 PM) has the highest buyer activity. If using auction format, end listings on Sunday evening for maximum bidding competition.

Major holidays (Christmas week, July 4th, Thanksgiving) see reduced buyer traffic. List the week AFTER holidays when people have gift money to spend.

Check InstAppraisal's Market Demand to see if your item's category is trending up or down. Selling during an uptrend can mean 20-30% more than during a decline.

If you've inherited a collection, take time to research before selling. Rushing to clear out an estate is the #1 way people sell valuable items for pennies. Get appraisals first, then sell strategically.