How do I value furniture from an estate?

Check completed sales on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and estate sale sites for similar pieces. Consider age, condition, brand, and style. Most used furniture sells for 20-30% of its original retail price unless it's antique or designer.

When should I hire a professional appraiser?

Hire an appraiser for jewelry, fine art, antiques, collectibles, and any item you believe is worth over $500. Look for appraisers certified by ASA, AAA, or ISA. Typical cost is $100-300 per hour.

What's the difference between market value and sentimental value?

Market value is what a willing buyer would pay. Sentimental value is personal and subjective — Grandma's mixing bowl might be worth $5 at market but priceless to you. Estate Harmony's interest survey captures both dimensions.

Should we use insurance values?

Insurance values are typically replacement cost (what it would cost to buy new), which is often higher than fair market value. For estate division, fair market value — what the item would sell for today — is more appropriate.

How do we handle items where siblings disagree on value?

Use Estate Harmony's sealed-bid system. When each person bids privately, the bids themselves reveal what the item is truly worth to each person. The highest bidder gets the item, and the process is documented.

How to Value Estate Items for Fair Division

Accurate valuations are the foundation of fair estate division. This guide shows you practical ways to determine what inherited items are worth — whether they're antiques, everyday furniture, or priceless family heirlooms.

See How It Works

DIY Valuation vs. Professional Appraisal

DIY Valuation Works For:

• Everyday furniture and household items
• Common kitchenware and appliances
• Books, CDs, and media
• Clothing and personal items
• Items under $500 estimated value

Hire an Appraiser For:

• Fine jewelry and watches
• Original artwork and sculptures
• Antique furniture (pre-1950)
• Coin and stamp collections
• Musical instruments, firearms, or vehicles

The Sentimental Value Problem

The items that cause the most conflict are rarely the most expensive. A $10 mixing bowl, a worn quilt, or a box of photographs can trigger more disagreement than a $5,000 dining set.

Estate Harmony captures both market value and emotional significance through its interest survey, so the division process accounts for what items truly mean to each person — not just their price tag.

4-Step Valuation Process

Step 1: Categorize Everything

Group items into categories: furniture, jewelry, art, collectibles, everyday items. This makes valuation manageable.

Step 2: Research Comparable Sales

Check eBay sold listings, estate sale sites, and antique databases for similar items. Focus on actual sold prices, not asking prices.

Step 3: Document with Photos

Photograph items from multiple angles, including maker's marks, damage, and labels. Good documentation supports accurate valuation.

Step 4: Get Professional Appraisals for High-Value Items

For jewelry, art, antiques, and collectibles over $500, a certified appraiser provides defensible valuations.

Estate Harmony is designed to help families divide inherited belongings fairly and avoid disputes that often lead to lasting family damage. The system focuses on transparency, equal participation, and documented fairness.

Watch: Fair home division explained

🇬🇧 British Estate Harmony — How to avoid family feuds in home division

What Families Say

Fictional testimonials for demonstration purposes (alpha)

"The interest survey was key — everyone stated their emotional attachment privately, and the system resolved most disputes automatically."

Sarah P.

Estate Beneficiary

"I had been an executor before and it nearly destroyed a friendship. This time, every decision was documented and defensible."

David K.

Co-executor

"I recommend Estate Harmony to families who want structure without hiring a mediator. The bidding mechanism is genuinely fair."

Nadia A.

Family Mediator

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See how Estate Harmony works

Frequently Asked Questions

Fair Values Lead to Fair Division

Create your estate inventory with values attached, then let Estate Harmony help you divide everything fairly.