Appraisals

Gardner Galleries have accredited appraisers with The Canadian Association of Personal Property Appraisers on staff to conduct appraisals for fair market value and estate purposes

Types of Appraisals

Estate appraisals for probate purposes are conducted for estate executors, law firms & trust companies in London and surrounding area.  An estate appraisal is a legal document that determines the fair market value of property, usually to complete probate and/or settle a will.

An appraisal for fair market value is the value of an item based on the sales comparison approach, and is defined as the price that would change hands between a willing and informed buyer and seller.  Auction sale records are a key factor in determining an item's true value in the most relevant and open market.    

Please note Gardner Galleries no longer conduct divorce or separation appraisals.

Determining Value

With the click of a button, you can instantly see what your item is worth by searching online, right? This is usually not the case and do not be fooled by the "asking price" of an item, as these prices are usually inflated.  Gardner Galleries accredited appraisers have nearly 100 years of combined experience in the auction industry, and sell more than 50,000 items annually including fine art, jewellery, coins, china, porcelain, bronzes, antiquarian books, Persian rugs, sterling silver, sports memorabilia and furniture spanning from the 1700's to the present day.  Gardner's also have a close network of art and antique dealers across the country and subscribe to online databases that reflect the true sale price of an item.  The market is always changing and an item's value may have increased or decreased exponentially in the span of only a few years. Our appraisers follow these market trends closely.  

Appraisal Cost

For a professional written appraisal, our fee is $300.00/hour plus HST with a one hour minimum.  If located outside of London, a mileage charge of $0.60 per kilometer is added (no HST on mileage).  If a visit to your residence is not possible, photographs can also be emailed and a signed copy of the appraisal will be sent to you.  Please contact our office for more information regarding these services and note cancellations for any appraisal must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Free Auction Estimates

For those interested in selling at auction, Gardner Galleries will offer a free estimate based on images you email to info@gardnergalleries.com.  If sending multiple items, our appraisers will provide an estimate of total value for the entire collection.  If you require values for each individual item, this is regarded as an appraisal and there is a charge for this service (see above).

Gardner Galleries will not offer free estimates to assist with selling items on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace.  

Visit to Your Home  

If you are considering selling an entire estate or household with Gardner Galleries and are located in Southwestern Ontario, the first step is to send photographs or a listing of what you have available to the email below. We only require one image of each room (such as real estate photos), and an appraiser will be in touch with you within 48 hours or less. We will then setup an appointment to assess the items in person, discuss the auction process and costs involved. Please contact our office at info@gardnergalleries.com or 519-439-3333.    

                                                                                       Antique centre table circa 1850 - Sold: $2,900.00, January, 2020