Harrison recommends seeking a certified appraiser's valuation before taking the item to a local antiques or collectibles dealer. An appraiser is more likely to give a fair judgment because there's no conflict of interest; it's a violation of professional ethics to offer to buy an item he has appraised.

While all antiques may be collectibles, not all are antiques because collectibles don't necessarily have to be old to be worth money. An antique is something people collect because of its age. Antiques may include furniture, art, knick-knacks, jewelry, and other objects. Some antiques can be worth a lot of money.