Is it worth paying for an appraisal on items of modest value?

Sometimes it is not. If a household is mostly everyday furniture, kitchenware and decor, the cost of a detailed appraisal may be more than the information is worth. An estate sale company or auctioneer can often tell you, at little or no cost, what is likely to sell and in what general range.

An appraisal makes more sense when you need documentation for insurance, an estate, a divorce or a donation, or when you are unsure whether something is ordinary or special. A single overlooked painting or piece of jewelry can be worth more than everything else combined.

A practical approach is to ask an appraiser for a limited scope review, where they walk through and flag only the items that deserve formal attention. That keeps fees in proportion to the value at stake.