It is possible to value the contents of a home for probate yourself, providing you know where to look. There are useful tools available, including eBay sold listings, TheSaleroom.com, and Artprice.com, which allow executors to research prices and spot potentially valuable items.
In this article, we’ll talk you through the main platforms, what they’re good for, and where caution is needed. By the end, you should have a clearer sense of what is realistic to do yourself and when it makes sense to bring in a professional.
Where to Start: Useful Tools for Executors
If you, or the executor, are looking to research the value of items yourself, there are three websites worth exploring.
This is a good starting point for everyday household items, collectibles, and lower-value antiques. Make sure you filter by “sold items” rather than “active listings,” as asking prices are rarely a reliable guide. Look for listings that closely match your item in size, condition, and brand.
This site pulls results from hundreds of UK auction houses. It is particularly useful for antiques, decorative arts, glassware, and furniture. Many listings include a photograph and final hammer price, helping you gauge what similar pieces actually sold for. However, access to past results requires a subscription.
If the estate includes paintings, prints, or other artworks, Artprice provides recent sale results by artist and medium. It is a professional tool used by galleries and valuers, and while comprehensive, it comes with a subscription fee.
The Challenges of Going It Alone
While these tools are helpful, they have their limits. The biggest challenge is that not all items are as they appear. Two similar-looking glasses might have completely different values depending on age, maker, or condition. For example, the three glasses shown at the top of this article range in value from £6 on the left, to £80 in the middle, and £9,750 on the right.
Subscription fees are another factor. Sites like Artprice and TheSaleroom charge for full access, which can add up quickly if you’re only researching a handful of items. Even with access, interpreting the data takes experience. You need to understand how to compare like with like, account for condition, and spot items that have been restored, altered, or reproduced.
Time is another consideration. Properly researching multiple items can take hours, particularly when matching them across platforms. Mistakes in valuation, whether over or under, can lead to issues with HMRC or with beneficiaries if the estate is challenged.
When It’s Worth Bringing in a Professional
Rather than paying for subscriptions, spending hours online, and second-guessing your results, it is often better to pay a small fee for the advice of someone who knows what they’re looking at.
At Swift Values, our experts can usually tell from photographs whether an item is worth £50 or £5,000, and if needed, we can follow up with in-person visits for more complex cases.
In many cases, a quick expert opinion can cost less than a monthly subscription and deliver far more peace of mind.
This article was submitted to be published by Swift Values as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Wills and Probate. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Wills and Probate.
