• “Working with Berenice was a delight! Dealers and professionals were raving to me about the organization and the quality of buyers. She organized a 10,000 square foot home full of antiques, artwork, oriental rugs, silver etc. and everything sold in 5 days! The sale exceeded all my expectations.”

    - Elise Moore

  • “I want to personally thank you for the most professional and enthusiastic manner which you and your staff handled the disposition of our things. I know that it was difficult considering the amount and diversity of items with which you were dealing. I was very pleased with your performance and will be happy to recommend you in any situation.”

    - Gilbert S. Merritt

  • “Berenice Denton can sell anything from the smallest plastic statue to an antique Rolls Royce. Her professionalism is unsurpassed and dedication to detail is her strength. I would most certainly have her and her people represent me again and again.”

    - Barbara Mandrell

  • “If you want to have someone with energy and enthusiasm to help you with your sale of belongings, estate etc. Berenice will get it done, taking your challenge step by step to finish it as you please. Being well informed and experienced she treats each project individually and with respect. Our house sale on Old Hickory Boulevard, when we relocated, brought amazing results, and cash. You can trust her to be fair and understanding.”

    - Mrs. Waylon Jennings

  • “What a breath of fresh air you have been. You stepped into what was an incredibly difficult situation for me. Your professionalism and manifold abilities, to say nothing of your boundless energy and charming personality, absolutely amazed me. You and your staff did a wonderful job of pricing, displaying and merchandising my holdings. As you can imagine and I know that you have seen on many occasions, this was a most distressing experience. ” Read The Rest Of This Testimonial >

    - Jane Dudley

Appraisals

Appraisal Services:

Berenice Denton Estate Sales & Appraisals is available to provide you or your firm with an accurate inventory, history and estimate of value. As a Member of the Appraisers Association of America, Berenice specializes in delivering independent, ethical and objective valuations for your personal property. All appraisals are prepared to the code of the Uniform Standard of Professional Appraisers Practice.

Confidential appraisals are prepared for insurance purposes, equitable distribution, charitable donations, liquidations, IRS forms and estate settlements. With 40 years of experience, professional accreditations and academic study, Berenice is able to accurately determine an estimate of value. Our appraisals will provide the valuation of an item or items and includes the type of market valuation provided.

Some of the various types of appraisals include:

  • Insurance
  • Equitable Distribution
  • Liquidation
  • Charitable Donations (IRS)
  • Marketable Cash Value
  • Fair Market
  • Damage

Berenice Denton Estate Sales and Appraisals is qualified to appraise entire estates or single items of significance.  For on-site appraisals, please email us or call us at 615-292-5765 to schedule an appraisal. We will gladly appraise your items if you are located outside of the Nashville area, please note, additional travel expenses will be added.

Ap·prais·al (noun)- An expert estimate of the value of something.

 

Points to Consider about your items being appraised

Value will be affected by various factors. The most important are:

Rarity: The rarity of an item usually affects its value. Rarity may be determined by how many of a particular item were produced or how many of the items are readily available in today’s market. Some items which were, in the past, easy to locate, may become valuable if the demand for these items becomes high.

Desirability: As with rarity, desirability can add value to an item. The supply/demand factor is at work when collectors drive up the price of merchandise due to its popularity

Condition: This is perhaps the single-most important factor in determining the value of an item. No matter how rare or commonplace the item, its condition can dramatically affect its potential value. Most antiques and collectibles, by virtue of their age, have flaws, cracks, chips, wear, discoloration, and other damage. Of course, the closer the item is to its original condition, the better. Mint or near-mint condition items yield higher prices than those that are damaged. Also important is that all parts of the item are present. For instance, a collectable toy is much more valuable with its original packaging. Additionally, there should be no missing parts – bottles should have their original stoppers; teapots should have their tops; jewelry should not be missing stones. Repairs, if they have been made, should make the damage or break barely noticeable.

Manufacturer’s or Designer’s Markings: Items that bear a maker’s mark or logo are often more valuable than identical or similar pieces that bear no mark. Value is added to hand-painted or handcrafted pieces if it has the manufacturer’s mark/logo or artist’s signature.

Regional Differences: The value of an item in one part of the United States can vary dramatically from its value in another part of the country.  The item may be in high demand in one area and not in another, or in plentiful supply one place and scarce another one.

Genuineness: Whether an item is the real McCoy or a fake makes a huge difference in its value. Authentication is important and will often necessitate the services of an expert if the fake (or reproduction) is a good one.

Salvage Value: Even a very badly damaged antique may have some value as repair experts often use antiques to repair other pieces. Also, some pieces are used by artists and crafters to make other items. Before throwing away a badly damaged piece, it is always better to check to make sure it doesn’t have salvage value.

Current Market Fluctuations: The value of particular categories of antiques can wax and wane depending upon their popularity at any given time. Current demand will affect the value of an antique which can fluctuate, sometimes widely.

 

Consultation Services:

Berenice Denton also offers Professional Fine Art Consulting services to corporations, businesses, health care facilities, the hospitality industry and private individuals.

Professional Fine Art Consultation services provide our clients with superior, professional recommendations accessing all markets and auctions to meet your needs.  We have contacts in local, national and international markets and will be happy to assist you with buying or selling.