The first step in getting your baseball cards appraised is to choose an experienced and reputable appraiser. When selecting an appraiser, do your research to find someone who has extensive knowledge of the baseball card market and has experience appraising cards from the specific era and sets that your cards are from. You can ask other baseball card collectors, dealers, and auction houses for recommendations of appraisers they trust. You also want to look for appraisers who are certified by a reputable organization like the American Society of Appraisers.
Once you have selected an appraiser, you will need to arrange an appointment. Most appraisers allow you to schedule in-person appointments at their office or location or provide mail-in appraisal services. When scheduling, be prepared to provide details about your cards like the sets they are from, any notable players or cards, estimated dates, and their storage condition. This will allow the appraiser to properly research comps and values prior to the actual appraisal.
When bringing your cards for the appraisal, it is important to properly package and protect them. Place each individual card in a stiff penny sleeve to protect from damages. Then group cards of the same set or team together and stack neatly inside cardboard sheets, toploaders or card savers. Clearly label each package with the set name or teams. It is also wise to bring any additional relevant details you have like purchase records if purchased new, grading service certificates, or photos documenting the condition when you originally obtained the cards.
At the actual appraisal appointment, the appraiser will carefully inspect each card. They will examine factors like the card’s centering, edges, surface and overall condition while comparing to guidebook condition census standards. For graded cards, the assigned grade from services like PSA or BGS will heavily impact the value. The appraiser will also research recent sold prices on the open market for each card or comparable cards to identify a fair market value range.
In addition to inspecting individual cards, the appraiser may also want to learn more details about your entire collection to better understand storage practices and provide tips. They can advise if cards may need improved protection from environmental risks like heat, humidity or light exposure that could impact long term preservation. Knowing a collection’s full scope also helps identify any keys that may have initially gone unnoticed.
After completing the physical examination and market research, the appraiser will provide you with a written appraisal report. This document will list out each item appraised along with descriptive details of factors impacting value. It will then assign fair market values for individual cards as well as an aggregated value estimate for your entire collection. For insurance purposes, replacement values accounting for inflation may also be included.
The written report allows you to have a permanent documented record of the collection’s worth for financial planning or potential estate and tax purposes going forward. It is also required should you choose to consign or sell any of the cards through an auction house in the future. Appraisal fees typically range from $50 to $150 per hour depending on the experience of the appraiser. Additional flat fees may apply for mail-in services.
Proper storage, preservation and periodic reappraisals as the market fluctuates are key to maximizing a collection’s long term value. Consulting an appraiser is the most definitive way to understand your current holdings and make informed choices. With the right research and documentation, the appraisal process allows you to fully realize your baseball cards’ worth as treasured assets.
