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How does your pre house clearance service work?

Do you need house clearance in Northern England?

Before you call any house clearance company Call Foxtons, we will call out to the property at your convenience and pick out all the items we can sell and pay you there and then in cash. You will be surprised at what we will buy.

We will buy vintage clothing, costume jewellry, bric-a-brac, retro furniture, pictures, old watches, coins, gold, silver, china, items from the 50, 60s, 70s, old toys. We will buy anything old or vintage we can sell.

We will happily look through and pick out antiques & collectables from various locations including cluttered houses, garages, lofts, or basements, even if it takes us all day. We do not mind getting dirty.

We guarantee to find items you would never have thought were worth money.

Give us a call even if you think the house clearance items are worthless. You have nothing to loose!

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Not sure what you have? Then call us! You will be surprised at what we actually do buy. Our pre house clearance staff are very knowledgeable and will pick out items you would have never guessed were otherwise saleable.

Dealing in Gold and Silver

If you wish to be a gold, silver or jewellery dealer, the first thing you have to do is acquire a hallmark book. You legally are required to have hallmark guides when trading in gold, silver and platinum goods, so ensure that you have one present to avoid trouble. You can obtain a copy from most reputable bookshops and antiques fairs.

Learn the essential hallmarks such as the Birmingham's anchor and any other most commonly used ones from the book. You might find that some dealers do what's called a 'marriage' - putting an authentic hallmark on an later piece, if you know your hallmarks, you will avoid this costly mistake. This is not a rampantly common practice, but always check the base of the item for any tell-tale signs such as lumps on the side where they were replaced.

Be selective when buying your pieces, as not everything made from silver or gold is instantly sellable. Go for well-designed, stylish pieces - bigger does not necessarily mean more expensive, as some smaller silver/pewter snuffboxes sell really well.

Some favourites include but are not limited to:

Teapots and coffee pots (matching milk jugs and sugar bowls increase value)
Toast racks (especially those by Liberty)
Tankards
Pillboxes and snuffboxes
Candle holders
Bowls of various sizes
Platters and large plates
Display stands for preserve jars
Salt cellars
Pepper pots
Mustard pots
Cruets
Vestas or match boxes
Small picture frames
Cigarette boxes
Business card cases
Tie-pins
Scissors and knives

Invest in a gold tester for non-hallmarked or costly pieces. Make sure to carefully clean the items before selling or displaying them, as that will increase value.

Always be aware of safety precautions - have lockable cases for your jewellery and smaller items. Carefully wrap your larger items in opaque covering to avoid advertising your costly purchases and merchandise when walking down the street or transporting by car.

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