Auctioneer: Free In-Home Valuation | Auctie's

In-Home Appraisal by an Auctioneer

Do you have a collection of furniture that’s difficult to move, an estate that needs to be inventoried, or a large collection whose value you’d like to know?

A licensed auctioneer from Auctie's will visit your home to examine your items on-site, estimate their market value, and provide you with price ranges—with no obligation on your part.

The appraisal is free, travel is included, and you remain entirely free to decide how to proceed. We serve the Île-de-France region and, upon request, all of France for high-value collections.

What is an in-home appraisal?

A home appraisal involves a licensed auctioneer visiting the owner’s home to examine the items directly on site, in their original context, and provide the owner with a range of market values reflecting current auction market conditions.

It differs from a notarial inventory, which is a separate, fee-based service that serves as probative evidence in estate settlements and judicial property divisions. The in-home appraisal is free and non-binding: its purpose is to inform the owner and, if the owner wishes, to prepare for a potential auction sale.

As of July 1, 2026, the title of auctioneer has been officially reinstated by decree: only auctioneers are authorized to conduct voluntary public auctions in France.

This authorization, issued and regulated by the Council of Auction Houses (conseilmaisonsdevente.fr/fr/July-1-2026-auctioneers-officially-regain-their-title), guarantees the competence and legal responsibility of the professional visiting your home.

Why does an auctioneer come to your home?

A home visit is not just a convenience—it is often a prerequisite for a thorough appraisal. Certain items simply cannot be transported safely: a large stamped piece of furniture, a crystal chandelier, a hand-woven rug, a high-woven tapestry, or a complete library.

Others must be examined as a whole in order for their value to be properly assessed: a cohesive collection is often worth more than the sum of its parts, and this difference can only be perceived by viewing the entire collection on site.

A direct physical examination also allows the expert to assess key details that a photograph cannot accurately capture: the actual material of a piece of furniture (Macassar ebony or imitation?), silversmith’s hallmarks that are illegible in a photograph, signatures on the back of a painting, workshop marks beneath a chair, the precise condition of a restoration, or even the state of preservation of an antique fabric. On these points, the specialist’s own eyes are irreplaceable.

The Process of an In-Home Appraisal

The process consists of four simple steps. Step 1: You send us a few photographs of the main items via the online form, which allows the expert to identify the necessary expertise and prepare for the visit.

Step 2: Our team will contact you within 24 hours to schedule an appointment, usually set for the week following your request. Step 3: The appointed auctioneer or appraiser will visit your home at the agreed-upon time, examine each item, note any relevant identifying details, and ask the necessary questions about provenance.

Step 4: They provide you with their estimates on the spot, in the form of value ranges, and inform you of the various options available if you wish to proceed.

What happens after the appraisal?

After the visit, you are completely free to decide what to do next. There are several possible courses of action. If you wish to sell, Auctie's can include all or part of your items in the catalog for its next auction, in the appropriate categories: a consignment agreement will then specify the reserve price, the terms of sale, and the applicable fees.

If you do not wish to sell immediately, you may keep your items with no obligation. If you are dealing with an estate, the appraisal can serve as a basis for an amicable division among heirs, although it does not replace a notarized inventory in the case of contested estates.

Finally, if you wish to insure your property, the appraisal provides a useful reference value, which can be supplemented, if necessary, by a certified written appraisal report.

How much does an appraisal by an auctioneer cost?

The pre-auction appraisal is completely free, including travel expenses. The auctioneer is not paid for this initial step: their compensation is based exclusively on the sales commission deducted from the hammer price if, and only if, you decide to sell your item and it finds a buyer.

This model ensures that your interests are fully aligned with those of the auction house: we are motivated to obtain the best possible price for your item, since that price determines our compensation.

There are two types of services that are exceptions to this free-of-charge policy. A certified written appraisal, prepared at the owner’s request for a specific purpose (insurance company, court, contentious estate settlement), is subject to a quote based on the complexity of the item. The probate inventory with probative value, described below, is also a service billed based on a quote.

Estate Inventory and Insurance

The inventory of personal property is a service distinct from the free appraisal. It is a written document listing each item and its value, enforceable against third parties and usable in probate proceedings, estate division, or when filing a claim with an insurer.

It is billed based on a quote, depending on the volume and nature of the assets to be inventoried. Its probative value distinguishes it from the verbal appraisal provided during a home visit, which does not entail the appraiser’s formal liability toward third parties.

In matters of inheritance, the tax authorities recognize several methods for valuing personal property. A public auction is considered the most reliable method. An inventory drawn up by a public official is the second option.

Failing that, an estimated declaration is accepted, but the tax authorities apply a minimum flat-rate deduction of 5% on the total value of the furnishings, in accordance with the provisions of Article 764 of the General Tax Code (legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000006069577/LEGISCTA000006199539/) and the guidelines in the BOFiP (bofip.impots.gouv.fr/bofip/1389-PGP.html).

Free appraisals throughout the Île-de-France region

The Auctie's team provides in-home service throughout the Île-de-France region, with appointment times typically less than one week. For collections of significant value or volume, travel to other regions can be arranged upon request, following an initial evaluation based on photographs.

Major cities where we operate

Paris (all arrondissements), Hauts-de-Seine (Boulogne-Billancourt, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Levallois-Perret, Issy-les-Moulineaux, Courbevoie, Nanterre, Antony), Val-de-Marne (Vincennes, Créteil, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, Nogent-sur-Marne), Seine-Saint-Denis, Yvelines (Versailles, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Rambouillet), Essonne, Val-d’Oise, and Seine-et-Marne.

Online Appraisal Throughout France

For owners located outside the Paris region, Auctie’s offers a free online appraisal based on photographs, with a response within 24 hours.

This remote appraisal covers the entire territory of France and, in the vast majority of cases, provides a reliable value range without the need for an in-person visit. If the item proves to be exceptional enough to warrant a trip to the provinces, our teams will gladly arrange it following this initial evaluation.

Our Areas of Expertise

During in-home visits, Auctie’s assigns the specialist(s) best suited to the nature of the items to be appraised.

Our Auctioneers

Our auctioneers and experts are listed and verifiable in the official directory of the Council of Auction Houses (conseilmaisonsdevente.fr/fr/rechercher-dans-lannuaire), which lists all professionals authorized to practice in France.

“Seeing an item in person allows you to perceive what a photograph cannot convey: the weight of the metal, the depth of a patina, the authenticity of a restoration. In these respects, there is no substitute for a hands-on inspection.” — Auctie’s auctioneer.

Customer Reviews — “The auctioneer arrived on time and took the time to examine each piece without rushing.” — “A clear, pressure-free appraisal—he told me what it was worth and let me decide. " — "I was expecting a sales pitch, but it was a genuine appraisal." — "Very professional; he explained his estimates using references to recent sales."

Schedule an appointment for an in-home appraisal

A licensed auctioneer will visit your home in the Île-de-France region—free of charge and with no obligation—to appraise your art, furniture, jewelry, or any collection you’d like to have valued. Whether you’re dealing with an estate, moving, or simply curious about the value of your possessions, the process is simple, confidential, and involves no obligation to proceed.