If you want to know if hiring a certified & accredited appraiser is worth your time and money, then do a little preliminary research on your objects. If you can identify an item of furniture, jewelry, decorative or fine art, you are on your way to determining a value.

Many people are knowledgeable about the value of their estates: stocks, bonds, real estate. Few pay attention to their personal property. I think this is often because your collection represents you and your passions and memories; and a price is not easily put upon that.