Plain answers to the questions we are asked most, from probate valuations and inheritance tax to selling at auction, written by the specialists who handle these matters every week.
From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds count within the estate for inheritance tax. Thousands more estates will pay, and once an estate is taxable, every contents figure in the account needs to be defensible.
Postal buyers pay by weight, and rarely anything close to the gold price, offers barely above half of spot are common. Auction pays for what an item actually is. One client offered £1,800 for a gold pocket watch received £2,850 after fees at auction.
Nothing should leave the house until the contents have been professionally valued. This step by step guide takes executors from securing the property and the Section 160 valuation through to auction and, only at the end, clearance.
Estates often pay inheritance tax on values their contents never achieve. A formal probate valuation establishes open market value under Section 160 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984, and it can be carried out before probate is granted.
Auction generally achieves higher prices for good-quality antiques because open competition sets the price, while a dealer offers speed and certainty at a trade price. For most items of genuine quality, auction is the better route for the seller.
Look for hallmarks, the weight and colour of the metal, the quality of the gemstones, maker's signatures and original boxes. But the only reliable way to know what jewellery is worth is a free, no-obligation valuation by a specialist.
A professional probate valuation of house contents typically costs between £250 and £500 + VAT, depending on the size of the property. At Aubreys, fees start at £295 + VAT for a one-to-two-bedroom home, and every fee is confirmed in writing before we visit.
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