Appraiser Ted Pappas give his thoughts on an item to an interested patron. 250News file photo

Prince George, B.C. – It’s always fun, and sometimes lucrative, to learn what those heirlooms that were passed down from generation to generation in your family or that “stuff” that’s been sitting in the basement or storage area might be worth.  And this weekend you have an opportunity to, perhaps, get some answers to your questions.

The Huble Homestead is bringing in renowned appraiser Ted Pappas for its biennial Antique Appraisals fundraiser running today and Sunday at the Exploration Place.  Krystal Leason, Operations Manager with Huble Homestead, welcomes the opportunity to have Ted return following his last visit here in 2015 and says its great that the Exploration Place people supply the venue and offer their support of this event.

She says funds are raised for the homestead through the appraisals, which are $15 per item.  “So when you arrive at the Exploration Place you’ll purchase your ticket at the door, and unfortunately we take CASH ONLY.  And Ted will look at your item, appraise it, give you all sorts of information about it and all the money from those appraisals stays with Huble Homestead.”

Leason says “the $15 is per item but also per set.  So, for instance, if you have a tea set that’s one item and you don’t necessarily need to bring the whole tea set.  You could bring a few main pieces and a list or photos of the other pieces of the set and he can appraise it like that.”

“You can also have furniture appraised as long as you print out pictures.  You can bring photos to have appraised but they have to be printed out and not still on your phone or camera.  That’s just so he can have a good look at those things so we recommend taking photos from different angles and making note of any special markings or trade marks or whatever that you might find on it.  All those things help him identify its age, origin, things like that.”

Krystal says this event really gets a boost because of the generosity of some of the supporters within the community.  “For instance The Exploration Place donated the space to us, we have to say a “thank you” to the Ramada for a reduced rate for his stay in Prince George, and then of course a “thank you” to Ted Pappas himself who charges us an extremely reasonable rate and makes it possible for us to have this event.”

All of the money raised goes toward the preservation an restoration of the historic homestead site, 40 kilometres north of Prince George.

Leason says the Antique Appraisals event “runs from 10 am to 4 pm each day and he will do appraisals all day long whenever he has them to do and hopefully we’ll have a packed house both days.”

She says Pappas is also doing house calls while in town for the weekend.  “If there’s anyone who has a house full of antiques, or maybe is downsizing or dealing with an estate, he is available in the evenings to visit your home and give you an appraisal by room.  The minimum fee for that is $100 and it would go up from there depending on how many items you want him to take a look at.”

There are still some openings available for that tonight, and you should speak with the Huble Homestead people either at The Exploration Place or by phoning their office at (250) 564-7033.  You will be asked what you want appraised, how many items you have and then, if openings still exist you’ll be scheduled for an appointment.

By the way, Krystal notes that “it’s free to come and watch (at Exploration Place).  If you just want to come and watch it’s totally free to sit there for as long as you want and watch him do his thing.”