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Local citizens were thinking that last Saturday at the Antique Appraisal held at the Corner Store in Harbor Beach.

Owner Pam Semp said, "(I held this event because) people (are always) wondering if they have that special something."

Although this is the first time the free appraisal has occurred, Semp hopes to continue with it. "We will try to do it again," she said.

The appraiser was Mike Gaylord, who can be heard on his radio talk show "Everything Classic" from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings (1450 AM Port Huron, 1470 AM Flint, 1530 AM Lapeer and 1590 AM Mount Pleasant). Semp appeared on Gaylord's show this past Saturday to discuss the event.

"There were non-stop call-ins," Semp said about the success of the show. "Everyone seemed to have questions about their personal items."

Gaylord begins his appraisals by asking the collector their history with the piece, how long they have had it and how they came across the collectable.

He then looks the piece up and down and uses a magnify glass to examine the details and the manufacturer on the bottom. With the help of reference books, Gaylord is able to tell the estimated value and parts of the history, such as where it is from and the age of the treasure.

"Never put anything in a garage sale before you call the show," Gaylord warned. "It is important to know the actual value of family heirlooms or yard sale finds before selling."

He explained that the best places to sell valuable treasures are E-Bay, antique shops and auction houses.