How do I Value a layout?

[Bourne23a]

Hello!

I’m new here so sorry if this isn’t the right place to post this!

I’ve been working on my first layout on and off for about 2 years or so, it’s built although it requires wiring, electronics and I have no loco. Everything on it is hand built excluding pre-bought trees.
I’m wondering how I would value the layout or what estimate anyone would give on here?

The dimensions are roughly 1200mm x 700mm.
N-Gauge scale

I’ve attached a link to photos (if it works)

https://onedrive.live.com/?id=58B15BA0D ... A0DB114C13

If anyone would be kind enough to browse and provide a figure I would be most grateful, I’m just after an idea of what would be an acceptable amount

Thanks I’m advance!

[Walkingthedog]

You know what you have and how much you have spent so I guess that is the value. If you needed ton replace everything what would it cost?

[IanS]

Everything is only 'worth' what someone else is willing and able to pay for it!

It may have a greater value to you than the sum of it's parts, including the time, effort and thought that went into building it. Only you can put a value on the extra. Everything else is only 'worth' the 2nd hand value of the items, very little in the grand scheme of things.

If you're valuing it to sell, do what many seem to do and place on e-bay with a high reserve to test the water as to what interest there is in it.

If you're valuing it to insure, it will be the replacement cost of the parts.

PS - The link didn't work for me.

[Brian]

The link doesn't work. Upload images to the forum or better to the forums image hosting, to do this use the link just below the text box where it says "P Add image to post" Follow instruction to upload an image from your PC etc.

Layout value =
Time involved in constructing the layout = £0
Scenic detailing = £0
Track and locos value = £ cost to replace each item or its secondhand value

Most household home content insurance will cover single items usually up to £1000. Times that by the number of items.

If in doubt, insure with a specialist model railway insurance company like Stamp http://stampinsurance.co.uk/ and give a overall value of £4000.00 Over this you may be asked for specific receipts to cover increased values.

[Bourne23a]

Thank you all for the replies.
I understand that the value would be the cost of the materials at a minimum.

I was more just wondering what peoples value would be if they were to see it on eBay, but that’s before a knew the link didn’t work

Here’s a few images of what I’ve built.

[sandy]

A bit like classic cars. You can spend a fortune doing one up but you never get any thing like what you have spent on it when you sell it.

[Mountain Goat]

Very nice layout. Layouts are difficult to value and they rarely go for the price the materials cost because everyone wants to make their own and has their own ideas about what they like to build. Is a difficult thing to answer. The best plan is to advertise and ask for offers, or have a price in mind and see what happens if one advertizes it at that price.
Is really a bit of hit and miss. Even selling locos can be like that. Some go very quickly and one maybe surprized how quick and others can be reduced and reduced to below the cost of their motors and they still don't sell. Is very hit and miss, so the best advice is to offer them for sale and see what happens. (Always start with the highest expected price and work down from there offering the layout gradually cheaper until an interested buyer decided it is a price they are willing to pay). They can make an offer. One does not have to accept if it a lot lower than one would be willing to sell it for.
Best thing to do is offer it up for sale and see what happens. Just put "Offers". Selling houses is like that. The sellers have a rough value in mind compared to other similar places in the area, and buyers have a rough plan to what they want and their maximum budget, and the buyers are looking to get that special "Dream" place ("Dream" does not mean it has to be top notch order. Dream means the most ideally suitable property for their needs and preferences as every buyer has their own individual requirements and desires in mind).

It actually makes me wonder if there is a need for a site specifically designed to sell layouts? That would be interesting.

[Chops]

Nothing terribly useful to contribute, other than the UK being somewhat more compact, by degrees, than say the USA. On the other hand, some of the Northern reaches and offshore islands might as well be on the moon, from what I see, at least in terms of transporting something like a layout. The best answer is what someone will pay for it. Unlike Forums in the USA, for sale items here seem to veritably fly off the shelf, I imagine as it avoids having to pay VAT. Perhaps you might want to post it under the classified section and see what happens. You might get a better return on selling rolling stock in lots, as well as structures, in lots. Lots tend to sell faster as there is more bang for the ...pound.

At the moment I have four vintage Hornbys and a Trix up on eBay. I expect to take quite a beating and someone is going to walk off with these four, or three, pieces at a brilliant discount. I started the bidding at 99 cents with the idea that it would load up from there. Not much, it is.

[Chuffchuff]

Maybe take a look ar Ebay and see what layouts are selling for ? Some do seem to sell,

The reality is that most run of the mill layouts are worth little compared to the cost involved when it comes to ending the hobby.

Unfortunately there are not many paying hobbies around.

Rgds

[burtos]

I manged to sell my last few layouts; one was to a guy who wanted something for his grand kids to play when visiting it was a Roundy Roundy about 8ft by 4ft. Came up from Bournemouth and back in a day. I think I sold that for around £800. As people say try and gauge how much it cost in materials and what comes with the layout also. I never add in my time to the costs as it would be thousands based on a per hr rate.

2nd layout was a 12ft by 7ft donut shape layout going up and down over 2 levels for the track, i did 2 prices for that one for the layout itself and one for the layout plus all the buildings. same again really add the costs

Baseboards
Track
Lights
buildings
Scenic stuff

Get a rough estimate and decide how much you're willing to reduce the full price you paid for everything.

I think I broke even with the cost of everything, which than allowed me to start building my 3 rd layout.