3 Tips and Guide on How to Buy Antiques - Thursday Two Questions Meme #129

3 Tips and Guide on How to Buy Antiques 
Antiques are some of the most desirable objects in the world. They are highly collectible because of their age and aesthetic beauty. The deep connection antiques have with certain historical epoch and perceived financial as well as emotional value make them immensely sought-after.
For the most part, the rarer the antiques are the higher their worth, assuming the overall state of their condition is good of course. Such objects, when acquired, are best delivered by some form of fine art transport. After all, the investment needs to be treated with dutiful care. Buying antiques is not, as might be perceived, an easy endeavor, especially if you're looking into taking it seriously. This can be a lifelong pursuit that enriches your life in many ways, one which can take you all over the world and introduce you to fascinating individuals and spaces.
This guide serves as a useful tool for novices, mid-career pros and stalwart veterans who are interested in either beginning, adding or complementing their collection.

The Overview: The Search for Antiques
• When buying antiques, present yourself as being knowledgeable, if you come across as naive in anyway, the sellers will take advantage of you. For example, sticking to the asking price will most likely give you away.
• As such, do not put up a facade  but do your research. It will help you understand about the industry in general, save you some money, and land you the prize, which is bringing home a very desirable object.
• One crucial question to consistently ask about the object is: "Has the antique undergone any restoration?" The sellers won’t necessary tell you the truth or have to answer you honestly, but it is necessary to ask, because what you think is a remarkable purchase could be anything but.

Bargain and Price the Antiques Again
• Never settle on the price you see or the price that is asked. Although it isn't some arbitrary value, there is a lot of leeway built into this. The seller knows, expects even, for the price to be contested. Now, once again, information is vital here. Antiques come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from different periods of history and are either in mint condition or flawed in some way. Price can therefore fluctuate wildly.
• The first port of call is to set a budget for yourself. Know how much money you have to work with. In restricting and setting goals for the objects, you can have confidence and fun instead of being cheated out of large sums of money for acquiring unworthy pieces of antiques.
• A good, straight question to ask is: "What's your best price?" Sellers like this because it suggests confidence, and, as mentioned above, shows that you've savvy. Whatever they respond with, calculate it with ten per cent in mind.
• In other words, the "best price" should result in at least a ten per cent reduction. If not, well, the table is still open to haggle.

Where to Buy Antiques: Location, location, location
One thing is certain in the antique business – there is no shortage of places to buy them.
• Let's start with the classic dealers' shops, which are dotted throughout the world. Though much rarer than they once were, in any given city or town and nestled somewhere there will be a place where people gauge the value of an antique they own or browse. Perhaps even just looking for something to decorate a home with. The great thing about these places is that you're going to be offered a level of expertise, through which they will impart some useful tidbits of information that can be used at a later date.
• Car boot and jumble sales are perfect places to chance upon a real find, as the likelihood is that people are not fully aware of what they are putting up for sale at remarkably low prices.
• Estate sales in upper class neighborhoods on an average dig around might be a good source for an assortment of antiques. The hunt and purchase might only set you back a few pounds | dollars, especially if you're good at haggling.

Here are Self Sagacity's Thursday Two Questions #129
1) Have you had or know anyone who collects antiques?
2) What would you collect or tip us about Antique Collecting?

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18 Comments

  1. We love shopping for antiques, but you forgot our favorite location - the swap shop at dump in nice New England communities! It is amazing what people will throw away. A little cleaning and a few repairs can turn an inexpensive find into a family treasure.

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    1. I would love to pick-up freebies and remodel them. I think it really gives me a great sense of accomplishment and pride.

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  2. Fascinating to read and super advice, Thanks for sharing your knowledge on the subject of purchasing antiques.!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. You never know when you will run into a treasure. smiles.

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  3. My mother and father were both collectors. Dad collected toy farm implements such as tractors, threshers and so forth. Most of those were sold just before he passed away. Mom collected Imperial crystal but sold much of hers. She encouraged me to collect Cape Cod and Waterford but my fervor is no where near what hers was. It takes energy, time, savvy, money and patience. She had some exquisite pieces. She studied her history on them and could tell the genuine from the fake. My cats have broke some of mine and made me question my wisdom in even trying this. You need a special place to store and display them.

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    1. Certainly sounds like your family is into collecting antiques. It is one of those things where you can say: "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" for antiques.

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  4. I don't know anyone who collects antiques but if I did collect them they should be something useful and not just ofr display.

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    1. I have the same thoughts, although I am starting to appreciate the beauty and charm of old world furniture. smiles.

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  5. antiques are really cool but so expensive too :(

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  6. 1) Have you had or know anyone who collects antiques?

    I don't know anyone in my circle that collects antiques, and I am not a collector either

    2) What would you collect or tip us about Antique Collecting?

    I wouldn't know what advise or giving tips. Your post gives me some good inside though, thanks!

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  7. I do not collect antiques, but maybe one day when we get into our dream home then I can think about buying some lovely old pieces. The personality in old furniture is amazing!

    I wish I had info to contribute to your questions, but sadly I do not. I think I would like to collect old things to use indoors and out. I think it's so cool how someone may use an old wagon or bed for a flower bed or to place old farm equipment in their yard. There are some many ways to use beautiful old stuff that many discard.

    Good read and good questions. Thanks for hosting T2Q!

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  8. It's nice to have anitique stuff. We do. I have a couple of antique cars (a 1950 Ford Custom Tudor and a 1974 Ford Mustang II Ghia). Antique cars don't have to be 50 years old, 25 is okay at least here in Texas. My stuff is also old toys and radios.

    We have several of pieces of antique furnitured, dishes, and clocks. "The minimal of years for it to be antique is 70-80 years, official antiques have to be 100 years old" per wiki.answers.com. Ours will match some of both minimual and way past. Quite a few are of the 1800's but I can't think of anything from the 70's.

    My tips?
    1) Check out the yard, garage, and estate sales. "Some people's junk is another's treasure."
    2) Start thinking about antiques that your parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other friends have. Work on them as strongly as you dare to see if when they are through with them you could own them. Our kids mostly didn't start thinking antiques until their younger years were over. We didn't either.
    ..

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  9. This is all wonderful advice, Amanda. I know many people who collect antiques and the only tips I have is frequent estate sales and thrift stores. You never know what you'll find. Garage sales are also good in finding treasures.

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  10. This is very interesting.

    I don't know anyone who collects antiques right now, but I had always hoped that my family would passed down something to me as a child.
    Except I did not have a family.

    If I could collect something, I'd want a piano or a guitar or a bookcase. Maybe even just a little table.

    Happy Thursday Amanda!

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  11. I've never been a collector of anything really, I wish I would but to be honest I am SO lazy and even more cheap. I would like some additions to my house so maybe I'll take some of this advice and spruce it up a bit!

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  12. i wish i know how to assess antiques, but i am not a collector, so have no idea at all, these are great tips for the antique lovers.

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  13. I'm visiting from Aloha Friday. Glad to connect. Please join me on my Friday Flash Blog on The Jenny Evolution (www.thejennyevolution.com) as well and share your favorite post of the week. Happy Friday :-)

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  14. I found your blog through Aloha Friday. I love your blog! I don't collect antiques, but like them. New follower here. I give you the link to my blog, if you like my projects, I invite you to follow me.
    Marisa from
    http://passionetcouture.blogspot.ca/

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