Antiques and collectibles are two hot categories on eBay. Collectibles by themselves represent billions of dollars in sales every year. This boom has been fueled by an ever-expanding e-commerce market place. No longer confined to only a local interest base, antique and collectible sellers now have a huge opportunity to cash in on their unique finds. And buyers can shop the world for the items they crave. Whether online or offline, buying and selling is the same – namely, people will continue to seek the same type of info and ask the same basic questions.
If antiques and collectibles interest you there are numerous online resources you can refer to in order to better understand the opportunities present in these categories.
Make a Friend out of Your Computer:
Plan on spending some time checking web sites devoted to antiques and collectibles. The bad news is, it takes time to look at all the good ones. The good news is, you’ll not only love checking these sites out but you’ll learn a lot along the way. A good place to start is with ‘The Kovels’ Top Twenty list’ at kovels.com. While you’re there get a free issue of Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles. Google, ‘antiques and collectibles’ to tap into a huge research database.
Visit a Bookstore:
There are a lot of great books on the shelves featuring antiques and collectibles. Your local library may have an assortment of books you can borrow free. Amazon.com offers a large list of popular books you can purchase at reasonable prices, particularly if you shop the used book bin. If you know of others interested in sharing the cost of books you can quickly save a great deal on your purchases. Form a private ‘resource library’ for family and friends to contribute to. And don’t forget magazines such as ‘ANTIQUES & COLLECTING MAGAZINE’ at acmagazine.com.
Check out Forums:
As with anything in life, experience helps. Today you have that experience at hand with a few click of a mouse button. Join as many online forums and groups devoted to antiques and collectibles as you can find. You are sure to find lots of people who share your interests. Try fantiques.com, antiques-collectibles-auction-news.com, forumgalleries.com. Google ‘antiques and collectibles forums’ for more suggestions. And don’t overlook the boards, such as HGTV’s Antiques & Collectibles Message Board.
Attend Shows:
Asking questions at shows will go a long way towards building your knowledge base. Seek out those items that really interest you and ask questions. Pay attention to what is being said around you as well. Here, it pays to be a good listener. Carrying a tape recorder will help you pickup on things you may have missed or to recall those things you’ve heard. Having a cell phone with a built in camera can be a big plus here as well. Check out ‘Google Directory for Antiques/Shows_and_Events/’ for a listing of various events. Many locations publish shows and event news and can easily be found online.
Specialization: Key to focus:
It’s a good idea, when starting out, that you specialize in one or two items that really interest you and that you can happily spend time learning about. The key is not to expend your energy chasing too many antiques or collectibles at once.
Gaining insight in your niche is vitally important. Mostly it takes time and a lot of questions and reading to get a good education. The more you learn about various objects the more you’ll be able to negotiate for the best prices when you buy. Remember that your profit is made when you buy. Selling is something you do to claim that profit. So don’t be afraid to ask questions before you buy. And, knowing your antiques well lets you negotiate the lowest prices. Asking for a discount when buying is to be expected. After all, when you sell your collectibles your buyer will also seek a discount. Plan on this when you buy. There are no “bad” prices, only bad negotiators.
Avoid Reserves When Selling:
You want to avoid reserves in the antique business when you sell. Placing a reserve price on your items is a quick way to lose two-thirds of your potential audience. If you’ve invested a lot in your items you can decide to set a reserve. Just remember that you will be limiting your ability to make a sale. Sometimes this won’t matter, at other times it may. To get a good idea of what your items will sell for look at similar items currently being sold.
Keep Good Records:
It pays to keep good records. Along with quality photos you’ll want some background information to include in the description. Get this at the time you are making the purchase! Don’t wait until you’ve dragged the stuff home before you start asking about the history of the items you’ve bought. Get all the information you can while standing before the seller and TAKE NOTES! You may even want to know who was the previous owner and if it would be possible to contact them to ask a few questions as well. In antiques and collectibles having the right information, the history of each item, can be a major reason why someone is compelled to buy from you rather then from someone else. The more you know, the more knowledgeable you come across.
Assessing Value:
Save having your antiques and collectible items appraised for the most expensive items you buy. Appraisals are expensive and not really necessary on items up to a $1,000. If you must know what it is worth you can check web sites like antiquemystique.com to assess value. Or Google “appraising antiques” for additional web sites.
Watch the video related to antiques
PBS Airdate: Monday, June 2, 2008 at 8 PM ET (check local listings) www.pbs.org A valuable 18th-century Aaron Willard shelf clock turns up at ANTIQUES ROADSHOW in Los Angeles, California, passed down by the guest’s great-great-great grandfather. Appraiser Sean Delaney explains that the clock represents the earliest form of a Massachusetts shelf clock and was made by the brother of the renowned clockmaker Simon Willard. Preview this and more American-made clocks in Roadshow’s video Archive …
Help answer the question about antiques
What is the best way to research antiques online?I am in the process of cleaning out my parents house containing 50 years worth of "stuff" and I don't know what might be valuable as antiques.
About Author
Dan Walter has been following major market trends since 1996. He is the creator of a unique online software program he uses to scan ‘eBay Pulse’ for the latest product trends. Visit his web site at http://www.1800realitycheck.com to use his FREE tool to monitor what’s selling on eBay. Follow his blog at http://1800realitycheck.blogspot.com to catch DAILY SCANS of ‘eBay Pulse’, PLUS learn the latest business techniques and marketing strategies of the pros.
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Go to antique stores and flea markets, watch what others are buying, talk to them and the dealers. Pick up free antique and collectible magazines/news letters at antique stores. Read the many books on antiques in your local library. Of course, check eBay and other web sites for what is selling, how many bids, and the final sale price.
There are some good groups on MSN and Yahoo you can join to learn from others with same interest.
Figure out what you're into first to narrow your focus like is it dolls, collectibles, furniture, paintings? Then concentrate on learning about them otherwise its overwhelming. Most experts have an area they are really good at and find others that are good at each category.
Please get a de-humidifier or two for now I doubt your insurance will cover this. This is a maintenance problem not a property damage claim. You need to go to a Sanitation Supply store and get a mildew cleaner (industrial cleaner). Explain what you have and they should supply the proper cleaner. Usually its sprayed on, Quite simple but effective and important. Spray everywhere even if you see no mildew this mildew could be in behind your walls , ceilings, attic, anywhere. You may want to call an air quality contractor or a contractor that services the insurance companies for property losses due to flood (water damage). your insurance agent would know someone or any insurance company will have a preferred contractor list that they use for this type of damage. Have this inspection done by a specialist as I mentioned above. Mildew is very harmful to your health as well as your property so please get this done.
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Arm & Hammer baking soda can take the smell of smoke, sweat, and etc from furniture. You can get a box or two and apply a thick layer of it on the surface and leave it on for an hour. Then vacuum it off, and the smell should be gone.
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What kind of business? Your own shop? Selling them on Ebay? Yard Sales?
First figure out what your 'business' is. Secondly, why should I buy from you? What makes you so unique that I should come to you first?
If you can answer all these questions, then maybe you can start your own 'business'.
Of course, you will have to have a business plan and analysis, or you simply won't get funded.
Good luck to you.
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Antique Dealing by Matthew Ohms is a full-featured guide on how to buy and sell antiques for profit. It covers antique valuation & pricing, auction tips, profit potential and the legal aspects of buying and selling antiques.
While the law varies from place to place, to be considered an antique a car or other piece of machinery needs to be 25 years old, toys need to be 10 years old, and other items at least 50-100 years old.
The reason for this is that items like cars and machinery go through a lot more wear and tear than a chair or a desk. So for it to last 25 years is truly significant.
If you don't know anything about the items, you shouldn't try to deal them yourself. With many antiques, furniture especially, it's very difficult to tell the good from the great, and the real from the fake. If there is documentation of purchase for any of the items, at least you have a place to start. You should try to find a reputable dealer, who can take the items on consignment for you. Look in the local yellow pages under Antiques, and then check with the Better Business Bureau or other consumer protection agency to verify that the dealer you choose is in good standing. If you have pieces you suspect are really valuable, get them appraised by someone who doesn't have an interest in buying them.
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`That may be the only use for a Art History college major. Also, get a job in an antiques store.