So you have decided to really give antiquing a try. Great, it is a fun and rewarding hobby. It can also be a profitable one. Although I do it mainly for the fun, from time to time I do run into a deal. Something outside of my normal collection that I pick up for a bargain and then resell.
These terrific finds do not happen all of the time, but keep your eyes open. Want to increase your odd of finding a bargain that you can sell for profit? Here are some tips.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Haggle
Most vendors are willing to work with you and will even expect you to haggle a bit. There are, of course, some that will stick to their guns, but in general, you should be able to get an extra 10 percent off of anything. - Make A Flexible Plan
You want to make the best use of your time and that means making a plan for your day. This will ensure that you hit the maximum amount of shops during your visit to a city. You only have a finite amount of time, so scout out all of the locations that you are interested in online and draw up a map that you can use. Do be flexible however. If you find another opportunity or a store is worthy of more time, do what you need to do. - Plan To Spend Time Efficiently
When you enter a store, you will know pretty quickly how much time it warrants. Spend enough time to get a feel for what a store has to offer but don’t waste more time than you need to if it is not going anywhere. Likewise, if a store turns out to be a goldmine, don’t be afraid to spend more time than is allotted. - Pay With Cash
Like almost every other business, antique shops love cash. Other forms of payments such as credit will cause the business owner to incur fees. Checks come with a risk since many shoppers will be from out of the area. That means that you will probably get the best price if you make an offer with cash. - Expect Imperfection
You are shopping for very old things after all, so expect flaws. That 200 year old piece of furniture is going to have some flaws so don’t let a little crack in the wood or tear in the upholstery deter you from a purchase. Of course, do keep in mind that a piece can have some flaws but it should not be totally flawed.
