Bargain Hunting
If you like the finer things in life, then buying an antique might be for you. But if you haven’t bought an antique before, what should you look for?
Here are a few top tips on hunting out those antique gems. Make a plan – if visiting an antiques auction, it can be easy to get carried away in the spirit and come home with items you didn’t intend to buy.
If you can, get hold of the catalogue before a sale and research the pieces you like and a rough idea of a good price. If you aren’t able to see the lots beforehand, go to the auction with an idea of the type of pieces you are looking for.
If buying at auction don’t forget to factor in the auction fees – usually a percentage of the final hammer price. Decide on a style rather than end up with a whole myriad of different types and styles of antiques, it can be nice to build up a number of pieces from a certain period, or else have a theme running through your collection.
Don’t forget only buy what you like. Although art, antiques and furniture can be a great investment, you should always try and stick to pieces that you want to have in your home and are happy to look at for a few years.
