Top tips for antique collectors

Taking the first steps into the world of collecting antiques can be both daunting and exciting, once you have taken that first step the majority of people find themselves hooked and continue on their journey very successfully. For all the, would be collectors out there, then here are some hints and tips to help get you started down the road of collecting.

The number one rule when starting out in the world of collecting is always go with your gut feeling, if something feels right then go for it, if it doesn’t then walk away with your money in your pocket. It is better to walk away and fight another day so to speak than waste your money by buying something which is worthless.

Choose an area to specialise in and then stick with this for a while, don’t go buying a little of this and a little of that, build up a collection and then when you have confidence start to branch out in other areas, some of the most popular areas when it comes to antiques are jewellery, furniture and art.

The main ways of buying antiques are at auction houses and online via online auctions, however there are many other ways of starting a collection. Bargains and good items can be picked up relatively cheap at car boot sales, jumble sales, antique fairs and bric a brac markets, always review your options and check them out before parting with your hard earned cash.

When starting out in antiques and collecting then learn everything there is to know about the particular field you want to start collecting in, this is essential if you are to not get ripped off by buying reproductions or fakes. Ensure that you know what to look for in an item and always inspect the item thoroughly before buying along with asking questions about it.

Go to car boot sales, jumble sales e.t.c just to get the feel of the items you are interest in and also to get a broad range of how much certain items go for at these places. For the first few times don’t go with the intention of buying but rather just to look around and take in the atmosphere, you can get very good tips from listening to other people at auctions and this can put you in good stead when it comes to buying.

Take advice from books, videos and the TV, when it comes down to antiques you can never be armed with enough information regarding them. Knowledge can save you a lot of heartache and indeed a whole lot of money so ensure that you learn, learn, learn before being tempted to hand over a huge wad of cash for you are told is worth thousands, it might, but then again it might not be, do you know the difference.