Things to Know Before Antiquing
Y’all, there’s nothing better than dropping the kids off for a weekend to go antiquing with my girlfriends. I love going to antique shows and discovering buried treasures. I’ve spent hours refurbishing old pieces and making them look brand-new. Yet, as fun as the process is, it’s often overwhelming. Here are some things to know before antiquing. With a little hard work, you’ll have valuable items that impress people whenever they come over. Plus, I can always sell my antiques if I am looking to downsize or earn some extra cash.
Do Your Research
You must do your research before you go antiquing. It’s not smart to walk in blindly. One thing you must study is authenticity. Many people who sell antiques claim that their products are authentic. They assert that their furniture pieces are from the eighteenth century or that their jewelry is imported from France. Please, be smart, and don’t just thoughtlessly trust the sellers. Run DIY-authenticity tests to determine if items are authentic. For example, you can do many things yourself to determine if sterling silver is authentic. Check the pieces for markings, bring a magnet with you, and even smell the items. If you know how to check that things are genuine beforehand, you’ll never buy a fake.
Negotiate
Y’all, my negotiating skills used to be terrible. I would go to antique shows and give the seller whatever amount they asked for. Then one weekend, I went antiquing with my friend—she’s an antiquing pro. She was appalled by my lack of bargaining skills and taught me that I needed to learn to be strong and that I should never pay full price for anything. Again, do some research beforehand. It’s important to know how much items are worth to have a fair price in mind.
Learn the Lingo
The first time I went antiquing was a whirlwind. I came home with way more stuff than I expected. My husband was in shock by how much I purchased. Also, I had no idea that there was specific jargon I should know. Whenever I stopped by a shop, the seller would say something I didn’t understand. I would smile and nod and then be on my way. Now, I’ve learned all the antiquing lingo. I’m so familiar with every term in the industry. No seller will trick me into buying something for more than it’s worth. Please, learn from my mistakes, and familiarize yourself with antiquing lingo before you head out. It can save you a lot of headaches.
This is a resourceful list of things to know before antiquing. You should never head out for the day and hope for the best. You’ll spend way too much money, and who knows if your items are authentic. Be smart, and plan things ahead of time. If you do things right, you could end up with some great stuff that you’ll cherish forever.
