Antique furniture has been gaining popularity over the last few years. You are seeing more in homes all across America. Rules of economics tell you as demand rises, price rises too. Therefore, this type of furniture has been getting more expensive through the years and everyone wants to find inexpensive, quality buys. We have put together a few hunting tips to help you find furniture within your budget.
Antique Stores
Antique stores are probably everyone’s first stop when shopping for antiques. You might run into a good deal on an antique piece at an antique store, but generally antique stores have high prices. The stores are a good place to decide on your tastes and set a standard for your antique shopping.
If you are not planning to do any restoring, you might want to buy your pieces at an antique store, as the store will complete most of the restoration work before you buy the furniture. This accounts for most of the reason why furniture prices are higher at antique specialty stores. You also may be paying for location if you buy from a store in a tourist town or in a special shopping district.
Garage Sales
Garage sales are some of the best places to buy because many times the sellers do not know what they are selling. It is a classic example of the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” At garage sales, you can benefit from people’s lack of love for their antiques.
Many times, owners will be willing to negotiate when you want to buy their antique furniture at garage sales, unless they are trying to make a chunk of change off the pieces. Be sure you are knowledgeable about the antiques and their basic value before making an offer.
Estate Sales
Estate sales are another great place to buy. Some of the fun parts of antique hunting at estate sales are looking for matching sets, getting collectors items and buying in bulk. If the former owner of the estate had your taste, you may be able to buy several coordinating pieces for your home at a discounted rate.
Again, know what you are looking for and what you are willing to pay before you make an offer or you could end up paying more than the furniture is worth, especially if you get excited or buy several pieces at once.
Auctions
Once you have become a true antiquity guru, head out to the antique auctions. You will be bidding against the owners of antique stores and seasoned antique dealers, so be prepared. Come early so you can prowl through the stacks of furniture and check out the lot numbers of the pieces you wish to bid on. Set an upper bidding limit in your head right when you choose the pieces.
Then wait for your favorites to come up on the block. Bid until you win or until you hit your limit. Be prepared to stay until late at night or even into the wee hours of the morning to see all of the antique furniture come up on the block. If you win any of your favorite pieces, be ready to load them into your vehicle and transport them home that night all by yourself.
By D. Blair Thompson