Friday, March 27, 2009

Your Guide to Finding Antiques

By Irene Mmari

It is very important for all antique buyers to understand exactly how antiques become antiques in the first place, yet sadly this is something that not all antique buyers understand. Numerous collectors and dealers waste far too much of their precious time and money looking in the wrong markets for these items, because they think the items will be in great abundance. Many of these antique dealers are well-intentioned, but simply lack a grasp of how antiques originate.

If you want to find fresh-to-the-market antiques and collectibles, you need to go where they are in great abundance, and where they come from! Naturally, they do not start at auctions or flea markets, or even at antique shows. This is something that will remain true for 99 percent of any and all antiques that you will ever run across.

The other simple fact is that most antiques that you are most likely to get a great deal on reside in the homes of people who are older. Speaking in general terms, young people do not own them as much as older people do. Keeping items is part of a long saving tradition found in many older individuals. From the 1950's toys in the closet to the old toaster that was just too good to throw away, older folks still have most of everything they ever owned and this is where antiques originate.

This means that you have a choice, now that you know where antiques are found. Since you are now educated in knowing that antiques come from the homes of elderly individuals, where will you spend the bulk of your time? It did take me years to comprehend the following concepts.

1. Anyone who wants to buy more fresh antiques will need to put themselves in a position where they see a large number of them on a recurrent basis. 2. You'll have to simply look at more and more household accumulations if you wish to achieve this goal. 3. Undoubtedly, you will need to step up your efforts to get into more older people's homes, where the antiques are.

Knowing and understanding these principles will put you light years ahead of your competition! Most of the antique dealers or collectors that I know get their antiques through one of five not very useful methods. You'll likely see your competition looking through their local estate or garage sales, auctions, "pickers", flea markets, and stores such as Goodwill.

. Rather than wasting your time on traditional sources, you will experience a greater degree of success through looking at where the antiques actually come from. Through focusing on that concept alone, you will go much further than you thought! - 15790

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