Antique Collectors Tips

Handy Hints from our Readers

Yup - this is me! Do YOU have any hints to share with our readers? Anything about antiques, restoring an older home, splitting estates? Share them with us - contact me with your tips and I'll be glad to publish them!

- Johanne

Our first tip is from Virginia R. from Saskatchewan who had this to say:

"There is something I do that is important. Especially for any collector. When I find a piece, I take a photo of it, I get any history on it I can from the person - garage sale, antique store, where I bought it, how much I paid for it and if I find it on the Internet I put down the address and the value today. I've been to so many estate sales that had things of far greater value than I paid for it. And, so my son will have those books of information, and addresses of dealers to call should something happen to me" .

She also had this to add:

" There is an antique store near here. This man will go to an estate sale, and let's say the surviving spouse is about 80 years old. They've had a dining room suite or furniture since the 1930's. So, he will say - how much did you pay for this, and they might say $200.00 and he then offers them the same amount or $300.00 telling them they've used it all these years, and they are happy. People need to know to get two or three appraisals. He will then take it to his place of business, has a furniture refinisher touch it up and sell it as an original antique."

While three appraisals may be difficult in some communities with a limited number of appraisers, nevertheless it is prudent to be prepared. See my article on this topic. It's called

How to Sell your Antiques to a Dealer.

- Johanne