Antique Auctions: How to Bid Successfully
Many people enjoy antiques, because the antiques are really a piece of the past. Perhaps there are certain items that remind a person of their youth, or perhaps there is just a specific collector's interest. Whatever the reason, many people acquire their antiques through antique auctions.
Antique Auctions are for Buyers and for Sellers
If you are an antique seller, you might be interested to know that if you have some pieces that you cannot sell through your regular store, you can often have them sold at an antique auction. The first thing that you will need to do is go to an antique appraiser, and if they show an interest in the item, they will pay you for it and put it in an antique auction themselves.
They will either do that, or you will pay them to put it up for antique auction, and you will get whatever it sells for. If you are in the antique business, you most likely know a reputable appraiser, but if not, Antiques Roadshow is a popular television show that can be a wonderful resource.
If you want to buy something at an antique auction, you should definitely have some extra money put aside specifically for that purpose. The reason being is that while you can get very unique things, those things will sell for at least a few hundred dollars.
Some people will bid themselves into debt over the right thing. However, what you will need to do is exercise restraint! Have a budget, and make sure that whatever you bid for you can purchase immediately. Remember, you might be able to find certain antiques through other sources.
So, what are those sources for antiques? First of all, make sure that you purchase an antique buyer's guide, which will list the current prices of items, and places that you might be able to purchase them. Of course, your local antique store might also be of help in finding reputable resources.
When it comes to the internet, be more hesitant. While the internet has many different antique websites, some of them sell fakes. Fakes are unfortunately very prevalent in the antique world, so make sure that you have reputable certificates of authenticity.
Antique auctions can be a lot of fun. You can meet fellow antique enthusiasts and see many different items. So, with the proper research, not only can you find interesting auctions, but also beautiful antiques.
