Methods of Art Investing

In a technologically advanced world such as the one that exists today, it is important to take advantage of all methods available in art investing. Dismissing online auctions and sellers simply because they are via Internet isn't always the wise choice. There are, however, ways to make sure online art investing is the right choice to make for buying artwork.

Knowing the type of art that is to be purchase can help determine which method to use to purchase the art. For instance, while a few reputable fine art sellers exist online, determining which ones are trustworthy can be tricky. A small amount of companies, which can be found by doing an Internet search of "Art Online", can yield some great results in terms of art investments. As methods of art investing go, it's recommended that for high priced purchases, those are best made in person.

Buying art online through large commercial auction sites can prove to be a good or bad thing depending on how knowledgeable you are about the piece and detecting scams. If an investor has studied the artist and the resale value, then online auction sites can work well. They are simpler than live auction houses and don't require the steep fees through markup that auctions do. However, as with many other online businesses, online art auctions abound with fraud. Therefore, buying art this way means taking a concerted risk for a large profit.

Another drawback to purchasing online through auction sites would be the false bidding. Some art sellers through auction sites enlist the services of fake bidders in order to drive up the price of a sale. These imitation bidders do exist in live bidding, but it's obviously easier to detect over bidding in person than over the web. Paying another online or live company to do an unbiased appraisal of a piece of artwork is also recommended before making a purchase sight unseen.

However, when an art buyer is thinking of purchasing prints, reproductions and lithographs for investing online might be a perfect option. There are a few online art dealers whose merchandise can run the gamut of subject matters and styles. Usually, these online art dealers have a large supply of specific types of art to choose from. The inventory coupled with a good company name can mean a great investment.

A buyer knowing the rules surrounding the purchase of a piece can let them focus more on the value of the artwork. An online company should have two things in order to prove their legitimacy: a secure website, a clear return policy as well as a brick and mortar location that can be visited or referred to in the event of any problems.

The methods of art investing are varied, but none are really heads and shoulders above another. An art investor can decide to purchase through an online seller, commercial or private auction sites or through more traditional methods like auction houses and exhibitions. Checking the background on the seller should be the consistent thread to that correlates to all art investing methods.