| In today's world, everything that's old can | | | | |
| be described as antiques and generally | | | | There are two main principles that apply when |
| speaking that's quite true. A product is | | | | collecting an antique: The first is to know |
| considered to be an antique if it is over a | | | | everything that you can about the antique |
| hundred years old or is rare enough to have | | | | that interests you and second is to obtain |
| some value. In other words, these are old | | | | them at the lowest possible price. Doing so |
| items that are in limited supply. | | | | will not only give you satisfaction and |
| | | | enjoyment, but at the same time you will also |
| An antique is something collectible. It may | | | | be assured that your investment will |
| be a piece of antique furniture that you want | | | | appreciate in value. |
| to collect to enhance the look of a room, or | | | | |
| a piece of antique pottery to decorate a | | | | Some people only developed an interest in |
| corner cupboard, or some antique books, | | | | antique because they inherited an item or a |
| antique camera and photographs, antique | | | | whole house full of antique from a relative. |
| jewelry, antique money, antique car, antique | | | | The dollar signs started to appear and they |
| clocks, or antique watches that you want to | | | | began their hunt for some antique appraisals |
| hand down to your grandchildren but the items | | | | and antique auction. But what most failed to |
| must be rare enough to be considered an | | | | consider is that much of what Great |
| antique. The others are just secondhand goods | | | | Grandmother had is probably just junk, unless |
| junk. Most people have a common misconception | | | | she was a seasoned collector who's into |
| about an antique: the older they look, the | | | | antique restoration or an expert in antique |
| more antique they must be. Appearance has | | | | appraisals. |
| nothing to do with it, just because a piece | | | | |
| looks like it came out of grandma's attic | | | | It's true that people could have bought a |
| does not necessarily mean that it's an | | | | piece of furniture to decorate their home a |
| antique. The value of an antique is based on | | | | long time ago and that furniture, if it were |
| demand due to suitability and limited supply. | | | | of fine quality, would now be worth |
| | | | something. But only a professional appraiser |
| Most people become fascinated in an antique | | | | can guarantee that, and appraising costs |
| for two reasons; either they have an interest | | | | about $100-150 an hour. So if you are keen on |
| in collecting antique purely for personal | | | | bringing you item in an antique auction and |
| enjoyment and are willing to shell out money | | | | contemplating about asking someone how much |
| for antique restoration or they inherited it | | | | an item is worth, be prepared to shell out a |
| from a family member. The most common are | | | | few bucks for the information. Appraisers |
| antique pottery, antique car, antique | | | | charge so much because they shoulder the |
| furniture, antique books, antique camera and | | | | lion's share for insurance companies and |
| photographs, antique clocks, antique money, | | | | lawyers settling estates. Although appraising |
| antique jewelry and antique watches. However | | | | is not an exact science, it still requires an |
| they came about it, everyone wants to be sure | | | | appraiser to do lots of research and then |
| of one thing that what they buy or inherit | | | | prepare a detailed report that's acceptable |
| will escalate in value as time goes by. That | | | | in a court of law. |
| is what antique collection is all about. | | | | |