Many of you have have seen shows like “Antiques Roadshow or “Cash In The Attic” and thought to yourself, “this could be fun”. 

People all over the world buy and sell antiques. Antiques have been popular for years now but has gained more fans then ever due to media exposure.  People love to search the garage for old treasures that they could sell. 

What is an antique? 

This very simple question can also be very hard to answer.

A good antique should not only have some cultural significance but also some historical meaning that make them more desirable.

How old an antique should be is up for debate. Generally an item must be over 100 years old to be considered an antique.

What Makes a Good Antique

When looking for antiques you need to consider condition, rarity, desirability, and cost.

  • Always consider condition. It’s normal to have a certain amount of wear and tear on an item but make sure the problems are not sever enought that they drastically reduce an item’s aesthetic appeal. Look for antiques that are in good condition if you hope to make a future profit.
  • Even if the condition is not great, a rare item can still be valuable.
  • Many times an antique’s value is subjective based on how much someone like it. Buying antiques is not just about finding a way to make money and if an items catches your eye that it might be worth getting.
  • Cost of an antique is another important factor.| You need to also be cautious about antique prices. Normally you do not negotiate an antiques price. | Antique prices are often non-negotiable. Therfore, you must have some knowledge about the overall value for any item before you buy it, otherwise you may well pay too much. Also, Make sure sure you don’t fall for a forgery, fake, or reproduction. If the price seems to low for the value that you’re getting you may want to do some additional research.

Common Antique Selling Venues

There are many venues for buying and selling antiques:

  • Newspaper Ads
  • Online Posts
  • Antique Fairs
  • Flea Markets
  • Private Antique Dealers
  • Local Auctions

Popular Antiques

If you are interested in the antiques and collectible market, start with something you are familiar with. These are some commonly sold antiques:

  • Kitchen Appliances
  • Garden Tools
  • Roman Antiquities
  • Postcards
  • Maps
  • Lamps
  • Dolls
  • Rugs
  • Tractors
  • Cameras

 Buying and selling antiques can be a great hobby with the potential of becoming a profitable business.

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