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Buying An Antique
Merritt’s exclusive guide to buying antiques
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Purchasing an antique is considerably less straightforward than buying a refrigerator,
but it is much more absorbing and fun. Perhaps it may help you to read about
defining antiques here at
Merritts.com and then follow with Merritt’s exclusive guide, designed to
provide some direction in your search for antiques, which follows.
Looking at the most obvious first, dealers, since Merritt’s Antiques is among the
largest and finest around is a good starting point. Many times people who wish to buy
an antique shy away from dealers, as they believe they will be more expensive than
some other place. Others may fear they will be “duped” or pushed into buying something
they don’t really want or know about by salespersons. However, if you have done your
homework you will have more knowledge about what you are looking for and looking at
than someone who just is touring the antique shops on the highway. Maybe people have
become jaded by the stereotype that we make about the “used car salesman”, yet, in
reality, most dealers are professionals in their area who recognize they have a
reputation to keep for both themselves and their dealership. A good dealer knows his
or her area, the work and style, can authenticate it, knows if it has been altered or
repaired, and the history of that type of antique. Most of the Merritt’s specialists
who are here have been here for many years, in some cases decades, and have seen more
antiques during that time than most of us will ever see in a lifetime. Most areas
outside major metropolitan areas have regional publications, often free at the
dealerships that belong to it, which have listings of dealers and the types of pieces
they have to offer. These are available here at Merritt’s Antiques for the surrounding
counties. When you have found a dealership that you want to “check out”, let the owner
or salesperson know from the outset why you are there. Are you there to learn or buy?
Narrow your interest: just saying “furniture” is akin to going to a restaurant and
ordering “food”. Know what you want to look at, particularly if you are in a large
dealership where there could be an inventory of hundreds of items in one genre. State
some price range so the dealer doesn’t take you to a $27,000 grandfather clock when
you have a $2,000 limit. But don’t be afraid to look at items somewhat above your
price range, even if you cannot or will not buy it, seeing it will help you hone your
eye to develop a correlation between price and quality. After visiting several
dealerships you will begin to have a feel for one or more over others, sometimes
because of the quality of the sort of article you are looking for, and at other times
simply the atmosphere of the dealership. If you settle in on one, return several times,
look at the variety over those times, and when you are ready, make a purchase. If it
is a large item for which you have no means of transportation, most dealerships have
an arrangement for delivery in a reasonable area for some fee. Be certain you get a
bill of sale that clearly and in as much detail as possible states what you bought
and what you paid, you will need this to add the item to your insurance and if, at
some future time, you wish to sell it. Be aware that most insurance companies charge
an extra premium for listing high value items. When you have the item(s) in your home,
take a photograph, and put that in a secure place with the bill of sale.
Perhaps at the other end of the spectrum from the organized, catalogued, inventoried,
priced, with delivery options of a dealership are flea markets and yard sales. Here
you can find a plethora of items that are often just gathered from someone’s attic,
basement or garage and randomly put on card tables set in a field or driveway. There
might be a price on them at some flea markets, but rarely at a yard sale. It is
unusual to find large items at a flea market, garage or yard sale; most times a chair
or table or a floor clock is perhaps as large as will be there. But if you are looking
for antique china, pewter, glassware, brass, tools and the like, very often these are
rich sources for those. While a majority of items may fall into the category of
“collectibles” rather than antiques, very often the person offering items for sale
does not know that difference and distinction. Another great reason for your
preparation prior to going to make a purchase. A bargain piece of 19th century cast
iron could be sitting on a table with Revereware! Whatever else you plan to do when
you read about a flea market or yard sale in the newspaper, or see a hand written
sign stapled to a tree, get there early! If it opens at 7am, be there; all the “good
stuff” will be gone by 9am – or earlier. Only in the largest, regularly scheduled
flea markets will you be able to use your credit card. Most of them, like a yard sale,
are “cash and carry”. Even your checkbook will be unwelcome at a majority of them.
Take enough cash so that when you see the hand stitched 19th century quilt that will
just go wonderfully on your sofa in the family room you can buy it. Since most of the
items will be smaller, generally transportation is not an issue. But, if you are
going looking for a set of four dining room chairs, be prepared to get them home.
Except in larger and more organized flea markets, which are frequently populated by
dealers as well as “mom and dad”, delivery is not available. Flea markets are a good
place by talking with others to discover dealerships that may not be mentioned in
flyers or the phone book.
Finally, a few words about estate sales and auctions. At many of these you will be
competing with dealers or other professionals who, for the most part, will know more
than you about the items and often will have more financial backing than you may have.
This may make it difficult for you to pick up the prized item you saw at the preview.
At the same time, watching what is offered and how the bidding goes will increase your
knowledge of what is actually a quality antique. Estate sales are almost always done
by auction and may contain valuable antiques passed down through the generations that
have lived in the home. They also can be just the liquidation of property to save the
seller having to move every item in the house, and therefore of little value to you.
If you have never been to an antique auction or an estate sale, by all means, go. It
is a fast-paced, entertaining time. Read in advance what is being offered at the
auction and if there are pieces or categories of interest to you and your search for
antiques you will either go away having learned more about your interests or get a
bargain for a piece that fits you. Even if your schedule or interest makes it
impractical to attend the auction, most of them have previews that will be worth
attending. Both estate sales and auctions usually have delivery available for a fee
as many times large pieces of furniture are part of the categories in the sale. Be
sure you ask about payment options prior to registering and getting a number if you
wish to bid.
Merritt’s Antiques wishes you well in your search and purchase and hope that when it
is in your home it brings you pleasure.
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