Monday, March 28, 2011

Essential Information on How to Sell Antique Mirrors

Antique hunters will often go to a lot of effort trying to search for wonderful pieces of antique furniture and mirrors. The best pieces can really bring a fresh sense of style and charm to your house. Like an ornate gilded French antique mirror which is so wonderfully elegant. If you find one of these antique mirrors for sale, don't hesitate grab it without thinking twice.

Floor mirrors sit on the floor held up by usually a wood frame, while wall mirrors of course are hung on a wall. When positioning either type of antique mirror in a room, remember to check out what is reflected in the mirror. If it is placed with thought, a mirror can make a room look bigger or it can become a dramatic focal point which could also become a great conversation piece.

These fantastic mirrors are truly wonderful to have around the house but what if you are trying to sell one instead of buying one.

Well there are many things to carefully consider about the different ways of selling antiques before you get started. Here I'm going to talk about four different ways of going about selling a good antique and getting the best price. But first some general rules.

  • Don't allow anyone into your home without making an appointment with you first. 
  • Don't expect the amount you might be offered for a piece to be as high as what the dealer will try and sell it for as he is also looking to make a profit. 
  • Make sure you understand any fees that you might have to pay from the proceeds of the sale that apply to the different ways of selling your piece.

The first way you could try and sell you treasured antique mirror would be selling it privately. You could place an advertisement in a local or national paper or a specialist magazine on over he internet on an auction sit or through something like Kijiji. A couple of things to remember though is never include your address, and or use your telephone number. This can lead to theft or harassment. Have them get in touch through email. This method saves you having to pay fees but can take longer and you may not get the price you're looking for.

You could sell it at an auction. There are some advantages and disadvantages here. One of the advantages is your item is showing to several potential buyers all at the same time. A disadvantage is that an auction can result in a very low price depending on the auction on the other hand it could bring a very good price if people start competing for it.
First you should wait for the right auction before attempting to sell your piece. And don't forget you should agree on a reserve price before the auction takes place.

There are some fees here as well like if it fails to sell you will still have to pay a fee. If it does sell you you will have to pay the auctioneer a commission which could be as much as 25% of the sale price. There could also be charges for insurance, cataloguing, and even a handling fee. All these come out of the sale proceeds. Therefore the money you eventually receive often is a lot less than you expected.

You could try to sell to a dealer. You might want to look for a dealer that has similar items to the one you wish to sell in their shop. You should consider more than one to help you choose a suitable dealer. If they are interested in what you want to sell, they will certainly travel a reasonable distance to check it out.

The great thing about selling to a dealer is he will pay you immediately the agreed upon price though he quite possibly will pay you the least because he is looking to make a profit. If you have different dealers look at it the prices you are offered may vary considerably. This is not because they are dishonest, but often reflects their opinion as to what he believes he can sell the item for and how quickly.

Finally you could sell your piece through a dealer on commission. Some dealers may be willing to sell your piece for you for a fee. This fee is usually a percentage of the sale price. Often they will only take this on for a limited time. If you choose to sell this way make sure you agree in writing on the minimum selling price, the commission or percentage of the sale, who will insure the piece and if there are any conditions for the agreement to be terminated.

Whether you are buying or selling an antique mirror or for that matter any other antique have fun and learn all you can so you get the best value for your money.

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