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Welcome to Chesley's
Antiques & Collectibles Corner Archive!
If you missed any of Ms. Chesley's very
informative past articles,
you can access them here:
Missing Pieces
Are you missing one piece of china, or one
crystal glass, or 2
forks from your set?
I hear these requests most often in the antique shops:
1. "I broke one cup from my 1940s china set - help!"
2. "My mother gave me her silverware, but it's missing three
butter knives."
3. "I bought my dishes 5 years ago but now I want to get the large
serving pieces."
4. "I want to buy the matching gravy boat and larger
platters/serving bowls that I could not afford before."
Where do you begin to look for replacement pieces of these
older patterns?
You can try hunting from one antique store to another. That may
be fun for a while, but it is very difficult or near impossible to find
one specific piece of one specific pattern in your specific color.
This hunting game at antique stores soon becomes very time
consuming and frustrating.
A much easier solution is a company called Replacements LTD.
This company sells both old and new china by the piece. Plus,
everything from dinnerware, stoneware, crystal glasses/stems,
silver/stainless flatware, to collectibles-- again, in both old and
new patterns! They have a large stock that changes daily, plus a
knowledgeable customer service staff to assist you.
Replacements LTD can help you complete your set much
quicker than you can going from antique store to antique store. I
have used this service myself with much success. They also BUY
product by the piece or set. Personally, I haven't done this
because I am also a reseller.
To see examples of older patterns that you can obtain through
Replacements LTD:
Click Here.
You can contact Replacements LTD by either going online:
www.replacements.com or by calling: 1-800-737-5223.
Good luck hunting for your treasures! Remember, each and
every antique has its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
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How To Sell
Your Items
There are several methods of selling old items, antiques, and
collectibles. Each method requires additional information and
precautions that are not all included below, plus each has its pros,
cons, and possible fees/risks that you should evaluate for yourself.
This article is by no means all inclusive of information and risks.
This is my personal opinion and is meant to be a starting point of
information to assist you. Good luck! You can sell your items
successfully!
Methods To Sell:
1. Sell to an antique dealer.
2. Sell items yourself at an
online auction such as EBay.
3. Hire a service to sell your
items at an online auction.
4. Have a garage sale.
5. Have an estate sale yourself -- or hire an estate sale company.
6. Donate items for a tax
write-off.
Let's look at one option in more detail -- Sell to an antique dealer.
First you should find a dealer you can trust and feel comfortable
with. A dealer who will offer a fair price for items and/or
information. I have 5 to 10 customers who sell items to me on a
regular basis. We've built a buy/sell relationship where we can
each profit. I trust them and they trust me. Seek to build this
type
of ongoing relationship.
When talking to an antique dealer, you
should not just ask, "What
is this worth?" That is too general of a question. Narrow down
what you want to know. Be specific -- what type of price do you
want to seek? A reputable dealer should also want to pre-clarify
this point. If the dealer doesn't first ask YOU specifically what you
seek, then walk away.
There are many types of prices a dealer can provide. You should
pre-clarify what type of price you seek and what the information will
cost, if anything. Let's take a look at the types of prices below:
Types of Prices:
1. The price the dealer will pay now to buy straight from you.
2. The estimated price you can sell it yourself at a garage sale.
3. The estimated price the item will retail for at an antique show.
4. For a fee, a dealer can research and evaluate your items and
provide written documentation if requested.
5. For a fee, some dealers can provide a written insurance
appraisal value.
Where can you find an antique dealer? You can begin by asking
questions at antique stores that you respect and like to shop. Ask
for a dealer who has knowledge about your items. Once you find
a dealer, ask him/her questions. Be specific with exactly what
information you want, what the charge will be for the dealer's
service (if any,) and in what format you want the information
(writing, verbal, now, researched.)
Each dealer's knowledge and experience varies, as with any other
service industry. When speaking with a dealer, ask yourself this:
Does this dealer seem to be straightforward and open with
answers to your questions? Does he/she seem a little hesitant or
"shifty"?
Is he/she seeming to guess, or perhaps lie to obtain a
service fee, or even worse, to obtain your valuables for next to
nothing?
Example #1: You have an antique Tonka brand toy truck to sell --
it might be worth $25 to $150 to $600 retail in an antique shop --
you need to speak with an experienced and reputable dealer who
specializes in toys. Visit antique shops or shows and ask who
specializes in toys. The person behind the counter at the average
antique shop may say he/she wants to help you but they might also
just want your treasure. That's why you want to talk to a dealer
who specializes in toys. Be specific when talking to the people
behind the counter. Trust your instincts, if it doesn't feel right
to you,
simply walk away. You can also call antique shops and inquire
about dealers who specialize in your item. Always speak with a
dealer who specializes in your type of item!
Example #2: Let's say you have a rifle or military item that is 100
years old -- you need to speak with a dealer who specializes in
antique guns and military items. I am a dealer, but I don't know
anything about guns, and I would tell you that flat out! I don't
joke
around to try to buy your treasure at a low price. I could not tell
you
if it was worth $50 or $5000. My advice would be to seek a
gun/military specialist and if I knew someone, I would refer you to
them. A good dealer always knows another good dealer!
Example #3: If you have valuable vintage jewelry, you should
seek a dealer who specializes in vintage jewelry. I wouldn't be
able to
tell you if it was 18K or 24K or if the red stone was a ruby
or garnet. You need to find a person who can. I do deal with
some jewelry, but my knowledge is still limited. I will not buy a
piece of jewelry
worth over $1000 from a stranger unless he has
a written appraisal from a local jewelry store that I know and trust.
This customer can then come back to me with his/her vintage
gems and a written appraisal. Then, and only then, will I offer a
price. This protects you and it protects me. Most antique dealers
behind the counter often cannot provide information on expensive
vintage jewelry. I can't emphasize this enough: Not all dealers
can help you in all areas!
If you have coins, seek out a coin
dealer -- either through an antique
shop or a coin shop. Remember, don't trust everyone!
Your
best defense is to ask questions before agreeing on a selling
price!
Selling your items can be complex. You don't want to be
conned
into selling a treasure for just a dollar. You need to protect
yourself
by doing some research and asking a lot of questions.
Many dealers give free advice for simple/quick requests. For
example, a customer may bring in 2 boxes of items and wants to
know if he should garage sale it or sell to an antique store. I will
give the customer 10 to 15 minutes of my time for free. He has to
bring the items in clean, sorted, and organized. I can then do a
quick scan, and say "this is worth $5," "this is worth $1," "this is
worth researching," "this could be valuable," or "I want to buy this."
This is a fun scan of your items that dealers should enjoy offering --
for free.
For a pre-set fee, a dealer can drive to your home and provide a
quick overview of your items. You both should first agree on the
specific information requested, type of price, fee, and specific
block of time beforehand. The dealer can then spend the allotted
time evaluating your items, giving you verbal "off the top of my
head" prices that you can either record on tape or write down.
This information can also be written by the dealer but this usually
costs more because it's more time consuming for the dealer.
The bottom line is you as the customer want to know if the items
are valuable or not, what they are worth, and if you should sell it at
a garage sale.
If you want specific research done on items for sentimental
reasons, insurance, or monetary value for determination of future
inheritance, etc., you need to know that this is more time
consuming and requires extra time for proper research, whether it
would be by computer, reference books, or other sources. You
need to work out the details and price with the dealer.
In closing, I would like to recommend a book for further reading
that's brand new on the bookshelf titled "Buy, Keep or Sell? - The
Insider's Guide to Identifying Trash, Treasure, or Tomorrow's
Antiques" by Judith Miller, who is an authority on collectibles and
price guides.
Coming soon: How To Research An Item Yourself
Happy hunting and selling! Remember, even a Red Wing bowl has
its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
How To
Research An Item Yourself
There are several different ways to research an item by yourself.
All methods, however, take time and effort on your part, but can
be done if you are diligent. Here are 4 basic methods:
1. Shop Antique Stores
2. eBay or other online auction sites
3. Google search
4. Reference Books
Method 1 -- Shop Antique Stores
Visit a local antique store with the single purpose of looking for a
similar item -- you are NOT shopping for yourself, but rather you
are searching for similar items. Take a note pad, pencil, and
tape measure. Sorry, no cameras are allowed in any antique
store.
Jot down specific notes on items found that are similar,
identical, or to compare. Include color, condition, size, draw a
sketch, if needed. Also include information on the sales tag: the
price, any key
words such as who made the item, years made,
etc.
Example: You own a pottery vase, but don't know how old it is,
the value, or even the pottery company that made it. What to do:
Shop several antique stores, looking for all pottery vases.
Search every shelf and every locked case. Read the price tag or
label to see if a pottery company (manufacturer) is listed. Bring
a tape measure to measure the height of similar vases.
Method 2 -- eBay or other online auction sites
Log into eBay and browse items for sale. You can also do an
"advanced search" on recently closed auctions back to 15 days.
Search by different key words. The key words you enter to
search
are important as they draw in what items you will see. Look at the
pictures of items that are similar to yours. Read descriptions
looking for words that will help you identify and value your own
item. (If you want to sell your item, you can list it.)
A second website you can use is
Artfact.com.
Craigslist.org is
a
third website that can be used to compare items.
SAFETY WARNING: When using websites for searches, selling,
or communicating with others, PLEASE BE CAREFUL about
how much personal information you offer! Scammers hide on
the internet.
Method 3 -- Google Search
Use Google or another search engine. Try typing in various key
words to what assistance you can find.
Example: Google search "price of a red wing vase". Several
sites about Red Wing Pottery will appear for you to check out.
Related reference books for sale will appear. Of course, you
could also see Red Wing shoes, Red Wing city information
including hotels in town, etc. Sort through your search results to
get the information you need.
Method 4 -- Reference Books
As an antique dealer, I have learned
to heavily rely on and use
reference books. I probably own 200 such books, plus all antique
shops keep reference books for dealers and customers to use
while in the store.
There are a few different types of reference books:
1. Price Guides -- Offer dollar value information
2. Information Only -- No pricing, just the history.
3. Combination of both.
There are books that only cover one item specifically, such as
JUST Red Wing Pottery. There are "general" books that cover
all types of one area such as "all kitchen items", "all types of
depression glass patterns", "all toys", or "all pottery makers."
Lastly, there are general reference guides that cover every type
of antique from Apple Peeler to Zaneville Pottery, in alphabetical
order. Kovell's of Schroeder's are the most common of this type.
You can view reference books at an antique store, local county
library, buying from a book store, or you can even buy reference
books online.
When using a reference book, the first thing I do is identify what
year the book was published so I know how old the pricing
information is. For example: I am pricing a depression glass
plate. If the reference book was published in 2000, that is
important for me to know that the prices in the book are 7 years
old. I would then
look for a reference book published closer to
the current year.
Reference books are a wonderful resource for not only pricing
data but also for detailed information about when your items
were made and by whom.
As you can see, researching an item yourself will take some time,
patience, and a little work on your part. But it can be done!
Remember, every antique has its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
|
Christmas Gift Ideas For An Antique Lover
Your spouse, friend, mother, or boss collects antiques. What
should you give them for a gift? Below are a few points to
consider:
a.) Gift Certificate from an antique store.
b.) A shopping spree/day with you.
c.) Buy the item they collect -- pros and cons to this option.
d.) A reference book
e.) Start a child/teen collecting
Gift Certificate From An Antique Store
Most antique shops offer gift certificates for sale in common dollar
amounts such as: $25, $50, $100. Just ask a sales clerk. Of
course, the gift certificate is good at this one location only. This
makes a wonderful gift!
A Shopping Spree/Day With You
I like this idea: Give a gift of a
day or an afternoon of antique
shopping with you. You don't need to buy them everything they like
or want, just set some limits and what you want to pay for.
I give this gift often -- something like:
Example 1: My gift to you is A DAY
OF ANTIQUE SHOPPING: I
will drive, we leave at 9:00am, hit the stores in
Stillwater. Lunch
is on me, and you have all my attention all day
as we browse
from store to store. I won't complain that
you are looking at
fishing lures too long. I promise, no
complaints from me. That is
my gift to you. I will buy you one item of
your choice up to $40
dollars. So let's go antiqueing together!
Example 2: My gift to you:
Let's go antiqueing! I will buy you
one Red Wing Crock of your choice. Put on
your walking shoes
and let's hit the antique stores!
Trust me, this is a wonderful gift for a person who like antiques,
collectibles, or just browsing for them at the shops!
Buy The Item They Collect -- Pros And Cons
Unless you are knowledgeable about the
item or the category of
item that the other person collects, I would probably not buy it
for
someone else for a gift. Why? The policy at nearly all
antique
stores is "no returns and no exchanges -- no exceptions."
Example 1: Your husband collects antique fishing lures. You
know
nothing about them, the visit the closest antique store and buy 2
lures for him. When he opens the gift, he tells you that he already
has one of them and the second one is a reproduction and worth a
fraction of what you paid. The receipt is stamped: No returns.
Example 2: Your mother collects Hall Pottery. You buy a
vase at
the local antique shop thinking it's Hall Pottery. Your mother opens
the gift and immediately knows it's not made by Hall Pottery, but
rather by Hull Pottery. The receipt is stamped: No returns/No
exchanges.
Therefore, I warn against giving a specific antique item as a gift
unless you have some knowledge about the item they collect. If
you've shopped with this person for years and know the ins and
outs of the item, then by all means, shop for and buy the item with
confidence that it's just what they do collect and it's the item they
need for that collection.
A Reference Book
A reference guide OR price book makes a wonderful gift! You can
buy them at some antique stores, at all book stores, and online...or
give a gift card from a local book store.
Coming Soon: Start A Child/Teen Collecting
Remember, every antique has its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
Start A
Child/Teen/Adult Collecting
A hobby, a collection, an early passion. You can start a child,
teen, or adult onto a lifelong path of collecting. Start by sharing
your knowledge and enthusiasm at home. Share and show what
you collect and have a passion about.
Then:
a.) Take the child/teen/adult
shopping at an antique store
b.) Buy a reference book
c.) Buy an item to start their
collection
As the new collector's knowledge in the area grows, so will their
passion for finding and learning more about that item.
I am always pleased to see a new and blossoming collector
develop. Many new collectors enjoy collecting items such as
coins, foreign bills, comic books, paper dolls, cameo jewelry,
stamps, collector Barbie dolls, Tonka brand trucks, Hot Wheels
cars, board games, fishing lures, wood golf clubs, sewing
bobbins, hankies, aprons, military helmets, and so much more.
Another common type of collection is to collect anything related to
one topic:
1.) Example: collect anything related to John
Deere tractors -- a
framed picture of a tractor, a mug picturing a
John
Deere store, a t-shirt with a John Deere
tractor/logo.
2.) Example: collect anything related to
strawberries -- a
collector plate picturing a strawberry, a porcelain
strawberry, a strawberry cookie cutter, a
Strawberry Shortcake doll.
3.) If your child is interested in hair design or
fashion, start her
collecting anything
related to a salon shop or hair dressing,
such as antique scissors
or hair clippers, old hair clips,
men's shavers, shaving cream
brushes, books or
magazines about fashion or hair styles,
an old barber shop
sign.
4.) If your child likes firefighters, start him
collecting anything
related to that, such as
an old copper fire extinguisher, an old
"rule book on
firefighting," fireman's helmet, photographs of
a fire truck, toy fire
trucks, a novel with a picture of a
firefighter on the cover.
Searching for items and learning about them is quite an
experience! Once a new collector catches the "collector's bug"
and begins to feel the passion for an item, their fun will begin.
Good luck and enjoy shopping those antique stores!
Remember, every antique has its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector |
Online Auctions
Buying or selling antiques can be successful and fun with online
auction websites. Bidding can become almost addictive! Winning
a successful auction by being the highest bidder can bring you a
new treasure that you have been searching for.
You can also USE these online auctions to RESEARCH items,
especially the current selling price, but also other information
including the manufacturer, age, etc.
When buying online, be sure to carefully read the item description,
the costs, including shipping, and all other information BEFORE
you place a bid. Look for what words are MISSING in the
description such as a hidden flaw or words that might indicate it is
a new reproduced item, or a repaired item.
Check the seller's satisfaction rating and the number of auctions
they have previously held. You want an experienced and honest
seller.
eBay
Perhaps the most well known online web auction is eBay: the
world's online marketplace, enabling trade on a local, national,
and international basis. They have a diverse and passionate
community of individuals buying and selling thousands of items
daily. They offer an online platform where millions of items sell
each day.
This site offers many tools and resources that enable safe trade.
Browsing through items doesn't cost anything...and it's fun too!
"Antiques" is one of the main categories of items for sale.
"Collectibles" is also a category. I also use the "advanced search"
option frequently to obtain information on already closed auctions.
Not all items are auctioned off on eBay, you can also buy some
items right now at a set price, plus shipping.
PayPal is a safe and convenient method of payment.
Don't limit yourself to just this one online auction site. There are
many more. There are a few others that I enjoy browsing and
learning from.
ShopGoodwill.com
This is the first internet auction site created, owned, and operated
by a non-profit organization. Yes, it's THAT Goodwill.
Participating
Goodwills from across the country offer a wide variety of art,
antiques, and collectibles, plus new items for auction on the site.
You'll find unique one-of-a-kind items to estate pieces. Revenues
from these auctions fund Goodwill's education, training, and job
placement programs for people with disabilities/barriers.
Start by doing a "search utility." Then, have fun browsing through
all
the various items for sale. You can search closed auctions as a
means of gaining information about an item. Fun, fun, fun and a
non-profit organization to boot!
K-BID
This is a local company offering online auction services developed
to provide sellers a new and effective system to profitably liquidate
all types of personal property assets. They are located in Maple
Plain, Minnesota. All bidding takes place on the internet, using a
high tech real-time auction program. To get started, you can
click
on either "current auctions" or "previous auctions." Then, have fun
shopping and reviewing items for sale!
MidwestAuctions.com
Another local online auction company based from Glenwood,
Minnesota. This is your online guide to the auctions and
auctioneering services in the Midwest. You will find information
about auctions near you. You will also find contact information for
all the participating auctioneers as well as a link to their own
customized "home page."
This site provides:
1. Customized search engine for quick results.
2. Complete full-color auction bill listings
3. Detailed auction calendar
4. E-mail notification mailing list
Enjoy your online shopping trip!
Remember... share some attitude for antiques!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
Tips For A Successful Garage Sale - Part 1
I love garage sales!! I love
having one! I love to shop them!
Garage sales are a great way to get rid of your items and make
a few dollars. Since spring is literally around the corner, many of
you are shifting gears for spring cleaning and garage sale
season. All month long I will feature ideas that you can
implement to help you put on a successful garage sale. Some
things you may already know, while others you may have never
thought of or never tried before.
Keep this point in mind during your preparation: The purpose of
your sale is to make money and get rid of stuff -- a plain and
simple goal.
WARNING: It takes work and time to hold a garage sale, there
is no way around that. You need to commit your time, but I can
make some suggestions that will make it more fun!
Keep it fun and short: Approaching a garage sale can
seem
like a lot of work, and it is. Keep the process: 1.) Fun &
simple
and, 2.) short.
1.) FUN & SIMPLE: I think about my sale as a fast and fun
project. Get it done this week -- 7 days total time. Make it a
family affair
-- involve others. Ask your neighbor, kids, or
grandkids to help in both the set up and during the sale. A
reward for them is that they can bring items from their own home
to sell at your sale, plus they can have first look at your items for
sale. The first buyers get
the best stuff.
2.) SHORT: Set up your entire sale in 7 days. Keep the time
frame short for preparation. You can get a lot of work done in 2
hours a day for 5 - 7 days. That's your preparation time. Do not
take
3 weeks to set up -- that would disrupt your life and your
garage. Remember your goal: sell your stuff and make some
money.
Antiques With Attitude,
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector |
Tips For A Successful Garage Sale -- Part 2
Next, it's time to determine what days
to hold your sale. The most
popular days are Thursday through Saturday. That's what I would
suggest as well.
You can expect that the first few shoppers who arrive at your sale
may seem to walk in and then leave without buying anything. Why?
Thursday mornings from 8:00 to 10:00 are times that collectors and
professional dealers go out and buy. These shoppers are often
looking for one very specific item. They walk in your garage
do a
fast scan and then leave. Don't be discouraged. Your sales
should
begin to pick up at 10:00 am or noon when the average garage
sale shoppers wake up and start to drive.
The average shoppers start to arrive at 10:00 am, but I always
open at 8:00 am for those people driving to work who might see
the signs and decide to stop for a couple of minutes.
Another thing you can do to boost your sales is to invite your
neighbors and friends to your garage the night before your sale
opens...even if you are still pricing and working in your garage.
Just tell them to come on over and shop!
Now that you determined the days of your sale, the next thing is
advertising your sale.
I am probably unique in this suggestion, but it works for me. I have
never once placed an ad. I use signs...a lot of very well placed and
daily monitored signs. If you don't have the luxury of living on a
main thoroughfare, you begin by placing signs directing them off
the main thoroughfare to your sale. Your signs don't have to be elaborate. Just a simple "Garage Sale" with an arrow pointing
them the way. Keep your signs the same color...if you start with a yellow sign, keep using yellow signs throughout the route to your sale.
In contrast, most people tend to place an ad in the local
newspaper. Use your local shopper. It's delivered to every
household in the area every week. I happen to live in Anoka, so my
local shopper is the Anoka County Shopper.
These are the two most popular advertising options for garage
sales. You can use one, the other, or a combination of the two.
There is no right or wrong option, simply go with the option that you
feel most comfortable with.
Antiques With Attitude,
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
Tips For A Successful Garage Sale -- Part 3
A difficult question is how do you price your items?
This can be difficult to advise on.
The general rule is to think of
the retail price at a department store and mark it at 1/4 of that.
Of course, another factor to consider is the condition of the item.
An item in good to excellent condition can be marked at this rate
or slightly higher, but if it's in fair to poor condition, it would have
to
be marked at a lesser price or free.
Example: You bought a set of 6
drinking glasses for $20 at
Target. I would sell them at my garage sale for about $4 or $5.
However, the same set with only 5 glasses would be priced at
about $2.
When pricing, think about what people want and are willing to
pay
at a garage sale. If
you are a novice at garage sales, spend
a few hours shopping at other garage sales to see the pricing
structure.
Another price example: You bought
a set of 6 crystal/fancy
cocktail glasses at Macy's for $60. They are in perfect condition
and still
in the original box. I would price them at $10 to $18.
Sorry, but
that is how the pricing game goes. You can't get more
at a garage sale.
Overpricing is definitely not suggested. You will be wasting your
time. Customers will know INSTANTLY if you are overpricing
and will walk away to go to the next garage sale. PRICE
LOW...YOU WANT TO SELL!
Antiques With Attitude,
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector |
Tips For A Successful Garage Sale -- Part 4
Sale Preparation
Ok, your sale starts tomorrow.
Your items are all priced. Now
you need to prepare the supplies that you'll need during the sale.
Below is a quick checklist: ** Bags to put sold items in
** A card table and chair for you to sit at and keep your supplies
and money handy
** Newspaper to wrap fragile items you've sold
** Money to make change (I suggest starting with either $70 or
$100 in coin and bills)
** Items for your comfort: A radio, TV, fan, etc.
** A calculator
** Scratch paper and pen
** Phone! This is important. To answer your incoming calls and
for your personal security
Which brings up a good point. Personal safety is very important
to consider. After all, you are opening up a part of your space to
complete strangers.
Keep your money secure at all times, all day long. If you go into
the house for a cup of coffee, take your money with you. Move
large bills ($20s and higher) into the house. Some people like to
have a money box or money drawer that keeps all the
denominations of coin and bills separate. Not me! I prefer to
WEAR my money.
That way it stays with me always. I use a
carpenter's apron with slots
(off white in color, very common) or I
wear a fanny pack around my waist, or even a small purse (wallet
size with a long strap) over my shoulder. I wear my money so it
goes where I go as I walk around the garage.
Do not let customers into the house to use your bathroom or try
on clothing. This would be an open invitation for things to "grow
legs" and disappear.
Keep your cordless phone or cell phone at your fingertips at all
times, just in case. If you begin to feel scared or feel uncertain
by customers walking into your garage, either walk into your
house and lock the doors, or walk out of the garage and into the
middle of the street with your phone in hand. You can still see
the garage and monitor the customers. Keep you personal
safety in mind. Keep alert.
After your sale:
My advice again is to keep the time
frame short. Immediately
after the sale ends, pack up all your unsold items into boxes and
bags for donation. Do it fast and do it now! Clean your garage
out, so
your vehicles can come back in.
Items that are donated can be a tax write-off if you take the time
to log each item. As you place them into a box, write it down on
a pad of paper. Use "tick" marks for common items. You need
a
receipt from the company you donate to such as Goodwill.
Example: T-shirts: III means 3 t-shirts
Ladies jeans: IIII means 4 pairs of
jeans
To determine your tax write off value, please refer to instructions
on the State forms and instruction book. The write off value is
low,
but they add up. For example, 3 t-shirts valued at 20 cents
each is realistic and 4 ladies jeans at $1 each is also realistic in
my opinion.
Antiques With Attitude,
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
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Quick Step Summary For A Successful Garage Sale
1.) Clean your garage. Tidy it up! Sweep and organize
items that
you store in your garage. Next move
items you want to keep
in your garage up against the walls then cover
with tarps or old
sheets, so shoppers won't think they are
for sale. Use
masking tape, nails, and/or clothespins to attach
the
tarps/sheets.
2.) Bring all your items/boxes of items to sell into the garage.
3.) Set up tables. Buy, borrow, make tables yourself. A
6 foot
table can be bought for about $15 - $40. It can
be used for
years for many other purposes. Buying tables is an
investment
and multi-purpose item. You can make your own tables
using
whatever you have such as 2 boxes or sawhorses and place a
board on top. Be creative to make tables. Personally, I
suggest buying tables. These inexpensive tables can be re-
used at family
birthdays, holidays, graduations, or other
special occasion.
I use my tables often during the year and my
friends borrow them.
I use about 8 to 10 tables that are 6 feet
each for my garage
sales. I also use card table size too.
4.) Unpack the items you want to sell. Quickly place each
item to
sell onto a table but think and organize, sorting
fast by category
such as kitchen items, toys, jewelry, books, cd's,
etc. Try to do
this fast. Remember, keep it fast and
simple! Don't hate this
chore. Just lay all items onto tabletops.
Unpack everything
then go back into your house and search drawers or
closets for
more items you do not need. Add them to you
garage
tabletops. Clean all unused items out of your house.
5.) Use the space under the tables to sell items. Use the
space
against the walls to display items -- lean
against or hand items
on the wall.
6.) Hide items in garage NOT for sale. If something in your
garage is visible (not covered with an old sheet
or tarp) such
as your golf bag, bike, or lawn mower, mark it with a
tag saying
"Not For Sale." Also, the items you bring into
the the garage
for your comfort during the sale, such as a fan or
radio, mark
them "Not For Sale."
7.) Price your items. I use masking tape for stickers.
No fancy
colored tags or stickers. Just plain tan
masking tape. I mark
with a pen, not a thick marker. If there are
multiple family
members selling at your garage sale, you need to add
initials
on the tags for splitting the money correctly after the sale.
Work fast as you mark your items.
8.) Broken, chipped, overused or damaged items. Don't bother!
Trash it before your sale. Some sales
have Free boxes.
Anything I can't sell for 10 cents each is
not worth my time.
You're better off tossing it.
Garage sales are both fun and a lot of work! I believe the best
thing to do is to do the work fast and keep it fun. Ask a girlfriend,
neighbor, or your kids to help. You can chat and work together as
you prepare for your sale, then cook them dinner as a thank you.
As a bonus, your helpers get first dibs on buying your items!
9.) Price your items low -- you want to sell!
10.) Put up good signs and monitor your signs to see if they are still
in place.
Good Luck! Good Hunting! Good Shopping! I love garage
sales!
Remember, even a wooden spoon can have attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
Garage Sales
101: The Basics
We have waited ALL winter and FINALLY...the garage
sale
season is here in Anoka County again! In March and April, I have
featured a 5 part series containing tips for how to hold a garage
sale. These articles are geared towards the beginner, a person
who is afraid to hold a garage sale, or even the person that
doesn't know how to start.
I won't kid you, holding a garage sale is a lot of work. It can be
overwhelming. But, it's also a great way to make MONEY and to
CLEAN YOUR HOUSE OF CLUTTER! Of course, we all know
that removing clutter is always good!
Click
Here To Read The Entire Garage Sale Series
-- look for
Articles #7 through #11.
Happy garage sale shopping and I wish you lots of success with
your own garage sale!
Remember, even a wooden spoon can have attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
|
Deb's Review
With this article I thought I'd do something different and fun!
I
recently visited a local antique store for the first time. I was
pleasantly surprised and impressed! The shop is called
"Rainbow's End Antiques & Decor" located in East Bethel right
off Highway 65, across from the East Bethel movie theater.
I stopped in on a late Sunday morning and was greeted by Kathy,
the shop owner. There were maybe 15 to 20 other customers who
stopped in while I was there. My first impression was: nice
greeting. Second impression: clean shop and not a
musty/dusty/old smell. I then began to slowly browse.
I was truly impressed with the decor of the shop. The various
booths had themes, the grouping of antiques for sale, and the
display techniques. Everything was neat and orderly, items were
easy to see and find. Very shopper friendly. The general
ambience was very relaxing and fun! I liked the feel of the store
and the
mood that was created using music and relaxing sounds.
I did not notice any junky or messy booths at all, which is unusual
for an antique store.
Here are the hours: Friday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Address: 18803 Hwy 54, East Bethel
Phone: 763-424-2121
(I suggest that you phone ahead to ensure that there hasn't been
a change in the hours.)
Lastly, I noticed there was a sign on the front door saying: Dealer
space available. That's right up my alley!
Remember, even a wooden spoon can have attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
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