We’ve all heard the phenomenal stories of an insightful person picking up an unbelievably rare and valuable antique at a garage sale, lawn sale, or estate sale. Sometimes people get rid of older relatives’ belongings, little knowing or caring if the items have antique value. Of course, if you recognize that an item could fetch thousands of dollars on the market, you would be kind to point this out to the proprietors. If it’s a smaller catch, you might figure they have little interest in marketing the item and snatch it up at a bargain price with a clear conscience.

2. Surf the Web

To avoid traffic or lost time looking for an antiques dealer several miles away or located in a high-traffic area, you can just go online and do a search for dealers in your region, depending on where you are located and how far you are willing to drive. Websites can provide much information depending on their design and updates. At the very least you can locate dealers near you who can help you find antiques that you are looking for. Many antiques shoppers prefer online shopping over physically looking for their favorite old fashion furnishings, so a few minutes spent browsing the Internet might tell you more about how to find antiques in your community or surrounding areas and save you valuable time and fuel.

You can do a general search for “antiques” or a brief description of the item you want, You can visit specialty sites to browse the wares and learn antique-valuing information. Ebay and Amazon are two general shopping areas that offer some types of antiques at competitive pricing. Wherever you live, visit, or plan to shop, check out associations of art and antique dealers to find shop locations as well as helpful advice for shoppers.

3. Compare Quality and Price

While it can be tempting to buy the first antique item you find that fits your search criteria, it may be worthwhile to spend some time comparing prices and quality. For example, if you are searching for a rare edition of an older book and find one that is in pretty good condition with just a little fraying on the binding, you may think you have a deal. But if you search a little further, you might be able to get one in even better condition for the same price. Of course, if that particular edition is truly rare, getting one that is slightly frayed may not make a difference, but if you have the time, a quick check might pay off.

Never pay asking price out of hand. Consider it, but before paying full price, counter-offer at a lower price. Some dealers will negotiate on certain items, while others hold fast to their asking prices. If you lack the cash to buy a pricey item, ask about bartering services. Some dealers will trade items or services in lieu of cash payments.

4. Watch Television Programs About Antiques

Check local and cable networks for antique shows to see what they are discussing and offering. You can learn a lot by tuning in to programs that talk about and demonstrate antiques from certain time periods or cultural eras. Antiques Roadshow offers segments based on antiques shopping and getting great deals. In the New York area, you can enjoy Antique Show and Sell.

Sometimes you can find free informative or educational videos on antiques at the local library, which you can borrow at no cost as long as you return them on time. Through video, you will develop your own level of expertise that will come in handy when you go shopping for antiques.

5. Register for an Auction

Like the other shopping options mentioned above, an auction is a great place to learn more about the entire load of furnishings being sold if they come from a central location, like a repossessed property or someone’s estate. By registering to bid, you can compete against other bidders for the items you want at the lowest cost. The auctioneer may be able to offer background or history details about items in which you are especially interested. Or there may be routine customers who know a lot about certain kinds of antiques, and will be happy to share their knowledge with you. These unique offerings are available on a limited basis, so check out an auction to see what you can find.

6. Place an Ad

If you need to find antiques that are hard to locate or seem to be scarce, you might decide to place an ad in an antique dealership’s publication, the local newspaper, or even an online site like ebay or Amazon. Make your ad as specific as possible, including information like historical design or time period, dimensions or color, and other identifying criteria that will help to narrow the pool of items that you may be contacted to choose from. Your ad should also have clear contact information and perhaps a post office box if you wish to maintain privacy.

7. Determine Limits

The cardinal rules of shopping, especially when searching for antiques, are two-fold: Never buy something of inferior value in place of your desired item unless there’s a good reason to do so, and never pay more than the item is worth. Before you buy anything, do your research and plan your purchase to avoid being led astray by tempting deals or impulse buying.

How to know you are not buying a fake is another piece of important information. You’ll want to check antique guidebooks or catalogues as well as consult with experts to get a second opinion if you are in doubt about an item’s date and worth. Looking online for specialty items can save you time and maybe even money because you can cover a much larger spread of territory than if you try to drive from store to store and physically compare items.

It’s not always easy to find antiques, but if you are careful and persistent, you can often discover surprising values that may exceed expectations by following tips like those outlined above.

What Is Your Antique IQ?

Collecting antiques can be a fun way to spend a little cash and make a little extra on the side, but do you have the antique intelligence to tell what is really valuable and what is just old? Many antiques are not rare or valuable at all while many items that are marked for trash can be valuable antiques! Finding your antique IQ can help you decide which treasure or trash has an antique value. Take this quiz to find out if you know your trash from treasure!