Earning money working from home will take some planning on your part.
Buying and selling antiques and collectibles can become the most rewarding business you can ever imagine.
It's all about the hunt, searching high and low for the one treasure that satisfies the collectors appetite.
The thrill of finding something from the past and learning the history behind the items and how they were used or what function they had in life gives you a sense of being a part of that history.
• Knowing Your Market..
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When first starting out in the business it is imperative to learn about the items you want to market.
You can go to an antique fair in a mall and see all kinds of different dealers that will major in nothing but glassware, jewelry, toys, furniture or deal in a lot of small collectibles.
To learn more about different items of interest, just ask the dealers about the history behind the item you choose to learn about.
Most dealers love to talk about their antiques and collectibles and give the full history of their different items they have in stock.
Pricing on the items depends on the rarity and how many was made or it could be a one of a kind.
A great place to learn about antiques and collectibles is to tune into the "Antiques Road Show" on PBS.
You will not only get the information on the value of items but, you will learn the history behind each item that's on the show.
Always take notes where ever you can gather information from.
Another place to get some great history and pricing on antiques and collectibles is, to watch the "American Pickers" on the History Channel.
• Finding The Great Deals...
If you leave from the west coast to travel to the east coast, you could visit hundreds of flea markets on the way.
Frequenting flea market is a fun experience, not only can you find antiques and collectibles but, you can strike up some pretty good deals in the process.
The best way to shop at flea markets is, to find out when they are open to the public.
Your best deals are struck in the morning.
You want to get in line with the people that are selling at the flea market, they begin to line up early before they open, pay your parking fee to enter the parking area.
The sellers will form a line to pay for their space to sell from.
Now that you're in the parking area, you can take your flash light and go shopping as the sellers are unloading the merchandise.
Oh, forget one thing, you won't be by yourself, this is the way most all dealers operate, so once you start looking for all the buys, there's plenty of competition with you.
Not all flea markets operate the same, so you have to learn the ropes as to the best way for you to get in early, just to stay even with the other dealers.
• Negotiating The Price..
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Once you have found a collectible or a good antique, you should already have in your mind on how much it is worth or how much you can get for it.
Remember, at the flea markets you come across all kinds of people.
There are the home owners that sell at the flea markets once every five years or so, just to get rid of the overflow and outdated stuff.
Then there is the small time dealers that mostly sell at flea markets at bargain rate prices.
When you come across an item you want to purchase, you have to size up the seller, are they a home owner that comes to the flea market once in a great while or are they a dealer trying to make a big score? The whole idea of buy and selling, is to buy as cheap as you can and sell for the highest price as possible.
It is good practice not to make the first offer on any item you want buy, you could be leaving money on the table.
If you just have to make the first offer, make it so ridiculously low just to get the ball rolling and the seller will no doubt make a counter offer, now you know the ball park the sellers in, unless the seller makes a ridiculously high price.
Sometimes, the seller will set the price at a huge bargain for you, in this case take the deal before another antique dealer steps in and starts a bidding war, as much as you may not like it when it happens, they will still do it.
Remember, some dealers are ruthless when it comes to them getting the merchandise or you getting the merchandise.
Sometimes, you just have to walk away from a deal, you won't always be successful, but not to worry another great deal is just around the corner.
nevertheless, you're on your way to earning money working from home.