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<p>[QUOTE="verybrad, post: 9743771, member: 37"]There has always been second hand stuff. Whether cast-downs for free or desirable antiques for money, there has been some kind of a market. The antiques market is very much fashion driven. Consequently, values have fluctuated with the fashions of the day. We are currently in a downturn market and it is a great time to buy if you want something for yourself.</p><p><br /></p><p>My parents got rid of all their old things when my dad got a new job, moved across country, and they built a new house. This was 1957. My mom chose modern but nothing was high-end. She lived with much of that furniture the rest of her life. Her later interest in antiques came through inheritance from her parents.</p><p><br /></p><p>My great grandfather was somewhat wealthy and built and furnished a very nice house in 1900. He died young and the family fortunes turned in the depression. The family business and farmland was all sold prior to my great grandmother's passing. My grandfather was not good with money and there was little left by the time my grandparents died in the 70s. What remained was this great un-touched home full of antiques. Unfortunately, the home was 400 miles away from where we lived.</p><p><br /></p><p>We took what we could in a couple trips and the rest was sold at auction. Attending that auction is what got me interested in antiques. I was 14 at the time but managed to get a couple things for myself. By the time I was 18, I was hitting garage sales and attended my second auction. I was able to turn some antique etchings for a quick profit and I was hooked. This was just as the antiques market was beginning to boom here in the US and a great time to be involved in the business.</p><p><br /></p><p>Despite college and a career, I dabbled in the antiques business on the side. By the time I was 40, I was in the business full-time. In the early days, business was easy. It seemed there were plenty of willing customers if you could buy and price right. You sometimes had to pay a lot for things in comparison to today but there was always the ability to find a buyer.</p><p><br /></p><p>About 2008, the antiques market dropped off a cliff. The economy was bad and tastes were changing. Those interested in traditional antiques were aging and collections were being liquidated. Their children had little to no interest in antiques. This is what has brought us to where we are today. I think we are seeing a bit of an up-turn in interest but I do not expect a full re-bound in my lifetime. Even then, what is seen as desirable has changed. Only the very high end traditional antiques have retained good value.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is the family home as it appears today. Photos were taken from a realty site. At the time of my grandparent's death in the 70s, the house was in need of a complete renovation. It sat on the market for quite awhile and I believe it sold for about $8500.00. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/frown.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":(" unselectable="on" /> It was converted to a duplex after that but has since been taken back to a single family home.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]477217[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]477218[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="verybrad, post: 9743771, member: 37"]There has always been second hand stuff. Whether cast-downs for free or desirable antiques for money, there has been some kind of a market. The antiques market is very much fashion driven. Consequently, values have fluctuated with the fashions of the day. We are currently in a downturn market and it is a great time to buy if you want something for yourself. My parents got rid of all their old things when my dad got a new job, moved across country, and they built a new house. This was 1957. My mom chose modern but nothing was high-end. She lived with much of that furniture the rest of her life. Her later interest in antiques came through inheritance from her parents. My great grandfather was somewhat wealthy and built and furnished a very nice house in 1900. He died young and the family fortunes turned in the depression. The family business and farmland was all sold prior to my great grandmother's passing. My grandfather was not good with money and there was little left by the time my grandparents died in the 70s. What remained was this great un-touched home full of antiques. Unfortunately, the home was 400 miles away from where we lived. We took what we could in a couple trips and the rest was sold at auction. Attending that auction is what got me interested in antiques. I was 14 at the time but managed to get a couple things for myself. By the time I was 18, I was hitting garage sales and attended my second auction. I was able to turn some antique etchings for a quick profit and I was hooked. This was just as the antiques market was beginning to boom here in the US and a great time to be involved in the business. Despite college and a career, I dabbled in the antiques business on the side. By the time I was 40, I was in the business full-time. In the early days, business was easy. It seemed there were plenty of willing customers if you could buy and price right. You sometimes had to pay a lot for things in comparison to today but there was always the ability to find a buyer. About 2008, the antiques market dropped off a cliff. The economy was bad and tastes were changing. Those interested in traditional antiques were aging and collections were being liquidated. Their children had little to no interest in antiques. This is what has brought us to where we are today. I think we are seeing a bit of an up-turn in interest but I do not expect a full re-bound in my lifetime. Even then, what is seen as desirable has changed. Only the very high end traditional antiques have retained good value. Here is the family home as it appears today. Photos were taken from a realty site. At the time of my grandparent's death in the 70s, the house was in need of a complete renovation. It sat on the market for quite awhile and I believe it sold for about $8500.00. :( It was converted to a duplex after that but has since been taken back to a single family home. [ATTACH=full]477217[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]477218[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
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