15. Get Discounts on Vintage and Antique Pieces
When you search for vintage and antique products on sites like Etsy and eBay, the prices are almost always much higher than what you would spend in a thrift shop, antique mall, or flea market. We can say the same for antique auctions. Antique dealers will do the legwork to locate great pieces in these less expensive locations and transport them to places where high-end clients feel at ease. A well-to-do homemaker, for example, would not be able to rummage through the Goodwill Outlet’s $1-per-pound containers. She will, however, be content to sit in a tidy, well-organized auction house or browse Etsy listings. Since I used to work as a full-time vintage and antique dealer, I know firsthand. It’s quick to find high-quality antique items for next to nothing once you get into the habit of thrifting.
Do some study to see the average price for the things you want before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars. Look on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace as well, as people could be giving items away for free or for a low price. Do some study to see the average price for the things you want before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars. Look on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace as well, as people could be giving items away for free or for a low price. These chairs cost $5,500, brand new. I found a similar chair for $1,300 on 1stDibs in much worse shape, so mine is probably worth about $2,000. Finding offers like this took years of being in the habit of thrifting professionally. However, if you are looking for a new hobby, it can be a shockingly enjoyable and fulfilling way to decorate your home.
