It is not the first time I have had this type of email, it’s
not even the 10th or 20th. Sadly and understandably
people get impressed with the look of a piece of antique seating be it a couch,
fancy armchairs or a chaise lounge and they choose to make an investment in it.
They all too often meet up with an unscrupulous restoration person who sells
them on a big refurbishing job that’s going to cost many times more than the
pieces are worth, perhaps mentioning that they will keep the ‘original springs
and woodwork’.
I could hear the conversation in my head ‘Oh yes, $4,000
might sound like a lot of money but you’ve got a piece here that’s going to be
worth $12,000 once I’m done with it.’
First off, keeping the original springs has absolutely no
effect on value (in fact it sounds downright uncomfortable!), secondly,
original woodwork? Isn’t that a given? You’re refinishing the piece, not
building a new one.
So the client gets sold a bill of goods and goes ahead with
the job. Once they get it home they may enjoy it for a bit but soon realize
that it doesn’t really suit their living arrangement or style anymore (see BLOG)
and want to sell it. Now they’re in for a surprise and the reseller has to be
the bearer of bad news.
Be careful what someone who has an interest in getting you
to invest in something is telling you what it is worth, especially if it’s how
they earn their living. This goes for reupholstering and refinishing of any
piece of antique furniture. Make sure you’re doing it for you and not because it’s
going to increase its value.
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