Unusual Investment Options

There are many choices to be made when looking for investment options. Let's look at some of the more unusual ones.

Art Investment.

Art work, be it sculptures or paintings have an investment value. The buyer must do research into the work and look for quality and significance. These two factors are the main contributors to artwork that can appreciate in value. Investors should consult with art dealers and valuations must be undertaken by reputable firms before purchase. This type of investment is usually for the longer term and can be rewarding.

Antique Investments

Antiques are investments which already have a value because of there age and significance. The valuation becomes the critical point in deciding the purchase price. Some are over valued and the profit is already factored into sale price. The time that they are held by the investor will determine the appreciated value. Some antiques are to be found in dealer shops whilst others can be located at clearing sales, auctions and garage sales. It is important to have a historical knowledge of the antique before purchase as this often helps in deciding its resale price.

Motor Vehicles

Older motor vehicles are now becoming collector items and can appreciate because of their scarcity and uniqueness. Restoration is often a major part of the valuation and can cost a lot of money. Parts and labour input involved often mean the investor has to allow for ongoing costs until the restoration is complete. The rewards can often be double the initial investment cost.

Sports Memorabilia

As sports heroes come and go, some are remember forever for their greatness. Investing in memorabilia that covers their feats can be rewarding. Items such as frames sports clothes, bats and balls used by the hero and signatures all retain value to the collectors and the sports fanatics. These trophies can increase in value with time and can be a good investment for the wise. Know your sports history and invest with confidence.

Basically, any item that can increase in value with the passage of time can be looked at as an investment. Some of the more unusual items have the most resale value and appreciate the quickest. Always be on the lookout for such items and try to increase your knowledge about them as you look. By joining clubs and participating in hobby activities you will often learn more about such items than you will from a book.

There are lots of options within this category of unusual investments and we have only covered a few basic ones here. Investments principles are not just limited to property and shares but can be applied to anything that has value. Appreciation of those items that make investments means research and lots of foot work to gain an advantage on other investors. For more information on investment options go to http://www.investmentoptions.freedvd.com.au. Good luck with your search.

James McInnes is a professional share market trader and investment entrepreneur, with many years experience trading the Australian Share market. You can visit his site at http://www.investmentoptions.freedvd.com.au for further information on trading the Australian Share Market

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8 Tips to Identify Antiques

Want to know if your furniture is as old as you might think? Here are some tips to help you identify an antique.

1. Patina

An old table will have a rich, beautiful finish. Decades of polishing and exposure to the elements create patina. Check underneath a table. On an older table, the appearance of the wood will be much different underneath than on the top. The underside will be lighter because it has not been polished or had use. This is a clue to advanced age.

2. Handmade

Look for handmade furniture. Antique furniture was hand made by craftsmen. Watch for uneven carving; it indicates hand made workmanship. Machine made furniture has identical, perfect carving. A set of chairs is great to check for it. If all the carving and detail on all the chairs is absolutely identical, it was machine made, and not so old.

3. Veneer

Look for thick veneers on wood. Veneer has been used for hundreds of years and is not necessarily a bad thing. However, older veneer is thicker than modern veneer and it was glued onto wood. Newer veneers are very thin. Modern manufacturing methods allow for thinner cuts. Modern veneers are often glued onto particleboard or base woods.

4. Signature

Look for a makers signature. Newer, mass-produced furniture would tend to be signed by a craftsman. A signature helps to date an item, determine value and provide provenance.

5. Mortise-and-tenon Construction

Watch for construction methods, mortise-and-tenon is a method where two pieces of wood are cut like a jigsaw puzzle to fit together without nails or glue. This technique is used to compile the overall structure of a piece. It denotes excellent craftsmanship and helps to identify an antique.

6. Locks

Look for locks fitted with brass keys on drawers, desks etc. Often the lock makers name is clear. This name is a good reference point to determine age and value.

7. Dovetail Joints

Dovetailing is a method of construction used to put together drawers, blanket boxes etc. It is also method where two pieces of wood are cut like a jigsaw puzzle to fit together without nails or glue Handmade 18th century dovetails are large and uneven. Machine-made dovetails are thin and even.

8. Nails

Look for square pegs and hand forged nails. Furniture made during 17th and 18th century used square pegs. Hand forged nails also indicate an antique. You can tell hand forged nails because they are very irregular in size and shape. Seeing construction with a Phillips screw should make you think that an item is not so old.

Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, an antique shop located in Toronto, Canada. He does furniture restoration, caning and rushing repairs, custom reproductions, upholstery, teaches courses on antiques and does appraisals for estates and community events. He can be reached at 416-785-4555 or by visiting http://www.takeaboo.com

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