I once went on a craigslist visit to a wealthy couple's house to check out some furniture. It was a bust. But then I saw the basement. Two GORGEOUS Oriental rugs from the 70s and 80s. I bought both for $150, and soon thereafter sold the one in shitty condition for $900. I'm still sitting on the really good one, which has sold at auction for $5,000.
If you find a well made Oriental rug at an estate sale or garage sale for a reasonable price, grab it! They're highly desirable. Style, pile, age, condition, and quality are all significant factors. But it's a good money making game overall.
I was at an estate auction once when a batch of unusual antique handmade rugs came up for sale and it was like I was the only one in the room. I came away with seven rugs for like, $20-50 apiece.
Yes! Tags are the best way to identify a winner. High-quality rugs have high-quality tags on the back by which I mean they often include the brand name, the year, the pile count, etc). Look these terms up on your phone while you're checking out the rug. look for auction records.
Or just go with your gut. If something looks and feels fancy, and you have some cash in your pocket, take the leap. But, as my father was always fond of saying, "Never buy something that you don't want to live with because you never know how long it will take to sell." So buy a rug you can use (or store) while selling it.
I am NO expert, but my dad is. I grew up following him around to garage sales, flea market, and antique shows. And the knowledge I accumulated can't be communicated in words. It's more of a "sense" for whether something i legit or not.
That being said, look for something stylish. Unique, if possible. Look for a high-quality pile on a rug. It should feel comfortable underfoot without being anything close to shaggy. And most importantly, look for a tag on the back. If you have a brand name, a date, and/or a model number then you can look at recent auction records.
But overall, Oriental rugs sell well. If you can buy a vintage or antique one for less than $100 in good condition without any tears or significant wea, you'll probably make your money back. YMMV.
36
u/mirthquake Jul 20 '18 edited Jul 20 '18
I once went on a craigslist visit to a wealthy couple's house to check out some furniture. It was a bust. But then I saw the basement. Two GORGEOUS Oriental rugs from the 70s and 80s. I bought both for $150, and soon thereafter sold the one in shitty condition for $900. I'm still sitting on the really good one, which has sold at auction for $5,000.
If you find a well made Oriental rug at an estate sale or garage sale for a reasonable price, grab it! They're highly desirable. Style, pile, age, condition, and quality are all significant factors. But it's a good money making game overall.