Have a hobby of collectibles – they can be your alternative investment

28-Nov-2014

I like this.

By







Many investors constantly look for alternative investments that can be more attractive than expensive equities and low-yielding bonds. Collectibles for example, have recently gained people’s interest. Classic cars, art and fine wine are highly appreciated investment options, and that’s mainly because people buy them for their personal pleasure. Some might say that collectibles are more like an expensive hobby, and although that is true, making money is something only the smartest investors can do.

Patience is just as important as money in the collectable business

As a collector with a fondness for fine items and solid cash flow, you must learn to be patient, from both a temperamental and financial point of view. If you can’t be patient, then your hobby won’t bring you any financial returns. Collectibles have the potential of being susceptible to wind strikes in value, even when they’re in perpetual demand. They don’t have the power to diversify your other forms of investment because their price depend on demand. Many people, investors mostly, can look at collectibles from an objective point of view and they’re aware that the items are the essence of unrestricted expenditures. During hard times, they’re the first to be sold in exchange of money. Vintage items, gold, and art are just some types of collectibles heavily traded for cash.

Collectibles can be a solid investment type

Not everyone agrees with the statement that collectibles can bring a constant cash flow to the investor. To some extent, they’re correct. Lifetime aficionados and beauty lovers of the rarest items have high chances of making money. A true collector first thinks about the item and then about how to make money with it. One’s delight in vintage things with value can be persuaded, and in some ways collectors are excellent sales people, too. However, their approach has to be alluring. You want to convince someone to buy a collectible by sharing information about that specific item. The more valuable the information the better chances you have to sell it.

Selling collectibles

When it’s time to sell your collectibles for profit, you can use advertisements or trade with a merchant via an auction. Of course, you can always try to sell online directly to people. eBay for instance, is an extremely popular marketplace; thousands and thousands of precious collectibles are sold on the platform, and the good thing is some people are willing to sell the most valuable items at the lowest price only to make some money. Others are not even aware that the item they possess is five, maybe 7 times more valuable than the exhibited price.

Stay on the safe side

Buying collectibles isrisky, especially when you’re doing it for love first, and then for money. Always keep in mind that purchasing and selling collectables that are in trend will eventually lose value. That usually depends on the economy, and during a recession,the price on collectiblesis the first to drop significantly. If you’re looking to invest anyway, here are some tips to help you out:

  • Select a niche and focus on it
  • Never stop learning – if you think you know everything there is to know about coins, you’re wrong. Visit auctions and merchants, talk to them and read as many books as you can. You’ll be surprised of the new things you’ll find out
  • Buy collectibles you actually like
  • Don’t purchase online without proof of authenticity

Can fine wine be a collectible? Yes, it can. As opposite to gold, art and antiques, fine wine is also a sensible type of investment, not just a collectible. Experts buy fine wine with the intention of selling it at a higher price; and they can choose to sell it to other investors or to rich people who are actually planning of opening and drinking the bottle.

Generally, fine wine that is older than 25 years old becomes worthless; however, certain varieties that can’t be drunk are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Their values spans beyond the mere meaning of a drink. An exclusive bottle of Chateaux Lafite from 1787 has historical meaning. It belonged to Thomas Jefferson and it is considered one of the most expensive wine bottles in the world, priced at nearly $160,000.


Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *

*
*

Subscribe without commenting