SUCCESS BY APPOINTMENT

Top tips for one- on- one antiques shopping

Give suf cient notice of when you intend to visit a dealer – if you call on the day you want to meet, they may not have a time slot or be able to attend. There’s no need to feel pressured into spending money; the dealer is expecting to show you what they have on offer, and not necessarily to make a sale. Inform the dealer of the item, or kind of items, you like when you contact them. That will give them the chance to prepare for your visit. If you don’t know what you are looking for, nd a dealer you think might suit your tastes and ask for their help in choosing items. Don’t forget your appointment; a dealer may have to travel to their premises to meet you. Equally, be punctual and call ahead if you think you might be delayed. Ask for an idea of prices before you visit, to make sure that some of the pieces on sale will be within your budget.

If you need to cancel, do so in plenty of time. And if you nd something else in the meantime, be sure to tell the dealer. Avoid asking for an odd time slot – dealers are often happy to open early morning or in the evening, but they may not be inclined to unlock their premises after dark at 10pm on a Saturday night. If you can, familiarise yourself with the kind of stock the dealer sells before you visit. You don’t want to arrive and nd that they specialise in mostly 19th- century oak furniture when you prefer mid- century design. Make the most of having the full attention of an expert to answer your questions, and nd out as much as possible about the pieces you are interested in. Make sure you return if you were happy with the service – the more often you visit a dealer, the more you can trust that they will know the sort of things that you like.