Vintage Home Furniture

Is restoring old furniture a profitable idea?

I was thinking of buying old furniture at an antique shop or second-hand store, restoring and then selling it. Anybody have any opinions over this idea? Has anybody done this before?

Public Comments

1. it can be lucrative, however, with a lot of antiques, you may not want to refinish them as the value of the item may decrease. You would have to get yourself an education, to determine which items can be repaired and which items are best to be weathered.
2. It can surely be profitable if done correctly. Sounds like a great idea to start as a hobby and once you get a good idea of how much you like it and how much profit you can make, you can possibly take it to the next level.
3. Antiques, and their condition are ALL in the EYES of the beholder. Kind of like the A.K.C. dog shows...You never really know why that one , won the top prize? Any how, some folks will pay top dollar for gorgeous refinished antique pieces! Some people will try to lynch you for touching n antique piece, ad destroying its original condition. Either way, you could make a fortune, or loose a fortune. I would suggest, either playing stupid and working for a local Antique dealer to feel out the clients. Or going to school to figure the correct approach. Oh there is one last think my old age forgets about!. Take pictures, put them on some kind of Internet site for sale, then judge the feedback! Some times I am so old I forget logic in this new age! DUH sorry! Just post pictures, and wait to see where the best offers come from!
4. Had a shop , years ago doing repairs , commercial stripping & refinishing for the public & antique shops. Rising rent & chemical costs became prohibitive. (same as now) (Got a place to work ? preferably free & where no one will mind. Might be able to pick up some work here & there. Buying materials at retail prices will kill your profit any how & you must register as a business to collect taxes & report income. Would not open a "business or rent space" due to the economy & cost of chemicals & equipment needed. Might consider going to antique shops & offering your services to work in their place. How you conduct your affairs after that is your own business. Most importantly, if you expect to be paid for your work it must be of professional quality. Best regards