| For whatever reason, the bank account is empty and | | | | provide the first price offer. The dealers will want to |
| all the quarters lost in the couch have been found | | | | come in lower than your offer, so ask a bit more |
| and spent, and you need money right now. How do | | | | than you are willing to accept. |
| you get it? There are several ways to do it, but we | | | | There are pickers for antiques, but also for scrap |
| will stick with the legal, moral and ethical ways. | | | | metal, old household items and more. So keep that in |
| The simplest way is to sell some things around the | | | | mind. If you can afford to wait a bit before you |
| house that you don't use. Contact your local | | | | receive your money, clean up your things and take |
| (antiques) picker and see if he will come out to your | | | | them to a local auction house. They will charge you |
| house and buy some of your old precious family | | | | 25% or more, but everything you bring to them will |
| heirlooms.. You may have some old furniture, | | | | be sold. Yard sales are faster, but much more labor |
| glassware, jewelry or other items you've forgotten | | | | intensive and with advertising in the paper, will take |
| about and you can offer to have them buy what | | | | at least a week before you see your money. You will |
| they want (or what you want to sell). | | | | also get quite a bit less money for your things. |
| They will usually offer about 40% of what they | | | | Pawn shops are another way to get instant cash. |
| expect to sell your item for so be prepared to | | | | They take a larger variety of items than a "picker" |
| negotiate a good deal. To get your best money for | | | | but you will need to be able to prove ownership. If |
| your items, check out eBay's completed listings for | | | | you are just pawning the item, you will need to pay |
| the items you are offering and see what they sold | | | | back the loan plus interest (which can get pretty |
| for before you call the picker. The more knowledge | | | | steep.) If you fail to pay back the loan, the pawn |
| you have, the better your bargaining position with | | | | broker gets to keep your precious heirloom. |
| the antiques dealer. | | | | Payday advance stores can give you quick money. I |
| How do you find a picker? Start by looking in the | | | | would avoid them even if you think you are |
| want ads in the local paper. "Wanted to Buy" ads | | | | desperate. The interest they charge is outrageous |
| abound so give them a call. Call the antique malls and | | | | and can keep you in debt for months. They are legal, |
| antique stores as well. You could also clean up your | | | | but not healthy for your pocketbook. Car title loan |
| things (damp cloth only! Or polish your silver | | | | companies that lend you money against the title of |
| item-leave the silver-plate alone and don't touch your | | | | your car also charge huge interest rates and you |
| copper, brass or bronze pieces!) and take them | | | | may well end up losing your car. I don't think they will |
| yourself to the antiques shops. Be prepared to | | | | be a good service for you at all. |