Ati is a successful DC real estate agent who regularly stages open houses and advises on home decorating. We were lucky to meet her during the recent Dog Days of August Sale and she agreed to let us do a house tour (soon to come). Shown above are some of Ati's finds from a recent flea market in Shenendoah, Va. See more of her fantastic finds (all purchased for a total of under $45!) and get her shopping tips below the jump...
Ati's Tips for Flea Market Shopping and Finding Great Accessories:
1. Always take a friend for reassurance and a second opinion.
2. Keep in mind that stuff always looks better and more expensive outside of a flea market (when it's not next to old baby clothes). Try to have a vision of how it would look in your home.
3. Shop at the end of the day when sellers drop prices. Regular flea market shoppers in rural areas may have different taste that a city dweller, so the items you are interested in could still be around at the end of the day.
4. Avoid markets in the city because they are usually too expensive. Take the lovely country drive, stop by Virginia vineyards and enjoy cheaper flea market prices.
5. Carry lots of change, including $1 bills.
6. If you think something is unusual and an excellent price, grab it. You can always regift if it doesn't work in your home.
7. Always think of how you can repurpose stuff, for example, a vintage blanket can be hacked in something else like pillows.
To find out more about Ati and her expertise, check out her website.
[All glass pieces were under $10 total; light stands were $1 each]
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
Is it possible you can list the name of the flea market she went to? Thanks.
view ltblmr's profile
I believe it's the 43 mile flea market. I didn't list it in the post because I couldn't find a website link. Perhaps some readers know more about it?
view rachael in dc's profile
Or could you give any more flea market recommendations for the DC/Virginia area? Thanks!
view navychic99's profile
Check out this past post on flea markets around DC: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/search?q=flea market
We plan to cover more soon so stay posted...
view rachael in dc's profile
Oh wow... I ogled a *whole set* of dinnerware in the style of those green glasses. Didn't have a reason to buy it though.
view whytephoenix's profile
Few more tips:
1 Make a List of what you want before you go!
You might become so overwhelmed by piles-o-stuff that you forget what you were looking for.
2 If it's a FAIR price and unique, don't haggle, just buy. Too many times we've seen someone asking for a few dollars off something too too cool, only to have someone else walk up, pay full price and walk off with the prize. Leaving the haggler empty handed and wishing they had just paid the extra 5 or 10 dollars.
3 Take a "bag lady cart" looks like a luggage cart but with a basket attached. That uber cool piece of ready made folk art can easily become a too heavy albatross after an hour or so of carrying it around.
4 Condition condition condition, sometimes we get so excited about something at such a great price we forget to wonder WHY it's such a great price. That guy with the $35. Diamond chairs probably knows the welds on the seat have all popped and you'll be so excited about your find you won't notice till you've run all the way back to your car with them. He didn't mislead you, and you didn't check. *However, even with popped welds I'd be happy to find diamond chairs at $35. each
5 If you go somewhere really big, carry a notebook and make notes of what you've bought where. At the really big shows like antiques week in Texas, I write down the field and booth number and leave my big purchases with the dealer, at the end of the day I drive back through and collect my purchases.
* I pay asking price if I plan on leaving an item with a dealer, it's a service and a favor they are doing for me. The Texas show is MILES long and time is wasted walking back and forth dropping stuff off in the truck.
6 Wear good shoes, bring a change of shirts, a spare pair of shoes, a bottle of water and an apple or an orange, food offerings at fleas and fairs can be heavy on the carbs and sugar and low on energy.
7 If you are really serious about buying, don't bring children or strollers or pets. Children tire easily, pets can get overheated (or worse, LOST!), and strollers make it hard to navigate. If your friend or shopping buddy has a different shopping style (you are on a mission-they are into chatting with everyone about everything), make a plan before you arrive to keep in touch via cell phone or arrange ahead of time to split up and meet back at a pre arranged spot an hour or two later.
8 If your shopping buddy is looking for the same items you are... have them go north and you go south OR make it a policy of taking turns on items you both want. Later in the day you can always trade. There is so much available out there and nothing is this world is worth losing a friendship over.
9 Money Money Money. Get cash BEFORE you arrive. Use credit cards when you can and save your cash for the dealers who don't take credit cards. Don't use credit cards for purchases under $50. Don't count on ATMs at the flea or show, they almost always run out right when you need them the most!
Happy Hunting!
Austin Modern Vintage
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