Should you do repairs before selling your antique rug?

We strongly recommend to seek an independent appraisal of your Oriental rug's resale value (not its replacement or insurance value) before doing any restoration. Some repairs can actually reduce your rug's value. If an antique dealer suggests that your old Oriental rug would be worth thousands of dollars once restored, ask them to buy it from you for half that price.

HOW TO SELL YOUR ORIENTAL RUG

WHAT IS YOUR ORIENTAL RUG'S VALUE

Selling An Antique Oriental Rug

Sell your rug to a dealer

This can be expeditious, but you will get only a fraction of your rug's worth. Alternatively, antique dealers may offer to take your rug on consignment. Typically, whatever agreement you start with, you will end up paying around 40% in commission, as is standard in consignment stores.

Should you professionally clean your Oriental rug before selling it?

A professional wash is worthwhile before selling your rug if it is particularly dirty or it has a stain and the cleaner assures you it will come out. Otherwise, a gentle vacuum first of the back and then the front working in the direction of the pile should suffice.

Selling an antique Oriental rug is not straightforward. You need to reach the right audience, provide assurances to wary buyers, and advertise your rug well. Where you sell your rug, and how you sell it, therefore matters a lot.

Sell your antique rug to us

We are an association of private buyers and collectors of antique Oriental rugs. If we do not buy your rug upfront, we advertise it among our members for a minimal 5% commission if and when the rug is sold. There are no handling or shipping fees. We will match antique dealers' and auctions' estimates and forego all their fees and commissions.

What to expect

Private owners are often disappointed by the resale value of their antique Oriental rug because they believed it was a good investment, a belief reinforced by inflated prices and appraisals from antique rug dealers or auctions with substantial hidden fees. The truth is, reselling an oriental rug is no different than reselling furniture, you will have to offer as large a discount to sell your rug as you would to sell your furniture.

WHERE TO SELL YOUR ORIENTAL RUG

Run a classified ad online

This may be a good option for selling a relatively cheap Oriental rug. It is not so good for selling an expensive rug, because buyers of high-end rugs are not likely to sift through popular online sites.

Place your rug in an auction

This allows you to reach a selected audience. However, 40-50% of your rug's value will go to the auction because both you and the buyer pay a commission around 15-25% each, plus various handling fees whether the rug is sold or not..