How many women do you know who don’t like to collect things – nice things, that is? Perhaps this is why you will see more women dressed in designer apparel than you will men and it isn’t always just about image. Guys will dress in fashionable clothing, but you will often find that they have an image to uphold. Women, on the other hand, just like to surround themselves with nice things.
Unfortunately, some of the collectibles we invest in are not something you’d simply put on a shelf to be showcased. When collecting valuables, the biggest mistake you can make is in minimising the importance of proper storage. So, what are these collectibles and why is storage so important? The following information can help prevent you from losing value on your investment in these “finer things of life.”
Top 10 Collectibles
While some people collect things as a passion, others see them as investments. A quick look at the top 10 popular types of collectibles will help you understand why they are so valuable and how to preserve that value so that it continues growing over time. Not necessarily in order of popularity, the top 10 collectibles include:
- Comic Books
- Vinyl Records (33 RMPs and 45 RPMs)
- Fine Wine
- Antique Furniture
- Fine Art and Figurines
- Dolls and Vintage Toys
- Coins and Stamps
- Trading Cards
- Classic Motorcars
- Jewellery
Just a quick perusal of the above items will show you just how easy it can be to fall into the trap of wanting to show them off at home on a shelf or lighted cabinet. Not only is this an open invitation to would-be thieves but there are other issues you will encounter as well.
An Example of the Importance of Properly Storing and Preserving Collectibles
For the sake of example, let’s look at how you store fine wines. These are most definitely among the most sought after ‘collectibles’ and within all of the above, the one which necessitates proper storage. A true connoisseur will understand that fine wines must be aged at least 5 to 10 years. But that is just the beginning of what it takes to store this year’s vintage to a valuable bottle of aged wine. Each type of wine requires being held within a very specific temperature range like any good wine cellar would pay careful attention to. However, that isn’t all there is to storing fine wine. Some bottles might be stored better vertically whilst others, for the most part, need to be held horizontally to the floor. If you want to see how fine wines are stored, take a tour of the cellars from Octavian Vaults. Wine as a collectible is only as good as the way in which it is stored during the entire aging process. That is a fact.
Similarly, other collectibles, such as trading cards, benefit greatly from proper display and storage solutions. For instance, display case cards provide an ideal way to showcase and protect valuable cards from dust and light damage, ensuring they retain their value over time
Finally, you may take note of the importance of insuring your collectibles. Also, remember that insurance underwriters are in business to make money. This makes it easy to understand that they are not likely to pay out on anything damaged due to lack of storage or being improperly stored to preserve quality. From fine art which must not be subjected to UV radiation to wine which must be stored under very specific conditions, you will likely not have a claim if you didn’t store your collectibles according to best practices by type. Any investment in something deserving of being part of a collection mustbe properly stored or you can consider it uninsured.
Photo: Pixabay
Contributed posts are advertisements written by third parties who have paid Woman Around Town for publication.
