Posted on October 31, 2020 by Behnam Rugs

Garage and estate sales can be the source of fantastic and valuable finds. This extends to fine rugs as well. Many rug owners do not know the true value of the rugs they possess. That can mean a bargain that gives a big return on investment!

Just this week, a customer brought in an antique rug they purchased at a garage sale for $15. The rug had a Behnam Rugs tag on it from repair work performed in the past. Upon a quick search in our database, that antique rug had $2,500 worth of repairs done and was worth close to $10,000!

On the other hand, sometimes people will spend hundreds on a rug at a garage sale and bring it to us for appraisal and find it is virtually worthless.

So, wondering how to spot a deal when bargain hunting at garage sales and estate sales? Keep reading!

What to Look For:

1. Knot Count: The higher the number of knots per square inch (KPSI), the more labor went into making the rug. More labor means more value. Higher KPSI will also make the rug’s pattern more detailed. If the back of the rug looks almost identical to the front, with a complex pattern, that rug is likely a high-quality handmade piece.
2. Handmade: A tufted or machine-made rug will be worth very little second hand, while a handmade rug will be worth significantly more in good condition. Check the fringe of the rug, if it looks like it was glued on, or not sewn into the body of the rug, it’s probably machine-made. A handmade rug will have its fringe sewn into the body of the rug, and would fall apart if the fringe were removed.
3. Age: Antique rugs typically have higher intrinsic value, especially when they have been well-maintained. It can be hard for the average person to tell the age of a rug, as some rugs become threadbare due to poor maintenance such as vacuuming with the beater brush, and others are threadbare due to traffic over many decades. If the rug is older, it will have faded naturally over time. To determine if the fading is legitimate, part the rug and look at the fading pattern. The fibers should grow gradually darker the closer you get to the bottom of the pile. Some rugs are faded purposely, and these will have an obvious line of demarcation.
4. Material: Wool, silk, and cotton rugs are generally more valuable than rugs that are woven with man-made materials. Ask the seller what the rug is made of. You can also learn how to identify real silk and wool by reading our blog. 
5. Persian: Educate yourself about Persian rugs and their common styles and patterns, as Persian rugs are generally worth more than any other style of rug. Read our blog to familiarize yourself with Persian rugs. Persian rug designs are named after the city the pattern originated in, like Tabriz, Isfahan, Mashad, Kashan, and many others.
6. Repair work: Check the rug for signs of repair. Turn the rug over and search the back for patches, binding that doesn’t match exactly, moth damage, and other signs that work has been done. Repairs indicate that the rug was worth enough to invest in fixing. On the other hand, judge the craftsmanship of the repairs, as poorly executed restorations lower the value of the rug. If the rug has been repaired, make sure they were professionally done. While a rug that has never needed repairs will be worth more than it would if it had been repaired, quality repairs maintain the value of the rug, while poorly done repairs decrease its value.

It is not uncommon for rug owners to lack information regarding the value and history of their rugs. This is almost always to the advantage of the buyer at garage and estate sales. If you are searching for deals on rugs at these sales, listen to your gut, but do so after educating yourself on fine rugs. Knowing what you’re looking for goes a long way in successful bargain hunting. An informed shopper comes out on top more often than an uninformed one.

At estate sales, it may be possible to buy the rug under the condition that it be inspected and evaluated by a rug expert to confirm the value. If the rug is not worth close to what it sold for, you would be able to return it and get your money back under this agreement. When you buy a rug at a garage sale, sales are typically final and don’t allow any strings to be attached. Spend an amount you’re comfortable with, and you may be pleasantly surprised to find the rug is worth more than you paid for it.

If you are a seller, make sure you know the value of the rugs you’re selling. We offer free verbal appraisals at our showroom at 18000 Preston Road. If you own multiple valuable rugs, we recommend purchasing written appraisals for insurance purposes and creating a rug portfolio. If you’ve bought a rug at a garage or estate sale, get the rug appraised verbally as that will inform you as to whether it needs to be insured.