Drew Pritchard Shares Tips That Will Guarantee You Find the Perfect Gift 

Welcome to the Drew Pritchard blog. Drew Pritchard has been dealing in architectural salvage and antiques for 33 years. Today, antique dealer and restoration expert Drew, shares top present-buying tips for the upcoming Christmas.

TIPS FOR BUYING ANTIQUE GIFTS
1. A common mistake I see people doing is buying with their heart. In other words, they buy what they like rather than considering what the recipient might like. Think carefully whether that person will love it.
2. Always make sure you get a detailed receipt so the item can be returned if it’s not right.
3. Look for antique Christmas presents all year round. If you see something and it seems perfect for someone, buy it. Don’t wait. It might be the only one…
4. If you’re buying for someone who loves a particular style or period that you know nothing about, take pictures in their house of the things they love and show them to a dealer who specialises in the objects or era that they collect.
5. Unless someone is a fanatical collector of pristine toys like Matchbox cars, I’d advise not to buy toys in a box. I know they’re collectable and at their most valuable boxed, but it doesn’t make your heart race to see them like this – unless you’re a serious collector.
6. It sounds obvious, but make sure you’ve bought everything in plenty of time for Christmas. Two to three weeks is the standard time it takes for delivery generally, and it’s wise to add on a little extra time for Christmas packing and specialist delivery.