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Thinking About Investing in Art?

Or Selling Art You Already Own?

Read This First

Appraiser qualifications of Alan Bamberger >>

Thinking about buying art for investment? Thinking about buying art for any reason? Or selling it? Well, if you're buying art that's potentially worth more than a few hundred dollars and you're not absolutely positively 100% sure you're making the right decision (or even if you think you're sure), getting a second opinion is always an excellent way to go. The same holds true if you're selling. Either way, you want to know what the art is worth and be able to back it up with facts, and getting a second opinion from me is always an excellent way to go.

Not only do I tell you how much you should sell for if you're a seller, or if you're a buyer, whether or not the art is worth buying and if it is how much to offer, but I also review any documentation or history that comes with the art or what to say if you're the seller, or representations you should make if you're the buyer, point out any other critical information about the art or artist you may have overlooked, tell you what additional questions to ask if you're the buyer or what additional information to provide if you're the seller. And more.
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As if that's not enough, I'm exceptionally cost effective, I'm on your side and I work no angle other than to give you the most accurate honest appraisal or assessment of your art situation, no matter what it is. I have been in the art business for over 30 years; I know a lot about art, a lot about how the money flows and a lot about how art and money mix. Art is my job and I do my job well. For you, this means that following my advice can either make or save you money.

I can't count the number of art and money questions I get from people on track for disaster-- either overypaying, underselling, buying fakes, being victimized by either buyers or sellers who misrepresent facts in order to make the best deals for themselves, thinking they know how to appraise art as well as the pros, thinking all they need is a chart with a couple of prices on it to accurately value art, thinking they know how to authenticate, thinking they know how to read a COA (certificate of authenticity), thinking a COA automatically means the art is genuine, believing bogus appraisals, thinking something is great that's awful, thinking something is awful that's great, getting suckered into investment schemes, hiring "appraisers" who also buy and sell art (big time conflict of interest), and on and on and on.

I am continually amazed by the oceans of people who believe that anyone with a functioning brain can evaluate art, no special skills are necessary, anyone can tell a masterpiece from a dog or an Honest Abe from a con man, and nothing seems to convince these people otherwise. They take whatever advice they can get FOR FREE (and we all know what free advice is worth), they don't think they need professional help-- certainly not the kind they have to pay for-- and think they're perfectly capable of doing it themselves. But you know what? They're not. Not even close. You know when they figure out they should either have more money in their pockets for what they sold or better art on their walls for what they paid? When it's way too late.

I hate watching people make bad buys, sell too cheaply or figure out other ways to lose money over art. Far too many people who think they know something actually need help. I even implore some of the worst "train wrecks waiting to happen" to hire me. And still they resist thinking they can get the same level of honesty and quality of research for free elsewhere. Well, at least I try.

While I'm on the subject, you know what else I hate? Telling people they just wasted hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands of dollars or more when they could have hit me up in advance for pocket change to review their impending sales or purchases. As for trying to get their art or their money back once the deal's done, that's hardly ever easy and often impossible. But it is always sad.

Simply put, the art world is rough and tough to navigate unless you've been around it for a while and you know how to research or where to go to get the information you need. Getting the full and accurate story is often challenging even for experienced pros like me-- and if it's hard for me, it's well near impossible for people who don't know the territory. So if you're unsure enough to contact me in the first place, follow through and hire me (or another fine art professional). Get that EDUCATED NON-CONFLICTED second opinion BEFORE you put your art up for sale or risk big bucks on a purchase, because anything can happen-- and it does-- all the time.

No matter what your situation, there's always a best course of action-- and art business professionals know how to figure that best course of action out. Don't go it alone. Hire a pro.

Oh, and one more thing. I don't just give dollar amounts or simple "yes/no" answers. Whatever my conclusion, I tell you how and why I reached it, and often where I get my information. And if I think someone else can add more to the conversation or is better qualified to weigh in on the matter, I tell you who they are and how to contact them.

I'm only a phone call or an email away. 415.931.7875 or alanb@artbusiness.com. Get qualified answers to your art questions here.