Flea markets can be an overwhelming experience to master, and one which we do love to participate in. Our guide to flea markets covers the essentials you need to know and our top tips before you head out in search of those bargains.
If you've ever visited our wonderful Georgian town house, you may have noticed some peculiar finds on display. From our personal homes to our floral home on the high street; we've always had a love for buying and collecting unusual finds, especially those that come with a story. There are many local places throughout Bath and Bristol where you can start with your flea market finds, and we've come to find a few favourite spots to indulge in a bargain hunt at the weekend.
Here's what you need to know...
Set your price limits Before you set off, you might want to get an idea of what you're willing to spend and not just for purposes of ensuring you have enough cash with you (you'll also need to do that too). If you're looking for particular items, then you need set a limit beforehand of what the maximum is that you'll pay. Sometimes you may find what you were looking for, but it's priced higher than you had expected. It's always worth deciding if you're happy to negotiate on a price and what your maximum budget is for something.
"I had been looking for a gold cocktail trolley for some time. I had come across quite a few, but nothing less than £40 and I had set myself a budget of £20. I eventually found one for £25 in the most perfect condition, so I snapped it up and was happy to go a little over my set budget and glad I waited it out." - Rosa, Marketing & Social Media Manager
Take the essentials
A tape measure is without a doubt a flea market essential. If you've got particular spaces in your home you are looking to fill, you will need to also have your measurements noted down, and a tape measure to see if your item will fit. This is also essential to know if you're going to be able to fit it in your mode of transport to take away with you as not all sellers offer delivery.
Do your research It's worth doing some research before heading out, particularly when it comes to pricing. You may be faced with an unexpected price, but discover this is in fact the price range for that particular item in many places. It's useful to have an understanding of the prices that items will usually sell for, and how rare some might be. It's also worth to gain an insight into your eras and start to recognise what items are from what year or what their purpose may have been.
Dress accordingly
Covering the grounds of a flea market can be a challenge in itself. It may sound obvious, but dressing for the occasion is so important. We've endured many cold and wet mornings trudging around a field which has been made all that little more difficult with impractical clothing or footwear. If you're like us, you may also end up doing many trips back and forth to the car with your purchases, so comfortable footwear is essential.
Here's some of our favourite finds we've come across on our travels.
