Still, in this kind of cultural activity it is a good idea to be wary of advisers claiming
expertise in a broad range of areas. Collecting as a way to make money requires high
levels of expertise.

Appraisal services
Appraisers help eliminate uncertainty and avoid financial loss in pointless investments. But that is not all. Good taste, while always welcome, is not enough to succeed. And the same can be said of having good business sense. Without research and thorough knowledge of the things you are going to invest in, you cannot be sure you will get it right.

Appraisal services are offered by fine art galleries, with accredited professionals. They serve as consultants on the market value of an artwork, and provide a report on the artistic and historical features of the piece. They might even offer advice on taxes. The service generally tends to cost less than 300 euros.

Whether you are investing in coins, stamps, artworks or antiques, diversification is one of the keys to profit because losses in one area can be made up in another. When it comes to art, variety in your investment means acquiring works by different artists from different periods and styles. Be wary of appraisals that are not properly documented. And adjust your investment level to how much you are able to save.

More than an investment
The best part about investing in collector's items is that the gains are not just economic, but also sentimental. It is a real joy to admire one's own piece of artwork. The same applies to antique books, antique furniture, coins or stamps. Maybe this is one reason why speculators tend to stay away from this kind of investment.

According to several studies released during the last edition of Arco contemporary art festival in Madrid, art is still a haven for investors, with profit margins ranging from 7 to 10%, depending on the artist and the period.

In the case of stamp-collecting, experts say that two rare stamps joined together can be worth three times as much as a single such stamp,while a bloc of six multiplies it by six and a bloc of 24 increased the value by 36 times.

Anyone can afford it
One of the most deeply entrenched myths when it comes to investing in art or real estate is that you need a fortune to start off with. That is not really true because with as little as 15,000 euros you can buy a work by a contemporary painter that has potential for appreciation ove the mid and long term. But with 30,000 euros or more you can actually begin to think about getting a masterpiece, the value of which tends to go up more quickly.

Artworks, stamps, coins and rare books tend to be sold at auction. In the case
the investor must pay a fee that is usually 10 or 11 % of the final sale price (in some cases
it is as high as 20%).

The entry of the Internet in the art world has lowered prices by energizing a sector that traditionally had to worry about the problem of counterfeiting. In fact, the Internet makes
it easier for investors to operate, providing all necessary information and the ability to act
in real time. All online auction sites spell out the rules for participating. In general, an on-line auction requires five things: the item, a starting price, the current price, the minimum bid,
and the days, hours and minutes that remain before the auction is closed. When you participate in an online auction, the administrator tells you about the item and lets you pay with a credit card.