How to Look After Your Collection

Many people make a hobby out of collecting things; of course, some stick to certain types of items, whereas others broaden their collections to include all sorts of interesting variations. Collecting items from far and wide is now far easier than it used to be, thanks to the widespread use of the internet. This means that you can potentially grow any collections that you choose to have into a particularly unique and valuable commodity. 

Of course, not every collection is going to be worth the money. However, that does not mean that it will be any less enjoyed by those with a particular interest in individual items or their history or origin.

Items that are deemed collectible

It all comes down to what you are interested in and what you have room to store. It is likely that over time your collections will grow, and you will want to keep hold of every item. Choosing something small to collect will mean that you will have fewer issues with storage room over choosing something larger, but if you have the space you could go for large items. For instance, Mike Savage New Canaan, is not short of space at his home in Connecticut, so he has chosen to collect classic muscle cars. In order to get the most enjoyment out of his collection, he is now a well-known enthusiast and spends some of his spare time helping and educating others on how to look after their muscle cars as well as how to build their collection.

Of course, you do not have to limit yourself to just one collection, Mike Savage has proven that if you have the room, you can divide your time into multiple collections as he has with his Lego and Michael Jordan sneakers collections. Undoubtedly, for some, if not all, of your collections, you are going to want to have them (or at least your prime items) on display for everyone else to enjoy too.

Finding room in your home 

There are various different types of display cases available to you, although you would probably want to invest in a purpose-built one, especially for your space and for your collections. This is because if you choose a standard bookcase to house your collection, you will find that there is either wasted space due to the shelves being too far apart or that the shelves are too close together to fit your collection’s individual items. 

In order to showcase your collection properly, you should endeavor to have space around each item, as this will bring focus to the piece rather than having them jumbled close together or on top of each other. You will also save on the items getting damaged while on display. This presents even more reasons to pay for a purpose-built display case. 

Your display case needn’t sit flush to a wall either as long as it is made of strong, sturdy material that will not be easily toppled over. For instance, using your collection display as a room divider could provide a vocal point to a room while making the most of your collection as it will be viewed from different angles. Of course, you will also be able to specify what material you would like your display to be made out of so that it complements the other furniture in your home and settles nicely into its surroundings.

Sourcing additional storage

For those collections that have swollen to being too large for display purposes, you are going to need to look further afield for your storage options. This is OK, as you have a few available to you. If you have land to spare and some money, there is no reason why you cannot build a purpose-built building in your yard to house your additional collection – you may even be able to showcase it there. However, you will have to make sure that your state does not have any regulations or laws about the size of the building or the materials you are using before you invest any money in its creation.

If this is all good, then you will also have to think very carefully about added security around your home – even more so if your collection is of highly valuable items. Installing CCTV cameras, for instance, and alarms will most certainly be a good idea, and you may find that installing security lighting that is motion activated could also help as a deterrent.

Of course, if this is not a viable solution, you have the option to hire a storage unit. You can either have one brought to your home to be stored on your property or have one located at the provider’s site. Either works, but you will have to keep in mind that rental payments will have to be made regularly, or there will be the risk of the contents of your storage container being possessed by the provider. 

When choosing your storage provider, you will need to consider the amount of security and fire protection they offer, as well as the access that you will be granted to your items. You will also need to check whether the storage unit includes a certain level of insurance or whether you have to take care of that yourself. This can be especially important if you intend to store something that is extremely valuable that might, for instance, have to be mentioned separately in any home insurance policy.

Final thoughts

The trick is finding the right items for you to collect lies very much in what you are interested in. If, for instance, you are interested, like Mike Savage, in classic muscle cars but do not have the space or financial capacity for the real Mckoy, then you could look at collecting their smaller versions from well-known toy producers. The idea behind the collections is that you enjoy them, show them to others to share in your enjoyment, and create a hobby that will provide you with a worthwhile investment.