Been sourcing vintage for years now. Here's what separates a good find from a great one:

1. Condition tells a story, not just a price. A little patina is character. A crack through the middle is a deal-breaker. Learn to read wear patterns — they tell you how something was actually used.

2. Labels and marks are everything. Flip it over. Check inside. A maker's mark, a union label, a specific stitch pattern — these are what turn a $5 thrift find into a $200 collector's piece.

3. If it feels heavy, it's probably worth picking up. Old brass, cast iron, solid wood furniture — manufacturers used real materials back then. Weight = quality in the vintage world.

4. Smell matters more than you think. Musty is fixable. Smoke damage and mildew? Walk away. Your nose saves you money.

5. Buy what you love, not what's trending. Y2K is hot right now. Mid-century was hot 5 years ago. But the pieces that hold value? The ones someone genuinely loves enough to keep.

I run Lost & Found Vintage — a curated collection of one-of-a-kind pieces for people who appreciate things with history. If you're a collector, come check it out.