Who doesn’t love a good deal? Automate antique hunting and market value estimation with Ai-powered web crawling. Define what you would like to search for, then fetch and parse data from both searches and individual ads and see the estimate market value and history of the items in a spreadsheet. In the world of antique collecting, finding rare and valuable items is both an art and a science. AiNTQ combines the power of AI with web crawling to automate the process of antique hunting and market value estimation while providing tips for spotting fakes and authenticating offerings. This innovative solution allows users to define search parameters, fetch data from various sources, like craigslist, and receive estimated market values and historical insights—all conveniently organized in a spreadsheet. For an extended text format, AiNTQ provides detailed narratives on items like KPM porcelain figurines, considering factors such as brand reputation, condition, size, and market trends to offer a well-rounded valuation.
Installation
pip install requests beautifulsoup4 selenium pdfkit scrapy scrapydWeb Crawler
scrapy crawl craigslist_antiques
CLI Tool
Once you save the updated script as craigslist_antiques_cli.py, you can run it from the command line, passing in one or more specific Craigslist URLs:
python craigslist_antiques_cli.py https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/atq/d/pair-of-antique-kpm-figurines/7769922452.html --api-key YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY
You can also pass multiple URLs:
python craigslist_antiques_cli.py https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/atq/d/pair-of-antique-kpm-figurines/7769922452.html https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/atq/d/another-antique-item/7777777777.html --api-key YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY
- Multiple URLs: The script can handle multiple URLs at once, processing each one individually.
- Error Handling: Consider adding error handling for cases where a URL is invalid, the request fails, or the OpenAI API returns an error.
- Temporary Files: Ensure that the temporary files created during the screenshot and PDF conversion process are properly managed and cleaned up to avoid issues with file handles.
Development
Ai-NTQ is built around 6 functions/classes for flexibility. These functions/classes are listed below.
For general searches:
- Search
- SearchParser
- fetch_search
For single ads/posts:
- Ad
- AdParser
- fetch_ad
SearchParser and AdParser are BeautifulSoup-like abstractions for extracting certain fields from the html data received from Craigslist. Developers may find this useful.
Search and Ad are classes that lazily fetch data from user-defined searches and ads. To define a search you need at least a query and city, and to define an ad you need at least a url. Examples are provied below and in the examples/ folder.
fetch_search() and fetch_ad() are eager and functional implementations that return a Search and Ad.
Below is a simple example, more examples can be found in the examples/ folder.
import craigslistscraper as cs
import json
# Define the search. Everything is done lazily, and so the html is not
# fetched at this step.
search = cs.Search(
query = "bmw e46",
city = "minneapolis",
category = "cto"
)
# Fetch the html from the server. Don't forget to check the status.
status = search.fetch()
if status != 200:
raise Exception(f"Unable to fetch search with status <{status}>.")
for ad in search.ads:
# Fetch additional information about each ad. Check the status again.
status = ad.fetch()
if status != 200:
print(f"Unable to fetch ad '{ad.title}' with status <{status}>.")
continue
# There is a to_dict() method for convenience.
data = ad.to_dict()
# json.dumps is merely for pretty printing.
print(json.dumps(data, indent = 4))
Analyzing
Data can easily be converted to your json, csv, etc. and used in various downstream data analysis tasks. OpenAI then automatically estimates the fair market value of each antique posted along with historical background information from its vast knowledge bank on antiques from anywhere in the world.
This data can then be analyzed, some examples include:
The antiques history and estimated fair market value is returned as JSON:
{
"history": {
"make": "Singer",
"model": "C669067",
"class": "15",
"manufactured_date": "August 1910",
"manufactured_location": "Germany",
"description": "This antique Singer treadle sewing machine features real gold lettering and design, typical of early 20th-century craftsmanship. The treadle machine was a significant advancement in home sewing technology, allowing users to sew without electricity. The Model 15 class was popular for its reliability and was often used both in homes and small tailor shops."
},
"fair_market_value": {
"estimated_value": "$300 - $600",
"factors": [
"Condition: Good",
"Originality: High (gold design intact)",
"Market demand: Moderate",
"Comparable sales: Similar models have sold within this range on antique marketplaces."
]
}
}
And in extended text format…
Title: Pair of Antique KPM Figurines
Price: $625
To estimate the market value of the described antique KPM porcelain figurines, several factors need to be considered:
1. **Brand Reputation**: KPM (Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur) is a highly regarded porcelain manufacturer known for its quality and craftsmanship, which can significantly increase the value of its items.
2. **Condition**: The figurines are described as being in "very good condition" with only a small mark on the back of one. This is favorable for value, but the presence of any damage (even minor) can affect the price.
3. **Size and Detail**: The dimensions (9" high and 4 7/8" wide) suggest they are sizable figurines, which can be more desirable than smaller pieces. The detailing in the figurines would also play a role in valuation.
4. **Markings**: The presence of the KPM mark is crucial for authentication and typically adds to the value. The number "2322" may indicate a specific design or series, which could be further researched to find comparable sales.
5. **Market Trends**: The current market demand for antique porcelain figurines can vary. Recent sales of similar KPM pieces can help gauge a relevant price range.
Given these factors, KPM porcelain figurines can typically range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on rarity and desirability. For a pair of figurines in very good condition, a rough estimate might be around $200 to $800 or more, depending on the specific artistic details and current market demand.
For a more accurate estimate, I recommend checking recent auction results and online marketplaces like eBay or specialized auction houses that deal in antiques. Taking the figurines to an antique appraiser may also provide a professional valuation.