Selling Personal Property At Auction 101

When choosing an auction house, consider:

• The reputation of the auction house.
• Whether the auction specializes in the type of items you want to sell. This is important to maximize price.
• The type of buyers that generally attend the house's auctions. For example, you would not want to auction world-class art at a small town auction house.
• Other items that will be included in the auction. You do not want to be part of a sale in which your items are likely to be the most expensive or incompatible with the rest of the items in the sale. It's best to be in a sale that attracts bidders interested in the types of items you are selling.
• How the auction house will advertise the sale and whether or not they print a catalogue. If there is a catalogue, will there be a photograph of your item?
• Whether or not the auction house picks-up the items from you.
• The fees. You may be able to negotiate fees, particularly if you have a lot of items or the gallery wants the items for a particular sale.
• Whether the auctioneer or you carry insurance on the property while in the possession of the auction house. If your insurance is to cover, call your broker to be sure it does.

NOTE: An auction house does not to be near you. Auction houses in large metropolitan areas are more likely to attract buyers than smaller, local houses. The auction house can see your item in photographs and over the internet through such services as Skype. 

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