The Review: No auction proposal should begin without a review of the items, business, or estate to be auctioned. Any auction company quoting a sale without reviewing it isn't laying the foundation needed for a quality sale. All sales are different and require specific methods of marketing and setup to be successful.

The Quote: Once a sale has been reviewed we offer a proposal to perform the auction. Our fees are typically commissioned based on no out of pocket expenses paid by the seller. Not all auctions are the same, so commission rates may vary. You should never base your decision solely on commission rates. The goal is to choose a company that is going to represent your items in a way that will achieve the most money. Our quotes will include all items required to effectively host an auction including labor, marketing, permits, tents, food, cleanup, and all other requirements. Once we agree on the terms and conditions we will then put them into a contract, at which time all parties will sign and the most important steps can begin.

​

The Marketing: Marketing is the single most important aspect of the auction process and begins with high-quality photos. We try to make as many photos as possible with each being posted online. Our entire auction schedule is posted online, and we try to drive our prospective bidders to that site. We also run ads in all local papers near the auction, mail over 1000 brochures, send out over 5,000 e-mail notices, and place signage on the property. Depending on the size and nature of the auction we'll also utilize full color ads in national antique magazines and papers.

The Setup: Setup typically doesn't begin until auction week. During that time we place items into one of three categories: individual, tray lot, and box lot. Individual items are those items that can stand alone and can realize maximum bids on their own, tray lots are quality items that need to be placed in small groups to achieve maximum bids, and box lots are lower quality items that must sell in bulk to achieve maximum bids. We will place lot numbers on each lot and enter each lot into our auction software for tracking. If auctioning on-site, we will erect tents, set out chairs, place tables, provide port-a-johns, and effectively remove all items from the estate prior to or during the auction. We also have food and drinks available at all auctions.

​

The Auction: Auction day begins with a preview typically starting two hours before the auction. All bidders must register and receive a bid number. We typically begin the auction with mid-range valued items, move into the higher valued items, and end the day on the lower valued items. This ensures we sell the better items during peak bidder attendance. All bids are recorded electronically including the lot number, bidder number, and bid amount. We accept cash and checks, as well as all major credit cards. The auction company is responsible for receiving and paying all sales tax. All items are sold as-is, where-is, and it's the bidder's responsibility to know what they are buying. The auction company maintains liability insurance in the event of an accident. We are also responsible for any “bad debt” from the auction.

The Settlement: Following the auction we'll break down the sale and effectively clean up the property. Within 14 business days we'll mail a settlement sheet which includes a breakdown of each lot and its sale price with a total less commission. We'll also include a check made payable to the agreed entity from our auction company.