Tips For A Successful Auction

Experience has proven that some preparation work on your part can produce great benefits for your auction event.  The following tips come from various resources representing years of successful auction selling.  Follow as many as you can to maximize your profits.

Talk It Up - Tell your friends, neighbors, relatives and business associates.  The larger the crowd, the more successful the event.

Enlist Volunteers - Recruit people to assist you and the auction staff during the early portion of the day of the event in carrying items and setting them up for display.

Clean & Polish - An item that looks good sells good, and will often sell at a higher price.  Make them look as fresh and new as possible.

Descriptions - Write down historical tidbits you know about the objects and items you are selling, and place them on placards attached to the items.  History sells older items at higher prices.

Motorized Equipment - Make sure they are in proper operating condition.  Make sure gas, water and oil levels are full.  Attach all owner's manuals, instruction books, warranty certificates and bills of sale to their respective equipment.  Buyers will typically pay more when these cares are taken and items included.

Boats & Automobiles - If you are selling any licensed or titled motor vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats), assure that you have the titles and registrations.  If any liens are showing on the titles, make sure these are paid and cleared prior to the auction event.  To legally sell these vehicles, you must have a clear and valid title.  If you do not have a title to any vehicle you wish to sell, contact the auctioneer prior to the event.

Secure Expensive Items - Be sure and safeguard all small, expensive or easily lost and stolen articles for sale (watches, jewelry, rare coins).  Keep them secured until you can give them to the auctioneer for display in a locked glass case.

Electricity - The auctioneer staff will need access to one or more 110-volt electrical outlets.  They will have their own extension cords, power strips and adapters, but will need to know the location and access for power.

Decisions - Once the auctioneer has listed an item for sale, it cannot be revoked.  Make your decisions in advance about what you wish to sell, keep, donate or dispose of.

Sets - Account for all pieces in items of sets or duplicates (dishes, linen, silverware).  Tag them by their number and description (Example:  "Set of 12 Dinner Plates with Matching Bowls, Cups & Saucers").  Place matching towels and linen sets in sealed, clear plastic bagging, grouped by sizes.

Property Area & Insurance - Survey your outdoor areas and remove anything that is not for sale.  Assure that there are no holes or obstacles that buyers might stumble over and cause accident and injury.  Contact your homeowner's insurance agent and inform him of your auction event so he can increase your policy's liability coverage for the day, if necessary.

Truth & Honesty - Disclose information about any item that does not work or is in some way damaged or marred.  It may not bring as much in the sale as it would in excellent condition, but buyers will respect you for being truthful and honest.  You will also avoid disputes and possible litigation later.

Ask Questions - Your auctioneer is always ready and available to help your event be as successful for you as possible.  Never hesitate to call and ask any question you might have about any item or detail.