Auctions are a lot of fun even if you aren’t looking for something specific.You never know what might pop up that you didn’t even know you needed. In today’s economy people are more prudent about how they spend their dollars. But they still want to update the décor in their home. Whether it’s something new in the living room or a complete overhaul of the dining room, visiting an auction could have you coming home with everything you need to accomplish your goal at only a fraction of the price of visiting a furniture store. It’s also a good place to sell items that you are replacing or don’t need. Most auction houses will take your things on consignment and sell them, therefore making your new look at home even more cost effective! Auctions on the whole basically operate the same way and most have a website to preview what will be in the upcoming sale.
So if it’s your first time, don’t be intimidated. And don’t be scared to scratch your nose! The auctioneer will know the difference between that and a bid. Here are a few tips for auction newbies……
- Always preview - look at auction items and decide what you can use in your design
- Register for auction and get a buyer number to use for bidding. Nearly all auctions will have a buyer’s premium that will be added to the hammer price of each item. For example: you buy something for a $100 and the buyer’s premium is 10%, then your total would be $110.
- Set a limit on the items you are interested in, that way you don’t get caught up in the excitement of bidding against other bidders and wind up paying too much.
