What sells at auction?

 One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is "What do you think I can get for this at auction?" While it's possible to give a very generalized ballpark figure, it all depends on if there are two people at the auction who want to buy the item. I watched a plastic oil can sell at one auction for $220.00 because two people decided they didn't want the other person to have it. On the flip side, I've seen items sell for less than market value because there was little interest in the item at that sale.

Having said all this, there are some things that are selling well at auction right now and some things that are not bringing much. Some of the better selling items at auction, at least in my area, would include gold, silver, guns, knives. relics such as arrowheads, coins, tools, quality collectibles, cars and trucks in good condition, real estate, primitives, hunting and fishing items, vintage toys, ammo, and items of local interest.

Right now the market is weak for many antique items, art work, furniture, glassware, china, quilts, and corded power tools and many other items. There are a number of things I won't even take for my auctions. These include pianos, organs, TVs that are not flat screen, most clothing and articles left over from a yard sale.

One of the most challenging things for an auctioneer to explain is that the sentimental value a person has for an object is likely to be far more than it will bring. I was looking at an estate for an older lady who was moving to be closer to a family member. Since she was moving into a much smaller home several hundreds of miles from her current residence she needed to sell most of what she had. As we walked through her home she kept giving me the history of everything she was going to sell. When she began to tell me that the chest we were looking at belonged to her husband's grandmother I knew I needed to have the talk with her.

I explained that chest did not belong to anyone else's grandmother, and people at the auction will not care about the history. They will be trying to buy it for the least amount of money possible. I explained that she should not expect to get much for the chest at auction because they simply aren't selling for that much right now. I left without getting a contract. She went with another auctioneer. I'm told she got good prices for her items but she wasn't happy at all with them. I feel I dodged a bullet with that auction.

One thing sellers can do to try to earn top dollar for their items is to clean them before the auction. I've seen people bring items to sell at auction that are covered in filth, cat hair, dust mixed with smoke and worse. I've seen people try to sell automobiles that won't start because they refused to replace the battery. Most auctioneers do not have the time nor the manpower to clean up dirty merchandise. They sell it like it comes in, and if it comes in dirty or not operating, this is going to lower the price.

One final thought about selling at auction. Some of your items will sell for less than you expected, but some will sell for more. Rather than focusing on the handful of items that didn't bring good prices, focus on the overall sale. Chances are if you do that you'll be pleased with the overall prices you received.

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