How to Sell at an Auction

If you have something you'd like to sell at auction, your first step is to get it valued. Most auction houses set aside a particular day or time for appraising items, but you should always call them first to ensure that the valuer will be available. If visiting the saleroom isn't practical for you, or if the piece you want valued is too large to take in, it may be possible to get an appraisal by posting or e-mailing a photograph, or by arranging for a specialist to come and visit your home.

The valuer will look at your property, and ask for any details that you have about it, such as how long you have owned it, and how it came into your possession. This will establish its 'provenance' (its history), and will help the appraiser to identify the piece and accurately value it.

After careful examination, the valuer will tell you what he can about your item, such as who made it, where and when it was made, and what he thinks it might fetch at auction. This estimate will be based on the item's condition, history, rarity, and how it compares to similar pieces that have been sold recently.

Based on the valuation's results, the appraiser will let you know if your item is appropriate for sale at auction, and will recommend an appropriate venue and possible sale timing. This might be at a general sale, or if your piece has specialist appeal or international interest, he may recommend that that you wait for a specialist sale, which will feature other high-quality objects and attract better prices.

The valuer will also advise what 'reserve' price should be set. This is the minimum price at which you are prepared to sell, and is held confidentially between you and the saleroom. The reserve is an important safety measure if the sale is poorly attended, or there is little interest in your property.

If you decide to sell, you will sign a contract, and the auction house will take the property in for cataloguing and photography.