Deciding to Bid

Is there something in our auctions you’d like to own? Before you bid, you’ll want to inspect it in person or through contact with our specialists. Everything that’s up for auction is available for inspection a full week prior to the sale. If this isn’t an option, there are online condition reports and photos. You can follow up by phone or e-mail if you still have unanswered questions. Such due diligence on your part assures that you’ll be satisfied when your bid wins the day.

You’ll never know for sure what a lot will sell for until it does. A pre-sale estimate is a guide the auction house offers buyers. It is based on recent sale records of like property and other factors, such as rarity or importance. A lot may sell in this range. It may also sell below or far above, depending on the number of interested bidders. If you love something in an auction, but only want to own it if it sells below the low estimate, don’t think you have no chance to win. It happens for someone in every sale.

The selling price announced for a lot is the hammer (or successful bid) price. A buyer’s premium will be added to the amount of the successful bid price on all lots purchased at auction.