Monday, August 5, 2013

What You Should Know About Buying At Houston Antique Auctions

By Lela Perkins


Visiting and browsing through the goods at some of the Houston antique auctions is a great way to pass away some time. If you are careful not to get carried away when it comes to bidding, you can pick up some good bargains. It is always a good idea if you have not been to an auction before to spend your first visit just observing and familiarising yourself with the procedures.

There are several types of auctions, with general sales offering everything from furniture to jewelry and general collectibles. Although many of the items on sale are not necessarily classified as antiques, you may be lucky enough to find yourself a bargain and a genuine piece of history. The specialist auction is where you are more likely to find collectors and dealers bidding for those special and sometimes very rare pieces.

Potential buyers may request copies of auction house catalogues or go to the online website to browse the listing and see which items are coming up in the next sale. Both the catalogue and the website display photographic images and a brief description of the item and its history. The lot number allocated to the item is an indicator of when it may come up for bidding during the sale.

One way for individuals to bid on items is to attend the auction themselves. Anyone intending to bid has to register and be allocated a number which they have to present to the auctioneer before a successful bid can be accepted. During the registration process, it will be necessary to indicate method of payment to be used if a bid is accepted.

Anyone unsure of the bidding process, or who thinks they may get carried away can have a dealer or a friend bid on their behalf. Dealers and auctioneers will charge a small fee to act as your proxy when bidding for a particular item. You would need to set a minimum and maximum bid range on the item you want.

Auction houses make their money from commission payments from buyers and sellers. The charges will vary between auction houses, so it is important to check their charges before selling or buying. If you are buying you will need to have either cash or some form of accepted payment to pay for your purchases at the end of the sale.

You are usually expected to take your purchases away at the end of the sale. However, many auction houses will arrange for delivery of your items for an additional charge, or point you in the direction of a reliable transport provider. When deciding on your budget, remember to take into account any potential delivery charges.

If you attend Houston antique auctions with the intention of purchasing valuable items, you will have to think about insurance for the longer term. In the short term, ensure when using a transport service that they have sufficient insurance cover in case of damage during transit. Enjoy your antique or collectibles.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment