Auction Guide

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Can Anybody Win an Auction?

The lifting of voices, the yelling of the man at the podium, the excitement on faces – there’s nothing quite like an auction. Auctions have been around since mankind has been selling goods to each other and recent auction-based reality TV shows has gotten the public excited about this old-fashioned but unique way to move goods.

If the pull of the auction block has gotten to you, it’s time to make the journey to your local auctioneer. The modern auction is a mix of skill, luck, perseverance, and even some unspoken rules. You don’t want to embarrass yourself, so you want to know the rules. For example, are there auctions that aren’t open to the public? Is any item you see an item you can bid on? Let’s learn more about the subtleties of the auction.

So, Can Anybody Win an Auction?

Unless the auction has a unique set of rules, anybody should have the chance to win at an auction. The goal of an auction is to get the item on the block to the highest bidder, and it doesn’t matter if it’s your first auction or your hundredth – if you make the highest bid, you should win the item.

When Not Everybody Can Win

Are there situations in which not everybody can win an auction? Sure. Sometimes an auction may only be open to a certain type of bidder, and some auctions require a fee to take part in the auction in the first place. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be a big issue to you as any auctions that are considered privileged will be marked from the beginning and honestly, chances are good that you will never know about a “members-only” auction in the first place.

Meeting Qualifications

Other situations regarding auctions in Indianapolis deal with winner eligibility. In some cases, you must sign up for an auction, or meet certain requirements to win an auction. Any reputable auction will make the rules for winning an auction (besides bidding the highest) open and clear.

Don’t worry about heading to an auction and not being able to bid on or win an item. In rare cases, there might be auctions only open to certain people but this rarely the case. The auction will display any need-to-know information so always check the website or call into any auction to be certain your auction adventure won’t get rained on.

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3 Tips for Your First Trip to the Auction

Auctions have been around ever since humans decided to sell things, but recent television shows such as Auction Kings and Auction Hunters have caused a new stir in people attending auctions in their area. It’s always wonderful for new people to explore their local auctions, but things aren’t always exactly as they appear on TV.

If you’ve decided you want to attend your first auction you want to know what you’re getting yourself into. Let’s help you out by exploring three tips to know before heading to your first auction.

3 Tips for Your First Auction

Get There Early

Try to arrive at least an hour before the auction itself begins. Depending on the type of auction and the venue, you may get to take a look at what’s being offered to give you time to gauge its value and if it’s a viable item for you to bid on. If you are thinking of purchasing something at your first auction, this is a must.

Stick to Stuff You Know

After a few auctions and plenty of research you may be able to distinguish between valuable items and worthless junk, but it’s unlikely you’ll have a keen eye your first go-round. If you do decide to participate and bid on items at your first auction, try to keep it to popular name brands you are aware of. This will lessen the chances of making a costly mistake that will turn you off to auctions in the future.  

Have Fun

Those popular television shows make you think that attendees are flipping items and making ton of money, but remember it’s television, plenty of valuable items are planted in the auction, and producers take some liberty in making auctions “television worthy.” Chances are high that you won’t make a thousand dollars from your first auction, or 2nd, or 100th.

If you come into your first auction with only dollar signs in your eyes, you may be sorely disappointed. For your first auction, keep an open mind, and have fun, you don’t need to bid at all during your first auction to have a great time.

So, if you’re headed to your first auction try to arrive early, stick to the brands you’re familiar with, and have fun. As long as you don’t expect things to be exactly as they are on TV and concentrate on fun and not money, you’ll have a great time at your first auction and the Indiana auctioneer running it will show you a good time.

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3 Ways to Score At Any Auction

There has always been a market for antique furniture items, but thanks to shows like “Antiques Roadshow,” and “American Pickers,” scoring a great antique to sell or restore for your home has never been more popular. You can find these types of items in a number of spots such as antique stores but the real action is found at antique auctions.

Going into an antique auction can be intimidating process for rookies, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s review 3 things to keep in mind to help you score big at an antique auction.

3 Ways to Score at Antique Auctions

Look for Brand Names

People don’t want cheap brands or knockoffs brand-new, and they aren’t going to want them as antiques either. If you’re just getting into antique auctions, try to stick to known names when it comes to both furniture and jewelry as well as other items. What you see as a ugly vintage Tiffany lamp will likely score better for you than a good looking non-name brand item. Make a short list of popular furniture, jewelry, and other brands before heading to the auction floor.

Look for Original

When shopping for antiques, you want purely original. That means the piece has never been restored, and there has never even been an attempt to restore it. Untouched antiques are much more likely to help you score a profit, even if the piece will need work to get it looking good again.

Look for Strange and Unusual Items

You may discount the strange 3-headed lamp, but there is always a market for strange and unusual items, especially when it comes to antiques. It’s no doubt a gamble to invest in strange or weird items, but that’s half the fun when it comes to antiques. So don’t turn your head away from an item just because you think it’s weird, take a chance and try buying it.

With these 3 tips in your toolbox, you’re much more likely to score big at your next or first antique auction. Remember that antique auctions take time, patience, and practice so don’t expect to score a major profitable item your first time around (or your 10th) and try to have fun anytime you attend an antique auction and work with an Indiana auctioneer for the best experience overall.