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What is an Auction House?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

An auction house is a company which conducts auctions. Most auction houses specialize in auctions of particular types of objects, such as Sotheby's, which handles fine art. Anything can be sold at auction, from food commodities to real estate, and auction houses can be found all over the world handling the sales of items from large to small. The use of auctions to sell items is an ancient practice, and some auction houses are very venerable.

At an auction house, full service is provided to buyer and seller. The buyer approaches the auction house with the item he or she wishes to sell, and the auction house prepares an estimate, determines when the item should be auctioned, markets the auction, and conducts public sessions in which people can inspect the item. On the day of the sale, the auctioneer who works for the auction house sells the item, and the auction house takes the money from the buyer, collects a commission, and passes the rest on to the seller. The house also handles the secure storage of the item, and it may arrange for transport by request from the buyer.

Auction house items can be sold at online auctions.
Auction house items can be sold at online auctions.

There are a number of advantages to using an auction house, rather than trying to sell an item privately or trying to organize a community auction of items. Auction houses have a great deal of expertise, with auctioneers who are skilled at getting the best price. They also have immense marketing clout, which exposes items for sale to more potential buyers, thereby increasing the potential price of the item. Auction houses also offer services like authentication and security which may be expensive or difficult for sellers.

Live auctions are frequently advertised in local newspapers.
Live auctions are frequently advertised in local newspapers.

Items sold by an auction house can be sold at a live auction, in which bidders are present, in online auctions, in phone auctions, or in a mixture of the three. A number of different types of auction can be offered as well. Auction houses may hold closed auctions for specialty items, commonly demanding a fee from bidders to indicate that they are serious and to avoid situations in which bidders try to back out of a purchase, and they can also hold public auctions which are open to all.

Some types of auctions which can be handled by auction houses include antique auctions, real estate auctions, government auctions, art auctions, and livestock auctions. It is important to select the right auction house for an item to ensure that it will get the best price. Especially with specialty items like art, it can be beneficial to seek out an auction house with an in-house expert who specializes in the style of art being sold. For example, a Greek or Roman sculpture should be handled by a firm with an antiquities expert.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Ocelot60

@heavanet- If the auction houses that you are thinking about using are also online, you should check out the prices that other pieces of jewelry have gone for during auctions. This would give you a rough idea what amount you could potentially get for your jewelry items.

Talentryto

@heavanet- First of all, you should check with different auction houses to find the one that will potentially get you the most money for your jewelry. Different businesses charge different percentages on the items they sell, so you need to be aware of this.

As you search different auction houses, some things that you should find out from the staff include how large is their customer base, do they have a lot of experience selling jewelry, and do they do a lot of advertising to get the most interest in their items.

Once you choose the best auction house for selling your jewelry, you then need to focus on getting your items ready for the sale. Make sure that there are no missing stones and broken parts, and clean your jewelry so it will look its best and get good prices on the auction block.

Heavanet

I'm looking for some tips for selling jewelry at an auction house. I want to get the most money I can for several pieces, so I'm hoping this is the best way to sell them.

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    • Auction house items can be sold at online auctions.
      By: Ana Blazic Pavlovic
      Auction house items can be sold at online auctions.
    • Live auctions are frequently advertised in local newspapers.
      By: Kurhan
      Live auctions are frequently advertised in local newspapers.