HOW-TO... Choose an Auctioneer

Whether you’re selling prized real estate or looking to sell your private collection, auctions are a fantastic method of marketing to make that happen. You may ask, why should I sell at auction? A very difficult question, with a very simple answer… it just works. The auction method of marketing has been working well for centuries and is still on the cutting edge in our digital world.

In fact, over a quartertrillion dollars in goods and services are sold at auction every year in the U.S. With the combination of pre-sale marketing and the engaging auction chant, you could have enthusiastic, attentive buyers aggressively competing to purchase your property.

When choosing an auction company, look for an auctioneer who is in the business full-time. Full-time availability is valuable to make sure buyers get their questions answered quickly, so they are comfortable paying top dollar for what they are looking to purchase. Also, look for an auctioneer with many years of experience. Knowing when and where to advertise, what key “search words” to use, and how to organize your auction are significant to your auction’s success story. Over 90% of an auctioneer’s work is done before the day your auction arrives.

There’s an excitement about an auction that makes it a special event that draws people again and again. By talking to auction professionals, sellers, and other buyers, you can learn which auctioneer would be a great fit for you. Auctions can be a great way to learn about real estate, art, automobiles, furniture and more. You can learn about values, collection practices, what items to collect, and much more when you attend an auction.

An auction professional’s role goes far beyond the speed of the chant. Auctioneer Professionals are entrepreneurs who excel in marketing and advertising. The primary role of an auction professional is to develop a marketing campaign to promote the sale of their client’s assets and attract bidders to their auction. A quality auc- tioneer is a professional and expert in their field of sales.

Use your local newspaper or the internet to find a qualified auctioneer. Most newspapers have an auction section in their advertising section. A quality auctioneer should belong to professional organizations. Both the National Auctioneer Association and the Pennsylvania Auctioneer Associations hold their members to high standards to make sure your auctioneer of choice is the professional you are seeking.

When speaking to candidates, be sure to ask about their experience. Once you have a list of finalists, attend an auction, and watch them perform. Pay attention to how they handle attendees and the pacing of the event. Take notes on each auctioneer.

Then sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Know that your goods will be professionally described and displayed and more often than not, sold for the highest price the market will allow. The auctioneer of your choice will use their experience to guide you every step of the way.