Set yourself a bidding limit. Pay particular attention to the condition of the piece and take into account the potential cost of restoration, which can be considerable, before deciding on your bidding limit. Choose a top price and stick with it.

Work out your timing. Some sales last for several hours. So if the lots which interest you are towards the end of the sale find out how many lots the auctioneer expects to sell per hour to work out roughly when your lot will be sold; but always remember to allow yourself extra time.

Follow the bidding. When the sale begins, the auctioneer will call out each lot number and will start the bidding at slightly below the lower estimate. As the people signal to him by waving or nodding he will call out their bids in regular sums or increments.

Attract attention to your bid. In a packed saleroom don’t be afraid to attract the auctioneer’s attention: wave your catalog or bidding card and call out if need be. However, if the bidding is rising rapidly, the auctioneer will usually only take bids from two people at a time. When one drops out he will look around the room for someone else to join in. If you are still within your limit that is your moment.

When it’s all over

The auctioneer will indicate that the bidding is finished by banging a small hammer, called a gavel, on the rostrum, and recording the sale and the name or number of the successful bidder.

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You may pay for your item(s) at the cashier’s desk at any time during the auction. After you have paid for your item, you may collect it and take it home with you. As soon as you buy an item at a Heritage Estate Solutions auction, you are responsible for it. That includes removing it from the premises of the auction. If you live outside of our 30 mile radius driving policy, you may need to arrange a moving service.

If you live within a 30 mile radius of the auction site and you wish for your item to be delivered, Heritage Estate Solutions will happily deliver your merchandise for a flat fee of $300. In unusual situations, we will offer a delivery service outside of our 30 mile radius for a fee of $500. However, the rates may increase depending on the distance and circumstances.

If need be, Heritage Estate Solutions will ship internationally in very special cases via storage and/or custom clearance. Given that the terms of shipment are unique, they will be determined on a case-by-case basis upon which both parties must agree once the dispatch instructions and full payments, including shipping costs have been received.