How to Sell Items at Auction: Find a House, Consign and Get Paid

Is auction the right way to sell your items?

Auction works best when you have many items, items with real buyer demand, or a deadline such as a move or an estate. The auction house does the photography, listing, marketing, payment and pickup, and competition between bidders sets the price.

For one or two common items, selling them yourself on eBay or Facebook Marketplace may net more, since there's no commission, but you do the work and deal with buyers directly. For a whole household or a collection, an auction can save weeks. Auctions also suit items whose value is hard to pin down, since bidders set the price instead of you guessing it.

How do you find an auction house?

Look for houses that regularly sell what you have: tools, furniture, collectibles, equipment or general household goods. Browse their recent sales to see what similar items brought, and look at how their listings read online, since that's what bidders will see.

On Auktia, you can find auction houses by state and browse sales near you to see who sells what in your area. In Texas, auctioneers are licensed by TDLR, and you can check a license there before you sign anything.

What does it cost to sell at auction?

Most houses charge the seller a commission, a percentage of the hammer price, and some add fees for photos, moving, cleanup or advertising. Rates vary by house, item and volume, so get every fee in writing before you sign. Ask whether the commission changes with the total, since some houses charge less on bigger consignments.

A worked example: items that bring $5,000 in hammer at a 25% commission, with $150 in moving fees, net you $3,600. Buyers separately pay a buyer's premium to the house, and that doesn't come out of your share.

What should you ask before you consign?

A good house answers these plainly and puts the answers in the consignment agreement. If an answer is vague, ask again before you sign.

• What's your commission, and what other fees could apply?
• When is the sale, and when will I be paid?
• Can I set a reserve on valuable items, and what does an unsold lot cost me?
• Who handles moving, storage and insurance while items are in your care?
• Will I get a statement showing what each item sold for?
• What happens to items that don't sell?

How do you prepare items for auction?

A little preparation helps the house describe your items accurately, and accurate descriptions bring better bids.

1. Don't throw anything away before the house sees it; boxes you'd call junk sometimes sell well.
2. Clean items lightly, but don't refinish, polish or repair anything valuable.
3. Gather paperwork: receipts, manuals, certificates, keys and chargers.
4. Group related items together so the house can lot them sensibly.
5. Tell the house about flaws you know of; honest descriptions protect you too.

What happens after the sale?

Once the sale closes and buyers pay and collect, the house prepares your settlement: each item's hammer price, minus commission and fees, with the balance paid to you. Ask how long that takes; a few weeks is common, since the house waits for buyers to pay first.

If items don't sell or don't reach a reserve, the agreement says whether they're returned, relisted or donated. Read that part closely before you sign. Keep your own list of what you consigned, with photos, so you can match it to the statement.