Buying at Auction - Part Three (Final)

In the last couple of weeks I have shared some of the early processes in buying at auction. You can read about viewing days here and registering to bid here. But it's time to get to the most important fun part of the auction process, bidding for an auction lot, and hopefully winning.

Tullochs Auctions

Most general auctions may be made up of a combination of items that either have a reserve price, or don't have a reserve price. A reserve price is a price set by the seller that they do not want the item sold under. If the item fails to reach the reserve price at auction then the item is 'passed in' or in other words isn't sold and may be offered again at a forthcoming auction...more about this after!

Tullochs Auctions

Often items that have no reserve price may be lots that come from a deceased estate where the family may just want the items sold or where the expected value or interest in a lot may not be considered high enough to warrant a reserve price attached.

Armitage Auctions

You need to pay close attention to the auctioneer who will explain the terms and conditions of the auction. Read more about buyer's premiums here. Auctioneers will also generally speak quite fast and so you need to be listening for your lot number to be called. Fortunately the numbers are usually called sequentially so that makes it easier. The exception to this may be if a particularly desirable item has been advertised to auction at a certain time. The auctioneer might interrupt the sale to conduct the bidding on that item and then return to the regular lots.

Armitage Auctions

Auctions can be crowded and may or may not have seating. Put yourself in a position where the auctioneer can have eye contact with you, and be prepared to raise your hand or call out to bid, especially in the first instance. Once the auctioneer sees your interest they will keeping looking back to you for bids. Generally the auctioneer will start the bidding at a price that is hoped to be achieved. If no one makes a bid they will drop the price until someone starts to bid.  Bids will then go up in increments until the highest price over the reserve price is achieved. If no-one bids at all the lot will be 'passed in'. Bidding increments can range from $5 to $10 or to $50 or even $100 depending on the value of the item and the interest shown. Increments can also be changed midway through the bidding if the lot is showing a surprising amount of interest from bidders.

Armitage Auction

Rule of thumb is that you generally wouldn't offer a bid at the auctioneer's opening price, but will let the price drop. This is probably the standard procedure but there are times when it can work in your favour. Sometimes putting in a bid at the opening offer can silence other competitive bidders, they may assume you really want the item and are prepared to pay top dollar, and it signals to everyone immediately your interest in the item. This move is not without its risks though, and you need to be fairly sure of the items value and what you are prepared to pay. 

Armitage Auctions

On the other hand waiting for the auctioneer to go to bottom dollar, while in many cases would serve you well, can often also lead to the bidding going beyond what you would expect. Say for instance you were after a small vintage chest of drawers, and you were hoping to get them for around $30. If you wait for the auctioneer to drop the price to $20 before you bid, then someone else may well make a bid after yours at $30, which means you will then need to bid $40 to have a chance at being the successful bidder. Often if you had bid at the $30 mark there would have been no subsequent bids. It's a bit of a strategy game!

Tullochs Auctions

Remember you will be bidding against other interested buyers who are present and 'book' or 'absentee bids' buyers, these are the people who couldn't attend the auction in person and for whom the auctioneer is bidding on behalf of. You can read about this process here. 

Tullochs Auctions

If auctions are new to you then you will see many confident bidders or bidders to whom the auctioneers seem to turn to, to see if they are interested. These bidders would be regulars at the auctions and are probably buying for their own businesses, be it antique, second-hand stores or market stalls. There is no need to feel intimidated by their confidence, the auctioneer is just as happy to accept your money if you show the interest. In fact you can learn something important from these buyers and that is, that there will always be something similar down the track so don't bid beyond what you can afford to pay.

Armitage Auctions

So take a deep breath, raise your hand, speak up, nod your head all in direct line of the auctioneer...whatever it takes to get noticed, and keep bidding...until either it goes beyond your price and you gracefully drop out, or until you're the winning bidder... yay! It's then just a matter of raising your buyer's number (don't forget that!) for the auctioneer to record.

Armitage Auctions

The final step is paying for your item at the office, which can often be done before the auction finishes, just give them a little time to process your lot number. Then collect the item. If it's small you can often take it with you before the auction ends. If it's very large you may need to wait.

I said I'd mention lots that are 'passed in'. You can go to the office after a lot has been 'passed in' and usually make an offer on it. The auctioneer will get back to you if your offer has been accepted.

Armitage Auctions

So there it is...the mystery of auctions. I hope you can get to enjoy an auction in the near future and that these tips will be helpful. Lisa xx

It's Not Easy Being Green

Green is the colour of spring, and green can be cool and friendly like...I think Frank Sinatra and Kermit the Frog had it right, green is the colour that we all long for in the middle of winter. If you're like me and are missing the freshness of a new green spring day then console yourself by taking a look at these lovely vintage green treasures from other Australian Etsy sellers that I found. Click on their link and have a look around their shop. I'm sure you'll love what else you find. Lisa xx

Modeak

Teddy and Tottie

Chomley Street

Albert and Grace

Ice Cold Goods

Atelier 51 The Annex

TriBecas Vintage

Feature Articles

All the Precious Things

That Retro Piece

Vintage Art Deco Step Bookcase Makeover

Sometimes when I am at an auction viewing day I come across a piece of furniture that just really appeals to me. This bookcase was one such piece. I loved it's Art Deco feel, it was solid, well made and it had great potential to be a useful and beautiful piece of furniture.

  The first step after getting it home was to lightly sand it all over. Not only does this prepare the wood for a new application of paint or varnish but it also gives you a chance to look carefully at the piece and see anything that needs correcting. In this case, there were several nails that hadn't been sunk beneath the surface of the wood and so I set about doing that with a nail punch.

 After the nail punching, the holes had to be filled, I used a interior timber filler which I already had.

There were also a few gouges in the timber that I filled at the same time.

Then a final sanding and she was all ready to paint.

I decided to use the Kettle Green colour from the Australian made Blake & Taylor Furniture Paint range. Blake & Taylor sent me this paint and asked me to try it and post about the results. So far I have been very happy with the paint results. This paint doesn't need a primer and it goes on so easily. I also love how well the brushes wash out with just water.

I applied two coats of paint to the bookcase. The first coat was touch dry in about 30 minutes. I applied the second coat about four hours later.

Once it was finished and ready to dry I just felt that it needed something a little extra, something a little quirky to set it apart. The steps on the bookcase basically gave me the idea.

I applied the numbers 1-4 with stencils onto the end of the bookcase steps using Blake & Taylor's Old White Furniture Paint. A wax finish and it was all done, much lighter and brighter than the original, but with a nod to its Art Deco origins. I hope you like it. Lisa xx

This bookcase is for sale, you can find it in my Etsy shop.

Vintage Kitchen

There is something very soothing about baking. The opportunity to be creative and to know that your efforts will be instantly scoffed down rewarded.  Last night I baked a date slice, it made me feel good and seemed to be appreciated by everyone else. At times like that, when I choose to cook, rather than have to cook I love being in my kitchen. I am always looking for vintage kitchenware to provide a decor that feels homely and interesting but I also love vintage products that I can still use. Today I thought I'd show you some vintage kitchenware that I have found previously. The items are either for sale or have sold in my Etsy shop over the last year. Have a lovely weekend, maybe do some baking! Lisa xx

Set of Retro Spice Containers

Vintage Glass Citrus Juicer

Vintage Kitchen Scales

Original Blue and Green Floral Retro Willow Kitchen Tins

Vintage Gem Scones

Vintage Ceramic Measuring Cups

Vintage Nally Kitchen Containers

Vintage Green's Gripstand Ceramic Mixing Bowl

Retro Wiltshire Wall-Mountable Knife Set

Vintage Green Ceramic Australian Fowler Ware Mixing Bowl

Buying at Auction- Part Two

Buying at auctions can be very exciting, and if you love vintage furniture and collectibles like I do then you may have the opportunity to grab some real bargains...but...there is always a but, like everything it pays to take your time, and see how things are done first before jumping in.  This could save you from parting with too much of your hard-earned cash.

Tullochs Auctions

Last week I spoke about viewing days, you can read about them here. So having had a good look over the item or items you're interested in the next step is to register as a bidder.

Armitage Auctions

You register as an auction bidder by leaving your name and contact details, in return you will be issued with a number on a card that you use as your bidding number.

Armitage Auctions

 Probably one of the most important things to remember is that most auctions will have a buyer's premium, which can probably range between 10 and 15 percent on top of the hammer price. That's OK if you bid on something, win and the hammer price is say $20, at 15% it means you will have to pay $23 to collect your item. But on high amounts or if you buy several items that 15% can add to a significant extra amount on top of the hammer price. Something to remember!

Tullochs Auctions

 Auctions can  have any number of lots available for sale, sometimes well over 1000. Generally the auctioneer starts at #1 and works his way through the numbers until finished. If you ask they can generally give you a rough estimate of what time your lot is going to be sold. Bear in mind an estimate is just that. It's up to you to be there, so I would give myself a half hour of so extra time just to be sure.

Tullochs Auctions

 If you're a first timer it's a good idea to go early and really get the feel for how things work. Listening to the auctioneer can sometimes take some practice, they speak quite fast! Look at others bidding and how they do it, relax and enjoy the experience.

Tullochs Auctions

 If you can't be at the auction, you can leave with the office what is known as an absentee bid. This is where the auctioneer will bid on your behalf. Be sure to leave the highest amount that you would be willing to pay for an item, the auctioneer will bid for you to the next highest increment in the room, which means you could possibly get it cheaper than your bid.

Armitage Auctions

OK you've looked things over, you're a registered bidder with your number, you know what lot you are interested in and roughly what time it should go under the hammer. All is looking good for now.

Next week I'll share the process of bidding. Lisa xx

Vintage Winter Whites

The weather in Tasmania, where I live,  is always beautiful, you just need to appreciate the different seasons. In the last week the temperature has dropped as we near mid-winter, just yesterday the state's coldest town Liawenee had its lowest temperature since they started recording. All of that for Launceston residents generally means waking up to a beautiful blue sky and lots of white frost over everything.

So today I thought seeing as so many of us are enjoying the white frost and the snow on the mountains I would find some white vintage products from other Australian Etsy sellers to share with you all. I hope you enjoy the browse and keep warm. Lisa xx

Nostalgia Bloom

Villa by the Sea

A Creative Life

epochco

evaelena

Poppys Treasure Box

The Fox and the Spoon

Little Flea Vintage