Like to go to local auctions? Love the thrill of a good auctioneer's chant and fast talk and the chance to bid on all kinds of stuff?
For more detail go to: www.auction-words.com.As an auctioneer myself,
(PA License AU3837), I also like to go to other auctioneers' sales, especially to get loads of merchandise at bargain prices. Here are 10 tips to help you find the auctions where you can get items so cheap they are almost free.
Look for an auction that is "under advertised." Advertising is a major expense when holding an auction. Almost all practicing auctioneers know this, but in some cases the people the auctioneer is selling for may balk at paying for a big ad. Most auctioneers know that without that big ad, unless the auctioneer has a large following of likely bidders, he or she may not get a big enough crowd with a small ad. If the sellers insist, then the ad may be way too small. This means a small crowd and with fewer bidders, the auctioneer will get lower bids, so you buy cheap.
Go to an auction being held in a remote area that is hard for the average person to find, especially if the auctioneer can't place enough signs, or has difficulty giving good directions because of the location. Plenty of bargains here.
In Pennsylvania and probably most of the northeast, an outside auction in snowy weather, usually will have a sparse crowd and hence loads of good buys. Rainy weather may cause the same, so look for a bad weather day, especially if the auctioneer advertises that the auction will be held "rain or shine" and doesn't offer a tent, or an alternative location or time for the auction.
Sometimes a "newbie" auctioneer may not draw a big crowd because he/she is not well known. In many cases even seasoned auctioneers won't draw as big a crowd when they are out of their normal auction area.
Sometimes you can find good buys if you go to a house auction where high end items are being sold, but there are also ordinary household items, tools, cleaning supplies, EST. The auctioneer will most likely advertise the Victorian furniture, Tiffany lamps, Roseville pottery, and not the family lawn mower, wheel barrow, tools in the garage, etc. I have been to a couple of auctions where I was the only bidder for tools, and I got them for pennies on the dollar.
Pick a day when there are lots of auctions in them area and pick the one with the weakest listing. For more help visit to: www.auctionprofessional.com.In the Greensburg, PA area this is usually August and early September.
Help the auctioneer who is having trouble getting bidding started by being that initial bidder. Chances are you will be rewarded by that auctioneer but giving you some good buys.
Quite often storage auctions where the contents of a space where rent hasn't been paid will yield good bargains because they usually don't warrant big ads and you may get a chance to buy the contents of a space at a very low dollar amount.
At an auction where there are loads of box lots, look over the boxes from top to bottom for sleepers that sometimes the auctioneer even missed. When that box comes up bid on it. Be aware however that sometimes people switch items from one box to another, so keep your eyes peeled.
Most house auctions yield quite a few items the auctioneer can't get a bid on. Sometimes these are piled up and sold as one lot near the end of the sale. This is a great place for a flea market dealer to pick up lots of small items so cheap they are almost free.
