Much Ado about Silent Auctions!

There are many different types of antique auction houses out there offering anything from high- end fine art and furniture to small collectible pieces.  Places that hold a silent auction alongside the live auction are great fun!  Oftentimes the silent auction will showcase items that were just not quite high end enough or arrived too late to be offered at the live auction.  I have found plenty of beautiful silver plated house wares, costume jewelry and even a Cartier handbag available at the silent auction ay our local auction house here in Seattle…you never know what you will find at a bargain price!  This is also a fabulous place to find great gifts for housewarmings or dinner parties.

The Steiff culprits of the commotion!

These silent auctions can and do create quite a bit of excitement as everyone scrambles to snatch up a deal.  While there are great bargains abound, it is all too easy to get caught up in a bidding frenzy in the last moments before the closing of an auction.  Just last month I was literally trampled over for a lot of Steiff monkeys as I was bidding on art books on a shelf below!  From my experiences I offer the following tips for the next time you find yourself at a great silent auction:

1)   Be sure to preview each item you bid on examining it carefully for hidden damages or to determine how easy it would be to clean or restore the item.  If the item carries too much damage don’t bid on it no matter what price it is going for!

2)   Set your max bid just as you would for an item at a live auction. With this firm price in mind you won’t be as enticed to enter into a last minute bidding frenzy and pay too much for an item.  STICK TO THIS MAX BID! I guarantee the 5 people outbidding each other for the Steiff monkeys as I was crouched below them had thrown their max bids out the window and ended up overpaying.

3)   Look for items that may be in a corner or on a low shelf.  Other bidders may overlook these areas leaving it for you to obtain at a great price!

4)   Wait until the closing minutes of the auction to write in your bid. This leaves less chance of being outbid or driving up the price.  If there are 2 items that you are interested in, have a friend or spouse write in a bid on one item while you enter one for the other.

5)   Don’t bid someone up just to spite them…it may be tempting but it’s such bad karma!

6)   None of these tips apply to charity auctions…its good karma to support these causes by bidding and therefore donating as much as you can J

7)   Have fun and happy bidding!