WHEN IT'S TIME TO CALL IN AN AUCTIONEER

There are many different types of auctioneers.1. Livestock 2. Automobiles 3. Antiques 4. Old Coins 5. Real Estate 6. Land 7. General Private Estates and just about anything else that needs to be sold.




Essentially there are two types of auctions: "Absolute or with a Reserve. Reserve means it will not "Sell" unless a threshold in price is reached.Absolute means jus that .. it will be sold, regardless, to the highest bidder.




My first observation of a Country Auctioneer came when I was 9 years old. It was August of 1951 and Yankee Auctioneer, Colby Johnson, was calling the bids. He chewed tobacco and had a melodious voice worth
remembering. I liked what I heard and heard what I liked. Six years later I began "following" Mr. Johnson  and his auction action.




 I think life is much easier is you have a natural inkling to take the stage of life and begin selling at auction. I did just that in 1974. In 1981 I attended Missouri Auction School, Kansas City.




Today's sophisticated world of everything demands the best inmen and women who profess to the auctioneer's calling. Here's a few tips to keep in mind in hiring your "salesman of the gavel."




1. Your auctioneer must be Intelligent. He/she must be versed in many, many things. He/she must have a good sense of history, a detective) . Knowing history allows them to be authoritative. When I'm called in on a job, long before my chanting begins, I learn all I can.. from my clients, research, trends, dealers...the whole enchilada to ensure me of successes on auction day.




Organization will help. "Like kind and quality" keeps things together.
Always sell the most expensive item FIRST..ALWAYS> It's called the Contrast Principle.




Auctioneers like fast-paced sales. The crowd also enjoys a little comedy from the auctioneer. "Make them laugh and they'll spend."


HOPE FOR AUCTION FEVER!


Beware of HIGH EXPECTATIONS. Usually things bring what they are worth... not a penny more.


Make sure your auctioneer has a Loyal Staff. The auction team is made up of runners, clerks, cashiers, yardmen, other auctioneers, security, technicians. It will be an AuctionTeam, it is very hard work, a relief to sellers and heirs,and yes, the clean-up crew.Auctions are labor-intensive, emotional and can be gratifying....It's a tough job so tweak your brain accordingly!