How to sell at auction

We are thrilled that you are considering selling your items with us here at C&T. With over a decade of successful auctions enabled by an experienced team, we have accumulated a good reputation which attracts buyers from around the world. With that in mind, we are confident that we can guide to finding some exceptional results at auction!

Take a look through this article to learn about the whole process of selling at auction, from getting a no-obligation valuation, to receiving your final payment.

The first step

If you’ve explored the C&T site, you may have come across our online valuation form. This simple form allows you to tell us about your item(s), and provide pictures. Your responses are sent to the relevant department specialist, who will be in touch. Alternatively, you can get a free valuation by contacting the office or specialists directly.

You can learn more about the options of arranging a valuation here. 

What happens next?

So, you’ve sent in a valuation request and heard back from the specialist who says your item would be a great fit in one of our auctions, but what happens next?

The first step is get your item down to our Kenardington office. Whether you can post it or are able to drop it off in person, we can't wait to get your item auction-ready! If you post it, a member of our team will make sure to let you know once it’s arrived. If, on the other hand, you’re able to drop it off in person, our office is open 10:00 - 16:00 for consignments, no appointment needed. Just pop down and we’ll fill out the consignment form with you.

The next steps

This is where the action picks up behind the scenes. Once we have the item in office, the C&T team will be busy describing, photographing and promoting the lots in the sale. We proudly provide these professional services at no extra cost to our clients. 

As we approach the auction, you will receive a Pre-Sale Advice document. This document includes the lot description, estimates and reserve. If at this point you notice anything which you feel needs amending, do not hesitate to get in touch with our office or the specialist.

If everything looks good on the Pre-Sale Advice, all that’s left to do is tune in and watch the auction! If your lot is being featured in one of our live auctions, you will be able to watch the auctioneer in action as your item goes under the hammer. On the other hand, if your item has gone into a timed auction, you can keep an eye on bidding for the whole time that the auction is open. Our timed auctions close automatically on the given date, but plenty of last minute bidding takes place which can make these auctions just as exciting!

What happens after the auction closes?

After the auction closes you will be sent a Post-Sale Advice document, detailing the hammer price which was achieved by your item. It is at this time that we may be in contact to get any extra details from you, including bank details, in advance of making the final payment.

Final payments are made by bank transfer 30 working days after the close of the auction, and you will receive a Seller’s Statement document stating the final amount once the payment has been made. The final amount is the total when the seller's premium of 24% has been deducted from the hammer price. We have this time frame for final payments so that we can receive and process all payments from buyers, process after sale offers and resolve any issues which may arise, before passing the money on to you, the seller, and closing the auction.

Sell at auction with C&T 

That's about all you need to know about the process of selling at auction. If you have any further questions do not hesitate to get in touch - our friendly team is just a phone call away!