Resuming the auctions

Yesterday I felt like I escaped a hostage situation when I scheduled my first auction in three months! Originally scheduled for March, the auction was put on hold due to the mandatory shutdown of public gatherings. I've been waiting to resume the auctions as soon as it was safe to do so, and that time is now.

A number of auctioneers I know have gone to online auctions during this shutdown. While I considered doing so, I enjoy the live auction. People who attend the auctions are like family, and I have missed seeing the family. Still, I considered doing online auctions because I had several consignors who I knew wanted to see their items sold. They have been very patient, and their patience is about to be rewarded.

The auction will be held at the Venture Out Business Center in Madison, IN on June 16 starting at 5:30. This is where we have been holding our auctions in the past. We have a lot of nice items that we'll be selling. A partial listing and pictures are posted on auctionzip.com. You can go directly to my auction by typing in my ID# 36965 in the appropriate box.

If you are not comfortable being in crowds and would like to place a bid on an item, I do accept absentee bids. Just contact me with information about the item you are interested in owning and your maximum bid amount. I DO NOT start absentee bids at the maximum amount people give me! You will need to pick your item up or it can be mailed to you for an additional fee. I have taken bids from Tennessee to California and shipped the items they won with no problem.

This auction season will be shorter than usual due to the pandemic which means auctioneers will fill their calendars quickly. If you have an estate you need to sell or have quality items you would like to consign, please give me a call soon. This auction is full, but we still have room in the next auction for more items.

Some of the things currently selling well at auctions are primitives, smaller antiques, quality stoneware and glassware, knives, tools, advertising pieces, gold and silver, fishing and hunting equipment, model trains, certain pottery and quality collectibles.

Items that are soft in today's auction market are common collectibles such as Beanie Babies, Boyd's, collector plates, etc., dishes, pressed and cut glass, books (except for rare collectible books), most furniture (especially larger pieces), common household items, computers and prints.

There are some items I, and many auctioneers, will not accept to sell. These include pianos, organs, TVs except for flat screens, most clothing items, pornographic items. There is little, to no market, for these items.

These lists are not exhaustive, and there are exceptions. In some auction markets some items do better than in others so it's always a good idea to ask potential auctioneers what is selling well at their auctions. If they tell you your items will not bring much at auction, believe them. Chances are, especially if its a family piece, your sentimental value for the item will be much more than what it will bring at auction.

I'm excited to get started back with my auctions, and if you live in our area I hope you'll join us. If I can serve you in some way, please feel free to contact me.