Buying furniture at furniture auction can be a lot of fun as well as a good way to save money. However, you must always be on your toes in order to prevent being burnt by dishonest auctioneers. Cheap furniture, which is frequently offered at hundreds of auction shops around the United States, might be tempting. However, before participating in auction purchases, familiarise yourself with the benefits and drawbacks of bidding on furniture. This post tries to provide some helpful hints for making your auction purchase a pleasant experience. If you’re an auction buyer or a potential applicant, keep reading.
The most important step on your part before going ahead with making bids is to inspect the furniture items on sale. While inspecting, you need to check three things:
(a) the furniture’s adequacy in terms of the requisite dimensions;
(b) physical examination, which includes carefully inspecting the product for any cracks or fractures in the body, protruding elements, dents, and the operating condition of add-ons such as drawers, as well as regular wear and tear;
c) examining the furnishings for unusual features. If an item of antique furniture is on sale, for example, you should be aware of the basic qualities of furniture. The majority of furniture is heavier than it seems. The most important distinguishing aspect of oak furniture is that it is made up of no more than three to four parts. If it’s branded vintage furniture, search for the signature or label to ensure it’s genuine.
The second piece of advice is to “leave out when in doubt!” To put it another way, if you’re not convinced about the item’s quality or legitimacy, don’t bid on it.
Don’t be fooled by a reserve price that is either too low or too expensive. Always conduct extensive market research to familiarise yourself with the pricing range of a specific piece of furniture. There’s nothing like finding an expert on that certain furniture piece in an auction house! Ask probing inquiries regarding the item on sale’s quality and appropriateness. No one avoids a polite conversation in a public setting.
If there are a lot of products for sale, request a catalogue if one is available. Make a mental note of the winning bid price for each item for future reference. A catalogue may also help you make a rapid selection about which piece of furniture to buy.
Make sure you’re familiar with all of the auction’s rules, regulations, and terms and conditions. Before bidding, you should think about your payment alternatives, reserve price, buyer’s premium, and sales tax, among other things.
It’s conceivable that no one is interested in purchasing the item. If the terms and circumstances of the bid allow for it, you can expect a cost for the item that is less than the reserve price.
