Four Key Points To Consider When Attending Furniture Auctions In Arizona

By April Briggs


Live auctions are a great way to find original items for your home at very reasonable prices. Better yet the likelihood of you walking away with a mass manufactured product are minimal. Anyone who desires unique products will find that the benefit from attending furniture auctions in Arizona. Here are four essential tips to keep in mind.

By following these simple suggestions you will be more prepared for what to expect. You will also have an idea of what the event offers, if it has furniture you are looking for, and how much you are willing to spend on that item. This also helps you set a mental budget so that when the excitement of the auction begins you will not go over your limit.

Research the local auctions in your area. Once you have a list made, find out what each event offers. Some may focus on a Southwestern theme, while others can have a larger supply of Victorian era furniture. Not all auctions are the same. This way you will have a higher chance of finding what you are searching for.

The main pointer to remember is to become familiar with the format of a live auction. The first time you attend, just watch and observe to get a feel for the venue. It is rather surprising how often people forget to do this one step. The reason for it is to become comfortable with the auction setup. This decreases the chances of you buying something you were not looking for.

Most auctions offer something called a preview. Make sure to go to these as they give you the opportunity to see what will be sold at the event. Previews do not cost you anything except time, but they give you a chance to actually survey the furniture, touch it, test it, and make sure that it is something that you are actually searching for. Plus, you can take measurement to ensure it has the correct dimensions.

Auctions are well known for their fast paced environment. When the auctioneer is talking ten miles a minute it may be hard to keep up with what is being said. If you are not familiar with the terms auctioneers use, you may end up making mistakes or losing out on a bid. You can easily avoid this by spending learning the language.

The main two terms you should become comfortable with hearing is reserve price and start price. The opening bid on an item is the starting price. This is minimum amount of money the piece can be sold for. The reserve price can make or break a bid. This is the minimum sum of money the seller will accept for an item. Before you start bidding on furniture that interests you, make sure to find out if there is a reserve price on it. The amount may be more than you are willing to spend.

Most important of all is to make sure you keep a level head. It is so easy to get excited and carried away at a live auction. While it is fun to lose yourself in the moment, that can hurt your pocketbook in the long run, and leave you with a sense of buyers remorse. So go in with a plan, have a budget and stick with it. Make sure to enjoy the experience, as there are few things more exhilarating than a live auction.




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