Attending a Scottsdale auction can be a wonderful experience. But, serious bidders always prepare appropriately before auction day. To avoid getting caught up in the excitement of a live auction, inspecting items before you bid is the single more important thing you can do to avoid making a bad investment.
Too often beginners skip the inspection step and see the item for the first time when it’s held up on the auction block. It’s almost impossible to tell if the item is damaged or determine its true value. To make an informed decision, you absolutely must inspect the item prior to bidding at a Scottsdale auction. Only then can you determine an appropriate value for the item’s condition.
For the purposes of this discussion, we’ll assume the Scottsdale auction involves merchandise brought to an auction house. Because so many types of auctions exist, we’ll cover general good practices for this type of auction. We won’t attempt to provide inspection advice for a livestock or home auction!
Preparing for Item Inspection
The first step in your inspection process is to find out the scheduled times and places. The auction house will often have this information available well in advance of auction day. Special times will be set aside for interested bidders to inspect each item up for auction. In larger Scottsdale auctions, you’ll have an opportunity to inspect items one or two days prior to the auction, as well as before bidding begins on the auction day.
To make the most of your inspection, you’ll need to bring some tools along. A complete evaluation using your tools will help you decide if you want to bid on an item and the maximum amount you should be willing to pay.
In part two we will list what tools to bring to your auction inspection.
Check our our upcoming Scottsdale auctions or contact Auction Systems today for more information.
Tags: Auction Systems Auctioneers & Appraisers, Scottsdale auction
