I’ve seen silverware, pots and pans, glassware, gift items, fur coats, clothes, appliances, bedding, tables, chairs, toys, figurines – any and everything you could think of. All sold at way-below bargain prices. I’ve written about dining room sets, outdoor furniture and other items that sold ridiculously cheap. 

Cobalt blue dinnerware and some figurines on a table at a recent auction.

Seeing all this, I figured that I should let others in on these great buys, especially since so many people are hurting in this economy and could use a break. Auction prices beat out what you’d pay at retail stores. Maybe the auction items are a little used, but a little cleaning will easily wash off the previous owner’s imprint.

Knowing how to buy and what to buy before even stepping foot into an auction house is key. Online auction sites like EBay and TV programs have made auctions very popular, but most don’t show you how to prepare to buy or sell.

We’re inundated with a slew of auction reality shows on TV, and they seemingly have found a receptive audience. My auction-buddy Janet watches most of them – some auctions, some auction-related. The big daddy of them all: “Antiques Roadshow.” Spike TV’s “Auction Hunters.” Discovery’s “Auction Kings.” A&E’s “Storage Wars.” HGTV’s “Cash and Cari.”

Even Syfy has gotten into the mix with “Hollywood Treasure.” I used to watch “Cash in the Attic” religiously, but haven’t done so since it moved from its night slot on HGTV.

This clean white slip-covered living room set was snapped up at a recent auction.

One storage auction site noted that the number of people attending storage-locker sales had grown just as much as default by renters.

I love auctions, and I figured that showing others how to participate in an actual sale would be just as much a thrill for them as it is for me. Real auctions can be just as intimidating as entering an art gallery for the first time. But they aren’t, and some of the nicest folks are auction-goers and the auctioneers. This class could help alleviate any fears while helping folks save money, I figured.

At left, a ceiling fan still in its box; at right, a vintage mixer - both ready for an auction buyer.

I had already written some tips on how to conduct yourself at an auction.

So, I applied for and was approved to teach a class through my local community learning center. Here’s my description of the class, which was offered for a very nominal fee, most of which would go to the nonprofit center:  

Save money by buying at auctions

TV bombards us with shows about buying cheap and selling high at auctions. But you don’t have to be a dealer or seller to find great bargains. You can buy inexpensive items for yourself and as gifts for others. Learn how to find an auction house near you, preview a sale, research items beforehand, and bid on an item. The class will also include a trip to a real-live auction.

3 Monday sessions: 2 hours each, 7-9 p.m. The final session will be a trip to an actual auction.

Maximum number of students: 15

Cookware is always available at auctions.

The center liked the idea and offered the class in its spring session. Meanwhile, I decided to hold a mock auction at the last session, and enlisted an auctioneer to conduct it. I also told the owner of one of my favorite auction houses that I would be bringing a class. He, obviously, was delighted.

All I had to do now was to wait for the throngs of people to sign up for the class. A couple weeks passed, and two people signed up. The center required at least five students for the class to proceed. 

The other three students never materialized, and the class was canceled. We’ll try it again in the fall. Maybe the spring wasn’t the right time of year to save a little money by buying cheap.

A dinnerware set sold at auction.

Related posts:

1. Buying auction items I can actually use
2. Buying too much stuff – and not using it
3. 10 ways not to be a jerk at auctions

What’s the value of these paintings by Jones, she asked. And how could she go about selling them?

She had seen a blog post I had done on my discovery of Jones’ artwork at auction last year. Jones was a Louisiana artist whose works detailed a simple farm life.

Even more recently, I got an email from a man whose 102-year-old mother has a Madame C.J. Walker perfume bottle. In the early 20th century, Walker became one of the first African American millionaires through the sale of hair care products, cosmetics and more. She also sold perfumes and talcum powders.

His mother wanted to know what the bottle was worth. He, too, had read a blog I had done on perfume bottles.

I’m starting to get a lot of those kinds of emails, which is good. It tells me that people are being conscientious about determining the value of things they own and not just trashing them with nary a thought. Much of the credit goes to the increasing number of collectibles and auction shows on TV, including the granddaddy or grandmama of them all, Antiques Roadshow.

I’m not an appraiser so I didn’t have an answer for them. But I do conduct research on the items I write about in my blog, so I can offer suggestions. I also tell folks that items are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them at a given point in time.

For the MC Jones paintings, I suggested that she have them appraised by a certified and reputable appraiser, and consult an art gallery or auction house ab0ut selling them. I also warned her not to sell to the company or person that appraised them.

For the perfume bottle (which I’d love to see because there is scarce info on the web), I suggested that he find an auction house in his mother’s hometown that offered free cursory appraisals just so he could get some idea of its worth. Then, get a real appraisal done.

Here are my suggestions for figuring out the value of your items:

First, try the web

It’s obviously easier to research an item if you know its maker. So try to find a manufacturer’s name on it.

Google your item using any and all keywords that relate to it. Click through to websites, experts or others who may have information about it. Many items have spawned collectors’ clubs and online museums operated by people who have become experts on their collections. Email mail them for assistance.

Check eBay to see if anything similar is being sold there. Keep in mind that eBay is like a giant flea market. Most people want to pay as little as possible for items – there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just who we are. You’ll sometimes find the same item selling for $10 or $100.

Nevertheless, it’ll give you some idea of what the item is worth to millions of buyers around the world. Also, if it doesn’t show up, that’s telling, too: Possibly the item is not very common and that can be good. EBay also has a community of experts who show up in forums to answer questions about specific items. Check out the eBay forums relating to your item.

If you can’t find the exact item on eBay, look for something close to it or the manufacturer’s other items.

Dorothy Gray compacts at auction.

Go to the library or browse at a bookstore

Go to the Collectibles and Antiques section and look for price guides pertaining to your item. If there’s no specific book, look for general antiques and collectibles price guides. Find a comfortable chair, open the books and spend some time looking through them. Take notes. I made this suggestion to a woman who had a Dorothy Gray compact the size of a silver dollar that was uncovered in a back yard. She could not find it in her internet search.

Go to a local antiques and collectibles shop or an auction house

These places usually have experts in various fields, so you’re likely to get someone who knows what they’re talking about.

Research a few of them and choose ones that seem reputable. Ask the staffers for a cursory (or ball-park or eyeball) appraisal: He or she will examine it and give you an estimate based on their expertise. Some are willing to do so at no cost. Be sure to ask, though. Make sure the appraisal is done in front of you. I always suggest caution, especially if you don’t know what your item is worth.

Get a free or reduced-price appraisal

Some auction houses offer free or reduced-price appraisals on certain days of the week or a few times a month. Find those places in your hometown or close by. Sometimes organizations will hold them, bringing in experts from these same auction houses.

Last year, I was reading a newsletter published by Swann Auction Galleriesin New York in which it offered to send experts to organizations for an afternoon of appraisals as a fundraising event. Swann would provide the appraisals free of charge to the organization, which in turn would invite people to pay for three appraisals.

Perfume bottles bought at auction.

I went to one of those a year or so ago. The appraisers were experts from Freeman’s Auctioneers and Appraisers in Philadelphia, considered the country’s oldest auction house.

For $5 each, I had three items appraised – all of which I had bought at auction: a group of 25 or more original drawings by cartoonist Bo Brown, a Japanese painting of a winter outdoor scene and an old print of the Pennsylvania State House. As I waited, I heard the appraiser tell one couple that their painting was worth about $30,000.

As for my pieces, the appraiser found Bo Brown originals selling for about $250 each on the web (I already knew that because I had found the same information on my own). The State House print was actually a reproduction. He could not tell me the worth of the Japanese painting because that was not his area of expertise. He suggested that I bring it to the auction house (which I never did).

One website, though, said don’t do it (this expert, by the way, was an appraiser and consultant). He indicated that these types of appraisals were more like drive-bys, and you won’t get an accurate accounting of the value of your piece. I disagree; this is an inexpensive way to have someone with expertise to determine whether you should pay to have a piece legitimately appraised.

You can find auction houses in your area through http://www.auctionzip.com/. Just write in your zip code and you’ll get a list of auctions along with the name of the auction houses. Check out their websites, do an internet search of them, and go to one or two of their auctions to determine the staff’s trustworthiness.

Their websites should tell you whether they offer free or reduced-price appraisals. If they do house visits for an initial free consultation, take them up on it. But don’t be pushed into hiring them if you feel uncomfortable. It’s your decision.

Pay for a real appraisal

Appraising your collectibles, artwork or other valuable property is something all collectors should do. Appraisals aren’t cheap, but they’re worth it. The cost of the appraisal will likely depend on the amount of work required. Always get an estimate of the cost up front.

The American Society of Appraisers – which has local chapters across the country – is a good place to look for a certified appraiser. On the website of the Philadelphia chapter, I read the section on members in the news to see whose names were mentioned, who were conducting sessions and who were receiving awards for their work. Those were among the ones I’d call if I needed an appraiser.

I warn people not to sell to the company or person who’s doing the appraisal. You don’t want anyone low-balling the appraisal so they can get it cheap from you and sell it high to someone else. Even if the company is reputable, I still don’t think it’s a good idea.

A set of cute cats on sale at auction.

Selling your items

The ways to sell are varied, and you’ll have to decide the route to go depending on the item. If you have a house full of stuff, consider an estate sale right there on the property or at an auction house. I’ve been to both. Usually, the sales on site include the house and its contents. I went to one such sale last summer that belonged to a couple who had sold antiques for 50 years. The house was loaded.

Insuring your items

After getting your pieces appraised, check the company that has your homeowners policy about insuring your collectibles. Most insurance companies will give you a discount for multiple policies.

Where to look for more information

The Smithsonian American Art Museum website provides research tools to help you determine the value of your collectibles. And here’s a site (which sells books) to find out how much old books are being sold for on eBay and Yahoo auctions. The site noted that books may sell less on those two online sites than on retail or booksellers sites.

The Philadelphia Print Shop’s website offered suggestions on appraisals, along with tips on doing it on your own. Consumer Reports had suggestions on the best ways to sell.

What are your suggestions?

If you have other suggestions, please send them along.

Related posts:

1. The worth of old newspapers as mementos
2. A woman who cataloged her stuff
3. The stuff of our lives and what they reveal about us

We had already done our walk-through, and both of us had spotted some small items on tables in the garage. The auction house was selling a 1950s brick rancher on a double lot overlooking a sweet little park, along with some contents from the owner.

After about 10-15 minutes, the two women came back into the garage. One was hoisting a wooden corner chair that I had spotted and was considering – even though I didn’t need another chair, especially this one with its coats and coats of dark paint. But I liked the simplicity of its curved style: its unadorned seat and arms, and the spokes of its back. Her friend was carrying two small beige carpet remnants.

The woman walked to the cashier seated behind a table. “The woman told me to bring it up here,” she said, obviously excited by her find. The cashier wasn’t sure what to do. She’s used to people paying for their items after they’d won a bid. In this case, the auction had not even started. She directed the woman to one of the auctioneers sitting on a short ladder opposite her.

“The woman downstairs told me to bring it up here,” she repeated. “You can’t do that,” the auctioneer said. The woman was surprised and taken aback. She offered to take it back downstairs. “No,” he said. He told her to leave it there, and they’d auction it when they finished the other items on the tables.

I turned to Janet: “I hate when people do that.” Many of us try to remember or write down the location of our bid choices so we’re around when they come up. When items are moved, we are more likely to miss out on the bidding.

This woman brought the chair from the basement, I assumed, because she didn’t know how this auction house conducted its sale. The more sinister of bidders move items around to hide them from the rest of us. At one auction a month or so ago, Janet had her eye on a black Americana paper clip. When she went back to the table to examine it, it was gone. Naturally, we assumed it had been stolen (a week before, someone had walked away with a camera lens that I was interested in). A buzz erupted about the clip and someone found it on another table. An auction-goer had apparently moved it to that table, hoping, I’m sure, that he or she could limit the number of bids and get it for very little.

At the estate sale, the woman continued her conversation with the auctioneer, who’s usually a curmudgeon but this time seemed to be patient yet indifferent to her. She apparently asked him one question, he answered another and that agitated her. Perturbed, she walked away from him, only to have the cashier ask her if she had a number. “You’ll need a number to bid,” the cashier said.

By now, the woman had had enough. She took one step up to the cashier’s table and then curtly waved away her hand, dismissing all of them. If she’d had a magic wand, I’m sure she would’ve made them disappear.

She marched out of the garage and down the driveway, her friend behind her. The friend had never uttered a word during any of the exchange.

“I guess she thought it was like a flea market,” the cashier said. She should’ve asked someone how it worked, Janet offered. A veteran auction-goer, Janet knew that although the basics are the same, auction houses do have individual rules that distinguish them. When she had gone to a new auction house a week before, she told me, she had asked another woman about the procedures.

After the woman left, Janet and I got to talking about the dynamics of what had just happened. The two women were black. The handful of people standing around the garage except Janet and me were white. Most of the auction-goers, as usual, were white men, many of whom had come for the toys in the basement. The house was in a neighborhood that was suburban and appeared to be homogenously white.

Were they uncomfortable like many people – whether black or white – when there are one or only a few faces in the crowd that look like them? I know that it can be uncomfortable for some black people. Interestingly, by the time the auction had reached the end of its first hour, about a half-dozen black people – along with a mixed -couple and an Asian couple – were among the bidders.

Did she feel challenged because of who she was? Did she feel the auctioneer was less accommodating or rude to her because she was a black woman? Did she feel he was confrontational rather than helpful? Auctions can be a bit overwhelming if you’ve never been to one before.

I should have gone after her to explain that these were decent people, that they were just trying to tell her how the auction worked. I could have also explained the auction process. I wish I had, because although auctions can appear to be intimidating, they are a lot of fun. And usually the auctioneers are just as helpful as they can be.

When the auction finally started, the woman was lost to memory among the bidding. I remembered her, though, when the chair came up. It was still in the spot where she had left it. I decided not to bid on it but at least two people did.

It sold for $7. The carpet remnants sold for a total of $3. She could’ve gotten them for a steal. Instead, she let the anger get the best of her.

Related posts:

1. Losing out on a new laser printer
2. Losing out on an oversized stuffed elephant

I came across a website called auctionzip.com, which, by plugging in my mother’s zip code, gave me a list of auction houses within 30 miles. I found one, Hawkinsville Auction Gallery in Hawkinsville, GA, about an hour south of where my family lived. (The table of items below is from one of my favorite local auction houses.)

The auction-finder site came to mind this week when blogger Mae Israel, who writes Juggling Act, asked how to find auctions near where she lived in Charlotte. I suggested auctionzip. Then I got to thinking that there were likely others like her who may be wondering the same thing. So, I’m passing along the information.

At auctionzip.com, you just drop in your zip code, decide how far you’re willing to travel to an auction (30 to 500 miles away), write in a keyword and/or category, and click Search. You can also sign up to be notified of auctions in your area.

Another site is liveauctioneers.com. It is an online auction site, but many of the auctions listed also sell on-site. It’s easier to navigate if you know the name of the auction house.

If you’re into yard sales, I came across this site while reading the AARP magazine some months ago. It’s called Yard Sale Treasure Map, which searches locations in your area that have been posted on craigslist.

Before you head out to an auction for the first time, be sure to check out my Auction Tips for preparation. I outlined what you should and should not know, and what you should and should not do at auctions. I’ve also blogged about proper etiquette at auctions.

Once you find an auction that interests you, check out the house’s website. The most professional of them will have photos posted of the items they’ll have for sale. It’s a good way to decide if there’s something you’d like to bid on. But don’t rely totally on the photos; some items may not be in the photos, and some may look better on a table than in photos.

Besides, it’s a lot more fun being on-site, handling the items and chatting with other auction-goers. So, just go and experience it.

I dragged my play-sister and her boyfriend, and my niece with me to the Hawkinsville auction. It was too far to drive alone; besides, it’s always good to have company. It was also a chance for me to teach them about auction-buying. I found a lovely Skookum doll there (I’ll write about that tomorrow).

I don’t use the auctionzip site for Philadelphia, where I live, because fellow auction-goers are always sharing their favorite auction houses. I learn about other locations through conversations, although I tend to stick to my own favorites. You become family at some of these houses – this week I got an invitation to a christening.

So, check out auctionzip, and if you can’t find a place, check other sites on the web. Also, check your local newspaper. Mine still has an auction column and auction ads.

Happy hunting!

Related posts:

1. Seeking that million-dollar auction find
2. Alden House and the 1955 auction
3. Christmas postcards at auction