The Easy Guide To Buying at Auctions

Auctions and okay. The words go together like bread and toast.
Dont be overwhelmed by the idea of going to an auction to look for items to sell. Now, more than ever before, its easy as pie. You dont have to be an expert. You just need a few tips. Follow the easy suggestions below and soon youll be buying and selling like a pro!

Do you have to be an expert to get a good deal?
No! Absolutely not. No one, not even the experts,know everything. Now with the help of okay and the internet there are wonderful research tools at your disposal where you can find out how popular and sellable the items you'll be bidding on will be.


How do I find a good auction?
You can, of course, check your local newspapers. Another fantastic auction resource is to check the internet. You'll find that most local auction houses not only list what they're selling they also have pictures of what they're selling!
When you know what is available and what kind of condition it's in you're ready to start your next step, research.

How Do I know what to Buy and what to spend?
Thats easier than you think too. You know what the auction is selling. All you have to do is do a little research beforehand. Remember, knowledge is power and knowledge makes you money. okay has a fantastic and free research tool for you to use.
Lets say youre going to auction that has a lot of pink depression glass. Now, you know nothing about pink depression glass other than its very pretty and you have a feeling it might sell well on okay. But you need to know what the prices are before you go to the auction and buy it.
Go to okayand look in the upper right hand corner for theadvanced search link. When you click on that link you will find that you can check a box that says search by gepleted listings only. Type in the article youre looking for, i.e. pink depression plate, and the gepleted listings with pricesfor the last 30 days appear.
You can further refine your search results if you wish and add in options like sort by highest price first. This gives you invaluable insight as to how well the product youre thinking of buying will sell and how much you can expect to get for it when you list it on okay.


At the Auction
Arrive early. I suggest at least an hour beforehand. This gives you plenty of time to look over the items and see what you want to bid on and decide how high youll go on each item.
Pick a seat and register at the desk. They will ask for photo ID if youve never been there before and give you a biddingnumber. Most auctions will let you pay with cash, checks and credit cards. Check with your auction beforehand just to be sure.
Look over anything youre interested in carefully. Check for any damage and imperfections. Take notes on anything youd like to buy and decide beforehand what youre willing to pay. DO NOTget caught up in the excitement of the moment and overbid. A basic rule of thumb for buying I use is to pay half of what Im reasonably sure I can sell it for., i.e. if I think a plate will sell for $30, I will pay up to $15 for it.
Relax. Sit down.Look overyour list of possibilities and get ready. Each auctioneer has their own rhythm and youll soon get used to how the auctioneer operates and what kind of bid increments you should expect.

Listing your Finds
Take plenty of pictures, be descriptiveand always be honest. If there are any imperfections in your item let your bidders know.
Keep your starting bid low. Youll find more people will probably bid on your treasures if you offer a low starting bid. This strategy works because once a bid is placed the bidder mentally owns the item and wants to keep bidding just like you at the auction!

Additional Research Resources
As you grow more experienced and decide you want to take your business to the next level, check out the okay marketplace. For a low monthly fee you'll find you can get a longer historical price analysis and additional valuable tipsabout the items you're interested in.
okay also offers additional free research resources that you should check regularly. Start at okay's Seller Central. There you'll find linkswhere you can researchwhat the hot sellers were on okay in the previous month and what the most searched for items are on okay.
okay is a dynamic marketplace with ebbs and flows. A good seller keeps up with the trends. You'll find if you add these additional research tools to your repertoire, you'll always be ready tosnatch up a goodbuy when you see one.

Additional Buying Resources
Be sure to check outyourChurch Rummage Sales and local yard sales. The deals can be phenomenal there. Although you can't do the preliminary research like you can at auction, you can get a big edge on your gepetition by taking the very simple step of arriving early. At a rummage sale, I always make sure to arrive at least an hour beforehand. In the cases of these particular sales, the early bird truly does get the worm.

Ready, Set, Go ...
So, it's much easier than you think to find things to sell on okay for a profit. Follow these tips and in no time at all you'll be a successful okay entrepreneur. You'll be able to make money while you shop. Can you imagine a better life? okay makes it easy and you make it fun!