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Find auctioneers and venues getting top-prices for items like yours.

• Who Are The Auctioneers?
  
  
• Auctioneers, by Specialty
  
  
• Unique Items, Worth Real Money
  
  
• They Have High Standards. However...
  
  
• Free Online Appraisals, by Top Auctioneers
  
  
• Finding Good Local Auctioneers
  
  
• Antique Roadshow's - Guide for Hiring Auctioneers

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Who Are The Auctioneers?

Generally, auctioneers followed by What Sells Best are well-known venues used by the world's top collectors to buy and sell holy grail items.

Many, make news by helping people discover rare treasures or fetching top prices for unique and rare items they sell.

Their auctions are often followed by the worlds most affluent collectors, dealers and investors.

At times, their clientèle are known to pay world-record-amounts for highly-sought-after items.

However, they're primarily focused on ultra rare items, which means they're often not the right choice for most items.

Often the worlds best venues for selling most items will be found locally.

Key is matching your item(s) to the correct selling venue(s). The sorting guide can help you know the best venue for your items

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Items Wanted

Endless examples of names and styles most-wanted by top dollar buyers are found here.

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They Have High Standards. But...

Auctioneers and venues selling at top levels have to maintain high-standards to consistently draw a serious collectors wanting the unique items they have. Obviously not all items can meet those standards.

However, if you browse photos of the items they want, you may noticed that not everything needs to be in pristine condition to fetch a high price. In fact, many times they're not.

Items that sell best, generally have some combination of historical and/or cultural significance. Combined with rarity and a very competitive collector base driving prices high.

Free price research and online appraisals, offered by most top auctioneers, through their websites or inhouse specialist. Can be a way to find if your item meets their standards.

However, if after substantial research you find your item doesn't meet a top-tier auctioneers standards. Don't give up. Because your item may still hold a high value to local or regional collectors and buyers, through a local auctioneer.

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Finding Good Local Auctioneers

If you fully-exhaust all avenues with top auction houses, and you're absolutely certain your item is not going to retire-you, anytime soon.

You may want to give reputable local auctioneers, galleries or dealers a try. Many offer free-appraisal information on their websites.

• See Antiques Roadshow's - Guide for Hiring Auctioneers.
  

Many shops offer less formal ball-park appraisal process. Often conducted by email through an exchange of photos and information.

If you don't see free appraisals offered on their website, email-them, with your version of the following (feel-free to copy, paste and modify):

"Greetings,

I have a [write a brief description of your item] I'm considering selling, and was wondering if you may be interested in selling it in your shop as a consignment?

If you're interested. Would you please send me information detailing your resale fees and/or commissions. Along with your best free ball-park-estimate for its resale value.

If you need any additional information or photos, please let me know how I can help. By contacting me at: (write your preferred contact method).

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Your name"

If they won't do a free ball-park-appraisal, move-on to another auctioneer, shop or gallery who will. Ideally you want several estimates, to make sure they're all in the ballpark.

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Free Online Appraisals, by Top Auctioneers

If you've done a little preliminary price research, and think you may have found something rare. Most auctioneers offer free online appraisals which can help you confirm it.

• Getting free online appraisals from several auctioneers, allows you to compare estimates and selling fees before committing to a consignment agreement.

If they think you found an ultra-rare-treasure, don't be surprised if they offer to come take a closer look on the next available flight. Auctioneers have been known to occasionally do this, to get a jump on their competition.

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Antiques Roadshow's - Guide for Hiring Auctioneers

If you are selling, there's a short article/guide for doing business with appraisers & auctioneers by Antiques Roadshow that is highly recommended. It has a step-by-step process for selecting the right auctioneer for you.

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Find Auctioneers by Specialty

The list above links to top auctioneers, by specialty. You can also find auctioneers through the reputable specialist guide.

Please report any broken links.

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LAST UPDATE / by James Massey, January 24, 2021.

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