Mark Littler LTD value, provide advice and arrange the sale of antiques, collectable items, whisky bottles and whisky casks through both auctions and private sales.
We will advise you on the best way to sell your item so that you can get the best price.
Should I sell at auction or privately?
This is a question we get asked a lot and it is actually pretty easy to answer: It depends on what you are trying to sell.
As a rough guide; selling through an auction is ideal if you want to market your items to a wide audience. Auctions are suited to items that have a subjective value or are of low commercial value.
Private sales are well suited to items with an objective value, or where direct comparison with previous sales can be made.
Is an Auction or Private Sale Best For Your Item?
The Pros and Cons of Selling at Auction
This is what to be aware of when you are thinking of selling at auction:
Positives
+ Items are marketed globally using online auction platforms like the-saleroom.com
+ There is no limit to what the item can make
+ Reserves can be arranged to ensure your items do not sell below a certain figure
Negatives
– Auction houses charge both the seller and buyer a commission, so the difference between what the buyer pays and what you receive can be up to 50%
– If an auction house misdescribes your items then they are likely to be undersold
– If the auction house does not have access to the right clientele then your item may sell for considerably less than it should
– There can be a very long time between sending the item to auction and receiving payment following the sale
By entering this rare 16th century carbine into a very specialist sale we were able to sell it for £21,000 – a local auction house had quoted the client £1,000-1,500.
The Pros and Cons of Selling Privately
Positives
+ You control the price the item is sold for
+ You receive up to 40% more than if the items were sold at auction
+ The process takes an average of 2 weeks from accepting an offer to receiving payment
+ Buyers may pay more for your items if they have not been exposed at auction
Negatives
– The sale price is agreed and fixed, unlike at auction where ‘auction fever’ can grip buyers and drive up prices
Using our network of whisky buyers we are often able to get the best price for bottles of whisky like these Macallan Private Eye bottles. By selling privately sellers get 90% of the buyer’s money rather than 50-85% at auction.
Independent Advice, Tailored to You
At Mark Littler Ltd. we use our industry expertise sell your items strategically either in a private sale or by auction.
We help you achieve the best price for your item by choosing a saleroom with the relevant expertise and the right target market. Alternatively, we can broker a private sale with our network of national and international contacts.
Contact us today for independent, impartial advice on how best to sell your item.
