Furniture auctions are some of the most exciting auction types for people who are eagerly looking to fill their homes or other spaces with unique items.  However, for those who are new to this kind of auction, it’s always a good idea to keep the following tips in mind:

1. Set your top price and stick with it.  Even if you love a divan, you won’t love it if you feel you’ve overspent.  Keep a budget in mind for each item on which you plan to bid.
2. Listen carefully to – and read fully – the description of each piece of furniture.  It’s important to understand what you’re buying.  If you don’t understand something about the furniture, ask for clarification.
3. Be careful when buying broken furniture.  While you may think you can repair a piece of furniture if it isn’t in tiptop shape, you should seriously consider whether the repair will be worth it.  This means you must weigh the purchase price of the furniture against the price you expected to pay to fix it.
4. Make sure you have room for the furniture.  In an auction setting, a huge piece of furniture can appear smaller.  Always know measurements of the spaces in your house so you don’t wind up buying a china cabinet that doesn’t fit in your dining room!
5. Unless you’re reselling the furniture, buy what you really want… even if it isn’t intrinsically worth a lot.  Sometimes, people think they should buy a piece of furniture because it’s a good value, or it’s a “steal”.  However, it’s always best to buy furniture pieces that you plan to use and show off.  If you feel an emotional connection with a piece, it means you’ll get a lot of use out of it.
6. Realize that not all furniture items are antiques just because they are old.  It’s a common mistake for buyers to assume they purchased an antique if the item is old.  Yet not every piece of furniture that was made in a past era can be considered worthy of an antiques moniker.

We hope that you feel better prepared for your next – or first – furniture auction!  Remember, always inspect items before you buy! Check out Reinhart Auctions’ handy event calendar to learn when the next auctions are happening, or call their office during normal business hours at (905) 846-1071.