Selling
Selling with Smiths of Newent
At Smiths Auction Rooms we take great care to provide the best sales service we can to all our vendors with accurate descriptions, estimates and clear attractive photographs. With targeted marketing, press releases and a strong online presence we are proud to have an excellent reputation for achieving the highest prices for our clients. We feel that as a small independent saleroom we go the extra mile to take extra care of our customer’s needs.
Free Appraisal
Free sales advice without obligation is given to all clients when visiting the saleroom. We will inspect, catalogue and value your items so that you can be confident you are leaving your valuables in good hands. Vendors can discuss pre-sale estimates, reserves and current trends with our experienced and qualified antiques valuers.
In addition, we also have a team of consultants to whom we can refer for more specialist items such as stamps, coins, postcards, medals and oriental items etc. These items can be left with us on receipt for valuation with our experts and can expect to get full exposure in our programme of specialist sales.
Valuation Days
Items can be entered for auction by making an appointment for a valuation where we will be happy to discuss and offer advise on the best means of sale for your items. Please telephone 01531 821776 to make an appointment.
Alternatively, you may wish to send email images of potential items for sale and valuation - please see our Contacts page or email enquiries@smithsauctionroom.co.uk
Please note the deadline for accepting items for sale is a minimum of two weeks prior to each auction. The sale may close earlier if we meet our maximum capacity.
Home Visits
For larger items, collections or complete house contents please telephone our office on 01531 821776 to make an appointment for our valuer to make a free of charge visit to your home.
Transport and Clearance
We are happy to arrange transport with our excellent transport contractors and the charge for this can be deducted directly from the sale proceeds. For complete house contents we can arrange for transport to our auction rooms of all the saleable items. Any items not suitable for auction can be cleared if required, leaving the property clean and tidy and ready for sale. Transport to the saleroom is charged at £45 per hour including loading, travelling time and unloading.
Charges for Selling at Auction
We offer an extremely competitive commission fee with no unsold fees. Our basic commission rate is 15 % with a £3 lotting fee and a further 1% to cover insurance (all fees are plus VAT). For further details please see our detailed conditions of sale below.
Marketing our sales and Online Bidding
Our fully illustrated online catalogue is placed on the internet at least one week before the auction and live on-line bidding is available here on our website, and via two worldwide bidding platforms Easy Live Auction and The Saleroom
This allows prospective purchasers from around the world to view and bid via the internet at our auctions. This is particularly useful when selling specialist items and high value lots but has now also become the buying method of choice for many busy private buyers, collectors and dealers, even those who live locally.
Smiths are proud to have been one of the earliest small auction rooms to enter the online market and this has helped us build up essential expertise in this service plus a huge number of regular (and occasional) online bidders. We have also worked hard to provide a fantastic supporting postal service. We believe this is essential to attracting a high ratio of online buyers who obviously rely on a reasonably priced and efficient way to receive their purchases. Many salerooms are not able or willing to provide such a service and potential buyers options are far more limited.
In addition, our sales are advertised widely in the local press with extensive editorial output and a targeted Facebook presence. Smiths also have a large database of antique and specialist buyers who receive emails and mailshots related to their interests.
This comprehensive marketing strategy allows full exposure to both private and trade buyers as well as specialist collectors, ensuring the best possible prices are achieved.