Q: Can anyone go to an auction?

A: Yes, all Allen & Marshall Auctions are open to the public.

Q: This is my first auction how do I bid?

A: Step #1 - Register to bid at the office trailer or registration window. You must have a bid number in order to bid .

Step #2 - Determine how much you are willing to pay for the item(s) you are interested in before that item is offered. You may find it handy to write down the item number and a short description along with your "maximum price" in a small spiral notebook or on the back of your bid card.

Step #3 - As the auctioneer progresses in his or her call for bids, simply raise your hand when you want to bid. If you are not sure that the auctioneer or one of his staff has seen your bid attempt, raise your hand again so the auctioneer can acknowledge that your bid has been accepted. Our professional staff keeps track of every bidder and will make sure that you DO NOT BID AGAINST YOURSELF!!

Step #4 - Make sure you know what item you are bidding on. In many cases the bidding progresses quickly and you may accidentally bid on something you do not want or even worse, miss out on the things you do want. If you have any questions, ask the staff immediately so they may assist you in the bidding process.

Q: Do I have to pay for each item that I win after it is handed to me?

A: No. You don't have to pay until you are finished bidding on the items that you are interested in. Just remember to pay before you leave.

Q: Do I have to immediately move an item I was high bidder on?

A: No. You can leave the item there but as the new owner you are responsible for it. We generally have boxes available for you to pack your small items.

Q: Why are auctions so popular?

A: The excitement of competitive bidding combined with the auctioneers chant is part of it, but for most it is the thrill of the hunt. The three elements combined create a level of enthusiasm that only an auction can generate. An auction is unlike any other buying or selling environment.

Q: What is a Buyer's Premium?

A: A Buyer's Premium is a percentage of the high bid that is added to the high bid to establish the final sale price.

A: To insure the auction date you want, the sooner the better. We recommend 6-8 weeks in advance; however, if a date is available we plan and hold many auctions within 1-2 weeks.

Q: Who does the set up of my items for the auction?

A: We offer several options that allow you to do as much or as little as you would like to do. If you would like we can handle everything from start to finish.

Q: What if it rains the day of my auction?

A: We offer complete tent set-up for all of our auctions in case of rain. Contrary to popular belief, sometimes rain will help an auction because people can't do other things. (i.e. mow the lawn, paint the house or go to a ball game).

Q: Will people be running in and out of my house during the auction?

A: This is completely up to you. Unless the house is being sold at auction and people will be previewing your house we can lock your house and no one needs access to your home.

Q: Who handles the advertising?

A: We handle all advertising from start to finish, we do however, if you would like, consult with you and allow your input as to what advertising is used.

Q: How long will my auction last?

A: Auctions vary according to how much you have to sell. We sell an average of 125 items per hour.

Q: Should I clean my items and throw out the trash?

A: Please, Please, Please don't clean anything or throw anything away until you consult with us. Many Items need special cleaning or sell better not being cleaned at all. Time and time again we have sold items for thousands of dollars that were on their way to the trash pile.

PLEASE DON'T THROW ANYTHING AWAY UNTIL WE HAVE TALKED TO YOU!! REMEMBER ONE PERSONS TRASH IS ANOTHER PERSONS TREASURE! WE RECENTLY SOLD AN ADVERTISING FLY SWATTER FOR $275.00 THAT THE OWNER HAD THROWN IN THE TRASH BEFORE TALKING TO US.