Local auction houses can be a treasure trove of bargains if you’re in need of some new furniture, as long as you’re willing to spend some time studying the catalog beforehand.
You can find your nearest auction house at UKauctioneers.comas well as a list of online auctions worth checking out.
Tracy Martin, an expert on collectibles and antiques, advises: ‘Brown furniture is very cheap right now – the Victoriana, heavy furniture and also pieces from the 1920s, as long as they don’t scream ‘art deco’ because that often costs money . Lake.
“The mid-century stuff is very popular (60s and 70s), but you can still get some bargains. Period tables and chairs are a good choice, plus glassware and ceramics that aren’t that expensive.’
Local auction houses can be a treasure trove of bargains if you’re in need of some new furniture, as long as you’re willing to spend some time studying the catalog ahead of time
However, she cautions that it’s important to know what you’re doing and get used to auction rooms before bidding on anything.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of bidding and buy something unsuitable and overpriced.
“I have a few rules,” she says. “Go to the viewing so you can see the item for yourself the way you like it, and you can also make sure there is no damage. The auctioneers can give you more information about the backstory.’
You can also do a lot of research online. Using The-saleroom.com, you can browse items for sale at auctions across the country.
Click for the handy guide here.
In the sales room you can request a condition report of everything you are interested in. You can bid online on live auctions.
But if you’re just starting out, you better attend some in-person sales first.
Tracy suggests browsing job boards to find the real bargains. “Items like glassware and framed pictures are put on lots,” she says.
‘The auctioneers don’t have time to check everything. If you poke around, you can pick up a bargain.’
Unless you’re looking for things to resell for a profit, it’s a good idea to have a list of things you want before going to an auction to avoid the temptation to bid on items alone but because they are there and seem cheap.
An auction can be like the January sales or Black Friday: it’s way too easy to get carried away!
Good auction houses publish an online catalog before a sale so you can see what’s on offer and decide what you want to bid on and how much you’re willing to pay.
When looking at an expensive and/or valuable item, it’s important to look at things like sales history, previous owners, and even seek advice from an expert.
You should also ask questions such as how they set the price.
As soon as you buy at auction, you become aware of the additional costs. You usually need to register in order to bid. Some are free to register; others charge a fee.
And of course auction houses charge commission, so the ‘hammer price’ is not the final amount.
Most auctioneers add 15-20 percent commission plus tax. So check the cost against your budget.
If you’re looking for a new bike, computer, or even a piece of jewelry, police auctions can be worth checking out.
Here the armed forces sell recovered stolen goods where they could not find the owners.
Traditionally, people have gone to Bumblebee auctions for this. These used to be in person, but they’ve increasingly moved online.
The offers seem a bit erratic and you need to register with Nochex and link it to your bank account for a fee of £3 before you can bid.
Or check Auction-Detective.com for current police auctions.
When I looked there was an electric hybrid bike for £97, a Ford Ranger 2017 headlight for £6 and a cordless circular saw for £52.
Check the location of the police that listed the items as most are pick up only.
Once you get the hang of it, you may want to try more speculative events, such as storage unit auctions.
These are cases where storage space tenants are not paying or the units have been vacated. Some contain garbage, but others have furniture or even cars.
Sales can be a bit hit and miss. Auctioneers will take a picture of the contents, but they are usually not very detailed so you may need to dot.
If you win a unit, you have to take everything in it and clean it up yourself, so you may need a van, especially if the unit is full.
Websites like baggage auctions.nl and corbyselfstorage.co.uk have details about storage auctions.
Do you have a question for Jasmine? Email her Ask [email protected].
Book now, pay later for summer holidays
Do you want to book a holiday, but are your finances still in a pinch because of Christmas? Then consider these ways to spread the cost of your vacation.
Many major travel companies allow you to pay a deposit to secure your booking, giving you a few months to pay off the difference.
Ask the tour operator or hotel company if they offer this service when you book. Tui also advertises £0 or holidays with a very low three month deposit to pay the balance by direct debit.
The book-now-pay-later scheme is a cost-effective way to book your holiday. Please note that it only offers this option for holidays booked well in advance.
So if you book today it will be for August holidays and beyond. All the information you need is on it website.
Many major travel companies allow you to pay a deposit to secure your booking, giving you a few months to pay off the difference
Adventure travel company Rat Race offers clients the option to pay via a monthly installment plan and an option to pay interest-free over as many months as you need.
Apparently 72 per cent of its customers pay monthly with average payments starting at £41.67.
Finally, one more warning. There are apps that pop up when you search online with terms like “fly now, pay later.”
They offer you the chance to buy a single-use card to book your trip and then set your own repayment plan. But they can charge up to 42 percent APR.
If you are tempted by something like this, always read the fine print to see what the additional costs are.
£5 FREE petrol at Morrisons this week
Vodafone is offering customers £5 worth of petrol for free at Morrisons this week. Get the discount code via the Vodafone rewards app VeryMe and present it at a Morrisons petrol station to get the free fuel.
Also at Morrisons, Weight Watchers is offering ready-to-eat WW meals with less than 400 calories per meal for £2.50 until tomorrow.
Meanwhile, everyone at ASDA can take advantage of the seven-day meal plan for a family of four for £20.
The meal plans include sausage and mash, frittata, and tuna pasta. Customers can also follow the recipes on the ASDA Good Living website.
Get 20 percent off warm and cozy items from Kudd.ly, like weighted blankets, hoodie blankets, and heated slippers.
Simply use code MAIL20 at checkout. Only one voucher code can be used per order. Offer is valid until February 4.
Get 20 percent off warm and cozy items from Kudd.ly, like weighted blankets, hoodie blankets, and heated slippers
Caboodle is offering 100 people the chance to get a free copy of Stacey Thomas’ debut novel The Revels before its official release in July.
Perfect for fans of Laura Purcell and Bridget Collins, all you need to be in with a chance of winning a free copy is click on this link and enter your name and address.
Car manufacturer Dacia is offering a free ‘Heated Seat Saviour’ hot water bottle to car owners who visit one of its showrooms between February 1 and 2.
It has outlets in Staples Corner in London, in Manchester and one in Swansea.