Auction Consignment Process
1. Contact Us for an Auction Evaluation
Give us a call to discuss what you are looking to sell, send us an email with good general pictures of your items, or submit through our Estimate Request form. We are seeking property of a value of at least $1,000 or more. We will request additional pictures and information if necessary – or coordinate a visit to see the items in person at our galleries or at your location. We will then provide auction estimates for the pieces that we select to include in our auctions.
2. Agree on the Consignment Terms
We will explain the fees and any costs associated with the consignment. At Simpson Galleries we make it very simple with just a percentage seller’s fee and no additional fees for insurance, photography, marketing, or storage. Your Consignment Agreement paperwork will clearly list the property consigned, auction estimates, reserve prices, and auction dates. Once it is signed and the property is delivered to us – you are all done!
3. Delivery to Simpson Galleries
You can have the items consigned for an upcoming auction delivered to us during normal business hours. We can assist with making pick-up, packing, and shipping arrangements as needed. Remember to make sure your items are insured during transit!
4. Receiving your Items
Once your consignment is received it is inspected, inventoried, photographed, and receives a unique identification number and barcode. There are never storage fees for property that is consigned for auction.
5. Cataloging and Sale Preparations
Our expert catalogers will research and very closely describe your items. If we have questions about the provenance or history, we will let you know. Simpson Galleries’ high quality cataloging and photography are unmatched in the business. Any repairs or restoration work that will help the pieces sell for their utmost will be recommended for your approval. Our professional photographers take multiple pictures of each lot that will all be available online to increase bidder confidence.
6. The Catalog
Simpson Galleries’ print catalogs are available about 3 weeks before the auction. The catalog is also available online on our website and through our partner bidding platforms, which provide an international bidding audience.
7. Preview Exhibition
All of the pieces in the upcoming auction are beautifully presented for preview during our exhibition the week prior to the auction at our galleries in Houston.
8. Marketing the Auction
Significant effort and expense are designated for online and print marketing of each of our auctions. Email notifications are sent to Simpson clients and through the online bidding platforms.
9. Sold!
Our auctioneers introduce each lot in order as listed in the catalog. Advance bids compete with bidders in the room, on the telephone, and with real-time internet bidding until the highest price is accepted by the auctioneer. The sale prices are available immediately through the online bidding platforms.
10. Settlement
Following the auction, invoices are sent to all the winning bidders and payments are collected. We make full payment of all completed sales to our consignors 30 days after the auction by check or wire.
