Auction Real Estate

Antique auction houses aren’t as available or even as appreciated as they once were.

Typically, antique auction houses have a buyer premium that they charge to each seller that comes out of the auction price. Check your local neighborhood for antique auction houses so that you can see what places are near you, and then go out and visit them on auction day.

Antique Auction Houses – Finding the Best Places to Sell and Buy Antiques

Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC

So let’s talk centerpieces.

Benefit auction centerpieces tend to fall into two camps: a “single item” centerpiece versus what I call “the cornucopia” centerpiece. An example of a single item would be a floral centerpiece in a vase.

Assume an auction has a beach theme. The next table has a toy sand bucket filled with toy tools. Sand and seashells might be on all tables, but the larger props create a “tablescape” which will vary from table to table. Each table uses a cornucopia of props!

First, production is usually easier to coordinate for single item centerpieces. If you’re using a professional florist, a single item centerpiece may save you money because it’s easier to execute. If your guests are accustomed to buying or winning the auction centerpieces, offering them a cornucopia option could be a challenge.