Auction FAQ · Straight answers before bidding or selling

Online auction questions and answers

Use this page for the common questions. For a live auction or signed engagement, the event terms and agreement provide the controlling details.

By Darrien Eouse, Florida auctioneer AU#453512 minute reference
For buyersBids, totals, pickup, shipping
For sellersFit, terms, process, settlement
For professionalsAuthority, scope, records

Buyers want to know what a bid will really cost and how they will receive a lot. Sellers want to know whether the property fits, who does the work, what the agreement covers, and when settlement happens. Professionals need a clear record of authority, scope, deadlines, and responsibilities.

These answers describe Bidding Is Open’s general process and common auction practice. Live catalog terms control a specific event, and the signed consignment agreement controls a specific seller engagement.

Practical checklist

Start with the right source

The fastest answer often depends on whether the question is about a live lot, a completed purchase, or property being considered for sale.

  • Live lot or bidding question: include the auction title and lot number
  • Invoice, pickup, or shipping question: include the buyer name, auction, and invoice or bidcard information
  • Seller question: include property type, volume, location, representative photos, and timing
  • Estate or fiduciary question: include your role, authority, decision-maker, records, and deadlines
  • Business question: include asset categories, site, access, restrictions, decision-maker, and clear-out date

Step by step

How to get a useful answer

A complete first message helps the question reach the right process without unnecessary back-and-forth.

  1. Name the situation

    Say whether you are bidding, paying, arranging fulfillment, offering a collection, representing an estate, or planning a business asset sale.

  2. Add the identifiers

    Provide the auction and lot number for buyer questions, or the property location, categories, volume, and authority for seller questions.

  3. State the decision or deadline

    Explain what answer you need, what it will affect, and when the decision, closing, move, lease, estate, or pickup deadline occurs.

  4. Use the correct response

    For event rules, rely on the live catalog. For accepted property, rely on the signed agreement. For professional issues, involve the qualified advisor responsible for that issue.

Buyer questions

Before and after a winning bid

Read every image, the full lot description, and all event terms before bidding. Your complete expected cost should include the bid, buyer’s premium, applicable tax, and a realistic fulfillment plan.

After a win, follow the invoice promptly. Pickup is by confirmed appointment in Ocoee. Shipping is quoted separately at actual cost with no markup and submitted for approval before the shipping charge is collected.

Seller questions

Fit comes before terms

The first review considers property type, volume, condition, expected bidder interest, records, location, logistics, authority, timing, and workload. Not every item or situation is a good auction fit.

Fees and responsibilities are engagement-specific and belong in the signed consignment agreement. A website inquiry does not accept property, create an appraisal, authorize a sale, or guarantee a result.

Professional questions

Authority and documentation come first

Estate representatives, fiduciaries, attorneys, advisors, and business decision-makers should identify the authorized seller, decision process, records, property scope, exclusions, location, access, and deadlines.

Bidding Is Open can define an auction scope and document the sale process. It does not replace legal, tax, fiduciary, accounting, environmental, insolvency, real estate, insurance, or certified appraisal advice.

Pause before proceeding

Common trouble spots

A clear pause is usually cheaper than repairing a catalog, ownership, condition, privacy, safety, or logistics problem later.

  • A live-lot question without the auction title or lot number
  • A seller inquiry that shows only one highlight and hides the overall volume or condition
  • An estate or business request that does not identify the authorized decision-maker
  • A last-minute question whose answer would have changed the bid, agreement, or site plan

Questions and answers

What people ask next

For a specific event or engagement, use the live catalog, written terms, agreement, and direct response from the responsible person.

Where do I bid in a Bidding Is Open auction?

Bidding takes place through the current Bidding Is Open catalogs on HiBid. Use the live catalog to confirm whether an event is active, register, review terms, and place bids.

What is the buyer’s premium?

It is a percentage or fee added to the hammer price. Bidding Is Open’s current standing policy is 18%, but the exact event advertisement and catalog must state the percentage that applies.

When is a winning invoice charged?

Under the standing process, the card associated with bidder registration is automatically charged for a valid winning invoice after close, with settlement expected within 72 hours. The live event terms control the specific auction.

Can I pick up my purchase?

Yes. Pickup is by confirmed appointment at 217 Capitol Ct in Ocoee, Florida. Follow the auction and invoice instructions before traveling; the location is not an open retail pickup counter.

Do you ship auction purchases?

Yes. Shipping is available on all lots under the standing policy, subject to the specific lot and event terms. It is quoted separately at actual cost with no markup and sent for approval before the shipping charge is collected.

What property do you consider for consignment?

We review porcelain and neon signs, advertising collectibles, automobilia, focused collections, business inventory and equipment, estate property, and other distinctive personal property. Fit depends on the full situation.

Do you publish one consignment rate?

No. Terms are quoted for the engagement after the property, estimated value, location, logistics, timing, and cataloging workload are understood. The written agreement explains the applicable fees and responsibilities.

Does a seller inquiry place property into an auction?

No. It begins a review only. It is not an appraisal, acceptance, agency agreement, statutory consignment agreement, or authorization to advertise or sell property.

Can you work with an estate representative or attorney?

Yes. The inquiry should identify the role, authority, decision-maker, property, location, records, deadlines, and any reporting needs so a possible auction scope can be evaluated.

Do you guarantee auction results?

No. Results depend on the property, condition, documentation, bidder participation, competition, market conditions, terms, timing, and logistics. A prior price, asking price, appraisal, or estimate is not a guaranteed result.

How do I contact Bidding Is Open?

Use the website contact or seller form, email help@biddingisopen.com, or call (689) 500-9492. Include the auction and lot number for a bidder question or the property location and overview for a seller question.

Still need a specific answer?

Send the details that identify the right process

Include the auction and lot for a buyer question, or the property type, location, volume, authority, photographs, and timing for a seller or professional inquiry.