Selling at Bonhams & Goodman

 

Bonhams & Goodman can help you every step of the way when you are ready to sell art, collectors' cars, antiques, and collectible items at auction. Our regional offices and representatives in Melbourne, South Australia and Western Australia are available to service all your needs. For more information, contact client services at info.aus@bonhams.com or call us at +61 (0) 2 9327 9900. We have organised the selling process, called Consignment at Bonhams & Goodman, into the following steps:

Appraisals

The first step in the auction process is to determine the auction value of your property. Bonhams & Goodmans' world-renowned specialists will evaluate your special items at no charge and in complete confidence.

Appraisal Appointments

Bonhams & Goodman specialists conduct insurance and fair market value appraisals for private collectors, corporations, museums, fiduciaries and government entities on a daily basis. Insurance appraisals, used for insurance purposes, reflect the cost of replacing property in today's retail market. Fair market value appraisals are used for estate, tax, and family division purposes and reflect prices paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller. An auction estimate reflects our expert opinion as to what amount an individual item may be expected to sell for in a specific sale on a specific date. This estimate, expressed in a low/high range of dollar amounts, is reached after the specialist compares prices realized for similar items in recent auctions and other sales venues. Other factors that guide the setting of estimates include the condition, rarity, provenance and market potential of the item. Estimates are not guarantees that the object will sell within the published range, but are intended to provide general guidelines for buyers and sellers and to stimulate competitive bidding.

The fair market value appraisal reflects the value of an object given the current auction market. An insurance appraisal reflects the cost to replace an object in the current retail market. Fees for formal appraisals are based on hourly rates for specialists and travel where applicable. Please see the Appraisals page for more information.

Consignment Appraisals via Photograph

If you are interested in consigning, you may send in photographs of the items you wish to consign for appropriate evaluation. Please note, this service is for consignment only. Clear photographs of each individual item, including dimensions and other pertinent information is expected. Send marked envelope "Photo Auction Estimate" to the nearest Bonhams & Goodman location.

Alternatively, you can submit your digital photos and item details online. Fill out this form and submit. Please limit images to not more than five (5) of each item. Contact us for assistance at info.aus@bonhams.com if further instruction is needed.

Trust and Estate Services

Bonhams & Goodman has been serving the needs of fiduciaries - lawyers, trust officers, accountants and executors - in the disposition of large and small estates. Our services are specially designed to aid in the appraisal and disposition of fine art, antiques, jewellery, and collectibles. We offer a full range of estate services ranging from flexible financial terms to tailored accounting for heirs and their agents to world-class marketing and sales support.

Auction Method

Ready to Consign?

After you receive an estimate, you may consign your property to us for sale in the next appropriate auction. Depending on the category and price point of your property, it will be consigned to one of our sales.

Fine Sales

The fine sales at Bonhams & Goodman are traditional auctions. Each collecting category holds three to four fine sales a year include property which represents what is most desirable and unique in the current market. We produce museum quality catalogues for our fine sales, which remain a very useful as a market and educational resource. These catalogues feature colour images, detailed descriptions of the objects and their provenance where applicable. Our fine sales have a public preview period. Lecture or special events are often hosted in conjunction with these auctions.

Advertising & Marketing

Once you sign a consignment contract for the sale of your property in a Bonhams & Goodman auction, we begin marketing it to the greatest number of potential buyers. After scheduling your property in the most appropriate upcoming auction, your objects will then be catalogued as lots for our print and online catalogue. Depending on our arrangement, your property will be then be professionally photographed.

We create an extensive marketing plan for each auction which includes direct mail, advertising, online promotion, lectures, special events, merchandising, and a public preview. Most of our fine sales are posted online so Bonhams & Goodman has unique access to millions of Internet auction buyers.

Confidential Reserves

For each of your items, you will work with our specialists to set a minimum price, or reserve, below which your objects will not be sold. This reserve price will be held in strictest confidence. If bidding ceases before your reserve price has been met, the lot will be bought-in, or passed, by the auctioneer or you may have the property returned to you or you may choose to re-offer it in a future auction.

Auction Sales Commissions & Fees

We will assist you throughout the auction process, providing a detailed inventory of your consignment and prices realised for each lot. We provide on-site storage for your property in our warehouse, and all items are insured through-out the auction process. You will receive payment for your property approximately 28 days after the completion of sale. Our standard commission rates are as follows: Sales commissions vary based on the hammer price of your property and are netted from gross proceeds.
Exclusive of GST

Australian, International, Fine Aboriginal & Photographic Art

12% commission and $180 per lot offer fee*

Bay East Art

12% commission and $40 per lot offer fee*

Decorative Arts

12% commission and $100 per lot (furniture) offer fee*
12% commission and $50 per lot (other items) offer fee*

Fine Jewellery

12% commission and $30 per lot offer fee*

Affordable Jewellery

12% commission and $10 per lot offer fee*

Motor Cars, Motor Cycles, Boats

12% commission and offer fee as agreed with the department*

Collectables, Automobilia, Books

12% commission and $30 per lot offer fee*

Insurance Fee: (Mandatory with the exception of Motor Cars)

1.5% of each lot's hammer price

* Offer fee is payable irrespective of outcome of sale

After the Sale

Timely Payment to Consignors after the Auction Twenty Eight (28) days after the completion of the sale of any property we will pay you the net proceeds received and collected from the sale of property after deducting our commission and any other expenses, fees and charges due hereunder or required by law, provided that no claim has been made against any of the property or proceeds of sale and further provided that the buyer has not given notice of intent to rescind the sale.

If your item does not sell at auction we will mail you a letter before our settlement date asking if you would like to have your property returned to you or if you would like to re-offer it in an upcoming auction. If you should choose to re-offer your property you will be given the opportunity to readjust estimates or reserves.