DIY Q&A

Q. How do I make a bid at a furniture auction? I’m afraid the auctioneer won’t see me, but I don’t want to make a fool of myself.

A. A clear raise of your rolled-up catalogue for the first bid is ideal. Once you’ve been spotted, a nod of the head for following bids will generally be enough. Have your bidding number ready to give to the auctioneer.

Q. I never seem to find the cheap and cheerful bargain furniture I’m always hearing about when I go to country house sales and auctions. How do I get that great deal?

A. Every sale is unique. Give yourself plenty of time to view and the entire day to bid. In a bog standard antique auction, the beginning is often a quick warm up of middling pieces to get bids flowing and the end is promising as dealers can have filled their vans and spent their funds. It’s about patience, a dash of luck and going to all the sales you can.

Q. Are there used items I should avoid buying at auctions? What if I buy a fake?

A. Secondhand electrical goods must be checked out carefully before use. Anything sold as ‘in the style of’ will not be what it’s pretending to be, and obviously anything damaged will take extra work and investment. Fees at auction can bump up the price on an immovable lump of bargain furniture. Don’t get auction fever for something you haven’t really viewed. It is illegal to sell outright fakes.