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Selling at Auction - 5 tips for turning your clutter into cash

Writer's picture: Jo HallJo Hall

Finally after more than twenty years, I took a bottle of 38 year old cognac to my local auction house 🙌

I won it as a prize at Burleigh Horse Trials in about 1995 🏇 🐴

You might be wondering why I held on to it for so long?


A man wearing a tie is points in font of him with his left hand. His right hand holds a gavel. In font of him is a clip board and wads of bank notes. He is selling items at auction.
Selling at Auction

I kept my vintage cognac for or a mixture of reasons:


I guess I thought that someone might drink it, possibly a guest at Christmas, or I could pass it on to a family member.

I knew that it would probably increase in value.

Until 2016 it was sitting in my parents' drinks cabinet, so it was largely forgotten about.

Until a couple of years ago, I had a big kitchen with lots of cupboards, so I didn't feel as though it was taking up valuable space.




What changed, was that we downsized and I no longer wanted to give cupboard space to a bottle that we were never going to drink.

I simply didn't want to store it any longer.

This is a bottle of vintage Remy Martin XO cognac.
Remy Martin XO Cognac

Here are a few things to keep in mind when selling at auction: 


  • Research Auction Houses: Google auction houses in your local area. Look for one that specialise in the type of item(s) you want to sell.


  • Item Valuation: Have a realistic understanding of the value of your items(s). Get an independent valuation or research online to gauge market worth. Checking for similar items, that have recently sold on eBay, can be a good starting point.


  • Auction Fees: Keep in mind that auction houses typically charge a commission fee, based on the final selling price of the item(s) (often a percentage). Decide upfront if you are happy to accept this fee.


  • Item Presentation: Ensure your items look their best for the valuation. Take clear photos and provide accurate descriptions. Email your auction house, attaching the photos. Ask them if they would be interested in selling the item on your behalf. They should be able to give you an indication of whether or not your item is likely to sell and an estimate of the price it is likely to fetch. They will also be able to tell you the date of next sale, of the type of item you want to sell (in this case the bottle went into a "Wine & Spirits" auction). Once you are aware of the schedule (and when they would need the item by, for it to be included), you can plan to drop it off at the auction house.


  • Be Selective: Be discerning about what you sell at the auction. Some items may be better suited to other selling platforms such as Ebay, donating to charity (or a museum), or passing on to loved ones.


I didn't get a huge amount of money for my bottle, it was around £65, but it was a win for me, as it had been taking up cupboard for 38 years and we don't drink cognac!


Have you got something sitting in your cupboard that you could send to an auction and turn into cash? Or perhaps you have a good selling at auction story, or some tips?

Please add a Comment to this blog post, I'd love to hear from you.



Jo Hall is a Professional Home Organiser and Clutter Free Living expert with over six years experience 🏠

If you would love to have a really good sort out but don't know where to start, or maybe you've made a great start with it, but have since lost your way, Jo can help!

Jo works online with clients worldwide 🌍 via 1:1 sessions, DIY resources and group courses 👩‍💻 Guiding overwhelmed people to break free from the burden of stuff.

Reply with the words "CHAT" to fix up a no obligation chat about your project.

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