Top ten mistakes new auctioneers make acquiring big lots

Upon the acquisition of a lot for this week's Barre, MA auction, and removing the contents of the basement, I reflected on some of big mistakes I made earlier in my career. Here are my top ten biggest mistakes I made as a new auctioneer when acquiring large lots:

1. over-valuing the contents
2. under estimating the amount of labor needed to perform the job
3. under estimating the costs associated: IE dumpster fees, trucking etc
4. not having the proper packing supplies
5. not securing the delicate items
6. not taking the most valuable items out of the location first
7. not spelling out clearly enough to the consignor or seller, exactly what I expected/they expected to be included in the deal
8. not taking pictures of the items in their habitat
9. not logging the process
10. not putting the deal on paper, and getting it signed before beginning the job

Remove the most valuable items right away.

Are there more mistakes I've made earlier on? Absolutely, and I'll write about them in future blog posts!