Buyers
There are a few important things to know about buying at auction before you begin. We encourage you to read our Conditions of Sale carefully prior to bidding at one of our auctions.
Our auctions are free and open to the public. Watching an auction live is a great way to become familiar with the auction process. We invite to you attend one of our upcoming auctions and if you have any questions please feel free to ask us for guidance.
Before every auction photographs of each item are available via our website. Click Sneak Peek to see what’s on offer. Printed catalogues are also available from our warehouses on Fridays prior to an auction. You may also like to join our mailing list.
Our catalogues provide descriptions for each lot. A lot may refer to a single item or to a group of items auctioned together.
Some lots in a catalogue are subject to a “reserve”. The reserve is the minimum price that the seller is willing to accept for a lot. This amount is strictly confidential.
Auction previews are your chance to inspect each lot prior to the auction. We encourage you to come along during opening hours on Fridays or Saturday mornings to look closely at each item you may want to bid on. All items are sold “as is”. Photographs in our catalogues, website and other materials are provided for identification only. When viewing an item we encourage you to examine it closely for defects, scratches or faults. We provide power points to enable you to check electrical items are in good working order. We accept no liability for damaged or defective goods. Once an item is sold it cannot be returned.
At Expat Auctions, you can bid in many ways: in person, via absentee bid, or over the phone.
If you would like to bid, you will be asked to fill out a bidder registration form (details including name, photo ID, bank or credit card information & address will be collected) and you will be given a bidder card with your personal bidder number on it. By bidding at auction, whether in person or by agent, by absentee bid, telephone or other means, the buyer or bidder agrees to be bound by our Conditions of Sale.
To place a bid, hold up your card so that the auctioneer can clearly see it. Decide on the maximum amount that you wish to pay, exclusive of buyers premium, and continue bidding until your bid prevails or you reach your limit. If you are the successful bidder on a lot, the auctioneer will acknowledge your bidder number and bid amount.
Absentee bidding
If you are unable to attend the auction personally simply fill out an Absentee Bids form or e-mail us the lot number you wish to bid on and the maximum price you’re prepared to pay and we will ensure your confidential, absentee bid is presented to our auctioneer.
In the event identical bids are submitted, the earliest bid submitted will take precedence. Absentee bids shall be executed in competition with other absentee bids, any applicable reserve, and bids from other auction participants. A friend or agent may place bids on your behalf, provided that we have received your written authorisation prior to the sale.
Absentee bid forms are also from our auction room.
Please email absentee bids to zoe@expatauctions.com.sg and please be sure to quote your bidder number when placing an absentee bid.
Phone Bidding
Phone bidding is available on certain lots. A representative from Expat Auctions will call you from the auction room several minutes before the item you are interested in is offered for sale. The representative will talk you through the auction and ask you when and at what increments you would like to bid. Because we must schedule employees to be available in the auction to phone bid with you, please register at least 24 hours in advance of the auction. You may download one of our phone bidding forms or pick up a copy from our auction house. We do not accept phone bids for lots with a low estimate of less than $100 and may not accept any bids on the day of the sale.
All sales are final and subject to our Conditions of Sale found on the back of the form.
We require 24 hours prior notice before an auction should you wish to place an absentee bid or bid by phone.
There is no online bidding.
We assume no responsibility for failure to execute bids for any reason whatsoever.
Once you have bid successfully on a piece please go to our office to receive your invoice.
A Buyers premium of 10% of the hammer price is payable for each lot sold.
We accept payment via cash, VISA, Mastercard and cheque (made out to Expat Auctions Pte Ltd). Please note that payment made by cheque may result in property not being released until purchase funds clear. No GST is payable.
Once payment has been made in full you can collect your lot immediately or arrange for delivery.
All items left on the premises one week after the auction may incur storage and other fees.
