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Professional Moving Company Gives Tips on How to Safely Transport Antiques

HodginsSafely Transport Antiques

Only recently have people began to move several times in the span of their lives. Antiques were not made with portability in mind, and this can make moving them from one home to another a difficult task. These tips will help you safely handle your antique items when you begin life in a new home.

1. Hire a Professional Moving Company

The best way to ensure your antiques are moved in the safest possible way is to hire professional movers. This is not always possible, and sometimes you do not want to let a special piece out of your sight. With expensive antique items, you want to make absolutely sure that the movers know what they’re doing. Make sure you use a trusted source, like these movers in SF that have years of industry experience with high-valued items.

2. Get Appraisals

Before you begin to pack, hire an expert to examine your antique items and give them a current value. You may need more than one appraiser as they tend to have niche areas of expertise.

3. Take Photographs

Take the time to photograph each of your antiques from several angles. Your photographs should perfectly capture the condition of each piece.

4. Check Your Insurance Policy

Contact your insurance company to take out a special policy for any damage that may occur during the move. Typically, you can add a rider to your homeowner’s policy to cover fine art and antiques. Be sure to study any special conditions of the policy and strictly adhere to them.

5. Soft Packing

When you began to pack, Cheap Movers Los Angeles, a California moving & storage company, says you want to ensure that the layer of packing material directly against your antique item is soft. A sheet of cotton batting or a moving blanket will prevent scratching and denting.

6. Add More Padding

When it comes to your oldest items, you can never have enough padding. Layer your antiques with blankets, paper, cardboard and bubble wrap until you are satisfied they are adequately padded.

7. Dismantle the Furniture

If you have antique furniture that can be broken down into different parts without damaging the item, you should take it apart and pack each piece separately. This is especially helpful when moving furniture or antiques that have protruding legs or porcelain with multiple parts, like a candy dish with a lid.

8. Protect Any Glass

If you are transporting a piece of furniture with windows, such as a cabinet, be sure to protect the glass with a sheet of cardboard before you add the first layer of padding. This gives the glass more strength and prevents breakage.

9. Be Careful with Tape

Antiques often have easily damaged finishes, lacquers or glazes. Packing tape will ruin these surfaces if it gets stuck on them. Be sure your antiques are fully covered before you wrap them in tape.

10. Take Care Small Antiques

When packing particularly small antique items, be sure to make the last layer a brightly colored one. This will prevent the item from becoming lost among all the loose packing.

11. Choose Your Box Carefully

Skip your standard cardboard box, and go for a carton with at least two walls. The extra walls will absorb the energy from shaking and jostling.

12. Label Everything

Carefully label each box and carton, and record it on an inventory list. You should keep this list with you for the entirety of the move.

13. Get Assistance

Do not try to move large pieces alone. Be sure that bulky furniture is handled by four or more people.

14. Don’t Rush

Don’t rush the moving of your antique items. Slow and steady is the best way to transport these valuable items.

15. Double Check the Inventory

As your items are being unloaded, check everything off against your inventory list to be sure everything arrives. If something is missing, you will know it quickly and be able to pinpoint a likely location accurately.

7 Things You Should Know About Residential Real Estate Auctions

HodginsAuction Houses

With rising market prices and competitive property listings, purchasing a home at a residential auction can be a smart move for first-time buyers. But before you attend an event or bid on a house, here are seven things that you should know about the real estate auction process.

1. Decide Which Type of Auction to Attend

Before attending an auction, you’ll need to figure out which type of real estate auction is best for you: a foreclosure, a tax lien, or a trustee. While each of these types of auctions is similar, their differences can significantly impact the price. Foreclosure auctions start at the amount of money that is still owed on the property loan. A tax lien will begin at the balance due to the tax authority. And a trustee auction can range from loan balances to market value for the starting price of a house.

2. Learn the Auction Requirements

Depending on the type of auction being held or the company hosting the event, you may be required to place a down payment on a property before bidding. This is a “good faith” action that shows the auction company that you’re sincerely interested in purchasing the home if you have the winning bid. And to avoid any miscommunication or confusion at an event, make sure to research the terms of the sale and the down payment requirements beforehand so that there are no surprises.

3. Do Your Homework

Along with researching the terms of sale, take some time to learn about the area where the property is located before attending its auction. Be sure to also look at other property values, the condition of the area, and local schools and businesses as well. And since auctions are announced 30-90 days before the actual sale date, you’ll have plenty of time to base your bid price according to the information that you gather.

4. Have Financing in Place

While some auction companies allow you 30-45 days to secure funding and pay the balance of a home, there are many companies and government entities that require payment in full within a 7-10 days time. To secure a home that you successfully win at an auction, it’s always best to have funding or financing in place. This can also allow you to know exactly how high you can bid at an auction without going over your budget.

5. Survey the Property

In most cases, properties at auctions are offered ‘as-is,’ meaning that any repairs, flaws, or defects are the responsibility of the new owner. Additionally, those who purchase the property can be required to bring the house up to code. To avoid any unwelcome surprises when buying a home, be sure to survey the property that you want to bid on and take into account the amount of money involved in making any necessary repairs

6. Don’t Forget Additional Fees

In addition to the final auction price, there can be extra costs involved with transferring and securing a property title, including taxes and auction fees. Be sure to keep these additional costs in mind before you bid on a house so that you can easily cover these expenses once you purchase the property.

7. Try a Practice Run

Before actively participating in an auction, try attending a few to see how the process works. Many of these events move at a rapid pace, and knowing what to expect can help you to bid and make a purchase on a property with confidence.

Thanks to our friends at Cheap Movers Kansas City (website | twitter) for putting this helpful list of residential auction tips together. If you’re in the market for affordable movers in the greater Kansas City area, give this company a call. They are KC’s low price leader for quality moving services and can help you get swiftly moved into your new home, whether it’s one you purchased through an auction or just off the MLS.

What to Know About Buying a Car at Auction

HodginsAuto Auctions

Buying a car at an auction is a great way to save money. In fact, many people run their own businesses by flipping cars that they’ve purchased at an auction. But auctions are very different from purchasing a vehicle at a dealership; there are a lot of things that can go wrong if you don’t do things the right away. Here are a few things that you need to know.

You Need to Pay For (And Take) the Car Right Away

When you purchase a car at an auction, you need to be able to pay immediately and you need to be able to take the car off the lot. If the car isn’t currently in operable condition, you’ll need to tow it or use an auto shipping company, like Great Guys or UShip. Otherwise, you need a licensed driver with you. Payments at auction houses generally need to be in the form of cash or money orders, so make sure you have adequate funds beforehand.

You Need to Be Able to Identify Large Problems

You don’t get a lot of time to inspect the cars at an auction. Generally, you’re able to look at the vehicles for a short amount of time before the auction starts. If you aren’t a mechanic yourself, it’s a good idea to bring one with you. They’ll be able to help you avoid the most significant issues.

Unfortunately, the most expensive issues to fix in a car tend to be the least visible. A blown engine, bad transmission, busted head casket, or malfunctioning air conditioning compressor could all cost thousands of dollars to fix. A good mechanic will be able to identify these things within a few minutes of operating the vehicle; a regular driver might not.

You Need to Know the Real Value of a Car

What goes into the value of an auctioned car? The same factors as any used car: make, model, year, odometer reading, and general condition. The challenge is that you have very little time to determine this during the auction itself. But the good news is that you often don’t have to.

Many car auction sites will list the vehicles that they have for auction far in advance. You can then look up the Kelley Blue Book prices or True Car value of these vehicles at your leisure. Keep thorough notes regarding the cars and you can avoid getting locked into a bidding war that greatly exceeds the marketable value of the vehicle.

You Need to Handle Legal Matters

Most people aren’t purchasing a car at an auction to use — they’re purchasing it to resell. If you’re reselling cars, you should be aware that you can only resell a certain number of cars per year before you need to get a dealership license. And even if you’re purchasing the car to use, you should still make sure that there are no holds on your license and that you can easily register the vehicle under your name.

An auction for a vehicle is just as high stakes as an auction for anything else. But if you know a lot about cars — and are willing to take some chances — you can often get a tremendous deal on cars, far below market price.

 

Moving Soon? Top 5 Reasons to Consider Selling Your Things at Auction

HodginsFrom the Auction Blog

If you’re one of the millions of Americans facing a move this year, you might want to consider disposing of all that extra furniture rather than dragging it along with you. Purging before you move is a great idea, especially if you’re downsizing, wanting to buy new décor, or simply don’t feel like moving everything with you. While many homeowners resort to yard sales, classifieds, or Craigslist to dispose of their unwanted possessions before a move, few consider the auction house. If you’re one of those who has never considered selling at auction, here are some pretty compelling reasons you might want to give it a try:

1. Auctions Ensure You Sell at Market Rates

If you have antiques, art, or collectibles, an auction is a great way to unload your things, while still getting paid a fair price. Often, when homeowners use other avenues to sell their things, they end up parting with their items for less than the fair value. Auction house customers aren’t the typical buyers you’d find rummaging through a garage sale or digging through the Saturday morning classifieds to find the best deal. Our customers are on the whole knowledgeable private and commercial collectors, who know what they are looking for and understand the value of your prized possessions. Before auction day, customers are able to preview items so they know exactly what’s for sale and are prepared to purchase those items that pique their interest. When selling at auction, you can be assured that the winning bid will reflect the highest possible price that can be commanded from an informed and intelligent audience.

2. You Can Set a Reserve Price

As a seller in the auction process, you can always set a reserve price, which is the minimum amount you are willing to accept from a bidder. If the item doesn’t sell for the reserve price you set, you don’t have to sell at all. This way, there’s practically no risk in putting your things on the auction block.

3. Bidders are Pre-Qualified

Auction bidders are pre-qualified to ensure their ability to close the deal once they win a bid. Verification of a bidder’s funds and provision of deposit are mandatory. As the Mississippi Auctioneers Association points out, with these bidder requirements in place, you can be assured of the seriousness of the participating bidders.

4. Transparency Encourages Buyer Participation

Without total transparency, both the buyer and seller can be wary of entering into an agreement. For instance, if you’ve ever purchased something off of Craigslist, you probably understand the reservations that come with buying something off the internet. With an auction, there is total transparency for all parties involved. The seller passes their items off the auction house, so they don’t have to personally deal with the transaction. Potential buyers are able to browse the items in person before they buy, and again deal with the auction house to determine payment and delivery. The total transparency of the auction is a win-win-win for all parties involved.

5. You Can Move Long Distance for Less

If you sell your items before you move, you’ll pay less for the moving services! According to this large Texas mover, all interstate moves are priced according to the weight of the shipment. On average, it costs about a dollar per pound to move your things (more or less depending on the distance you’re going). If you think about how heavy larger items are, like couches, armoires, wardrobes, and coffee tables, you could end up paying a lot to move things you really don’t want or need. Instead, why not make money off them so you have extra cash to spend on new things at your next place?!

6. Auctions are Effective

If you’re in the middle of moving, then you likely want to cash in your property as efficiently and effectively as possible, while still getting a good price. When you sell at auction, you’ll find all of these things are possible. You can rely on our professional expertise to get the job done!

 

 

A Guide to New York City’s Best Known Auction Houses

A Guide to New York City’s Best Known Auction Houses

HodginsAuction Houses

If you want to watch the captains of industry and art collectors from all over the world battle it out over fine art sales, then New York is where you need to be.  The epicenter of fine art in America holds some of the most expensive and thrilling art auctions in the world. High-priced fine art isn’t something that often passes through the doors of Hodgins, so we love the thrill of going to NYC to watch these multi-million dollar sales take place. From Sotheby’s to Bonham’s here’s a guide to the best known auction houses in New York City.

New York City Auction Houses

Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s is one of the most reputable and historical auction houses in the world. Founded in London before the United States was even a country, this famed auction house has sold everything from Napoleon’s library to a 100.1 carat diamond, The Star of the Season. In 1955, Sotheby’s hopped the pond to open another location in New York City close to Wall Street. Today, Sotheby’s North American headquarters sits at 1334 York Avenue amidst the desirable addresses of Manhattan’s Lenox Hill and the Upper East Side. Even if you can’t afford the pricey goods up for auction, it’s still fun to sit in the audience, or better yet, to attend one of the preview days leading up to the sale. During the preview, anyone may view the auction lot and get up-close-and-personal with some of the greatest artwork in the world. With more than 100 high-profile auctions every year at just the NYC location, there are plenty of opportunities to attend a Sotheby’s auction.

Christie’s

Like its best-known counterpart, Christie’s was also founded by a British gentleman during the 18th century in London. Christie’s NYC salesroom at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Midtown Manhattan is just one of 12 worldwide. Offering 350 auctions annually, Christie’s sells everything from fine wine to renowned paintings, but specializes in Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, and Old Masters artwork. In 2015, the famed auction house set a new record when it sold Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger for $179.4 million, the highest price ever for a painting sold at auction. Though the buyer wasn’t even present for the bidding, it was later revealed that the high bidder was former prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.

Bonhams

Despite the fact that Christie’s and Sotheby’s are the two most well-known names in the art auction world, they do occasionally see some competition, particularly when it comes to more contemporary works. Established in London in 1793, Bonhams is the foremost auction house for auto auctions in Europe, as well as in London jewelry sales. Bonhams has also made waves in the art world, and has specialists on-staff that cover every major area of art and collectibles. It’s also become a leading auctioneer when it comes to pop-culture memorabilia, holding regular sales of items from the entertainment world. Past sales include everything from a Golden Ticket from Willy Wonka to the piano played in Casablanca. A relatively new player in the New York market, Bonhams didn’t open an auction house in Manhattan until 2005. Today, Bonhams NYC sits at the prestigious address of 580 Madison Avenue, just around the corner from the Trump Tower.

Doyle New York

Other New York auction houses are never going to be able to compete with names like Sotheby’s or Christie’s to secure the sale of an old master or a Picasso. Instead, houses like Doyle New York, specialize in a specific niche and offer a more personalized experience that’s less intimidating than working with one of the bigger names. Doyle, founded in New York City in 1962, specializes in estate sales and has hosted auctions for a number of notable estates including those of Rock Hudson, Joan Crawford, and Duke Ellington. Doyle has also hosted a number of interesting on-site auctions.

Swann Auction Galleries

Swann Auction Galleries is another auction house that isn’t on the same playing field as Sotheby’s or Christie’s, but that has achieved great success by specializing in works on paper. A third-generation family-run house, founded in 1941, Swann sits at 104 East 25th Street, close to Murray Hill and the Flatiron District. Works on paper include books, autographs, prints, drawings, maps, and vintage posters. Swann is also the only auction house with an entire department devoted to African American Fine Art. Most recently, Swann made the news with the sale of a Jackson Pollock original for $102,000, the highest price ever paid for a work by Pollock.

Getting Home from the Auction

If you’re the winning bidder of a lot at one of these famed New York auction houses, just how do you get your spoils home? It’s not like you can walk down the streets of Manhattan with a Renoir or memorabilia from a Beatles sale. After payment is complete, you may arrange for shipment of your items. Most of the auction houses have an in-house transport team, but many buyers choose to arrange for their own carrier. If you’re looking for a reputable Manhattan-based moving company to do the job, check out one of these cheap movers:

Lift NYC Movers

3 Sheridan Square

New York, NY 10014

 

Oz Moving & Storage

51 East 125th Street, 2nd FLR

New York, NY 10035

 

Imperial Moving & Storage

83 Washington Place

New York, NY 10011

 

Chelsea Moving & Storage

425 West 23rd Street

New York, NY 10011

We have personally used a couple of these movers to transport collectibles home from auction. The rest were recommended by friends who live in NYC.

Good luck bidding to those of you who make it to New York this fall!