Whether you're selling sentimental prize possessions or looking to buy one-of-a-kind treasures, an auction is just the place to be to make things happen.

For decades ... centuries, in fact ... auctions for property and assets have been helping connect sellers and buyers in your local community; across the country and around the world.

Sure, you can sell most anything of value by yourself. Or, you can find those once-in-a-lifetime buys by doing some digging on your own. But, why do it yourself when you don't have to? Who needs any more stress or hassles in their life?

Taking advantage of the benefits of auctions, you set worries aside and reap lasting rewards. Your property sells faster ... for a fair market price (sometimes even more) ... and you get cold hard cash immediately. Or, you know exactly where to turn when looking to make a new acquisition of personal property, assets or collectibles.

Everyone wins at an auction!

LESS TIME, MORE MONEY

Contrary to what some might view as complicated and time consuming, a fast-paced auction is one of the most efficient ways of converting your property and assets into immediate cash.

With the combination of solid pre-sale marketing and the auctioneer's attention-getting chant, you could have enthusiastic, attentive buyers aggressively competing to purchase your property. And, auctioned items often sell for far more than their estimated value.

As the seller, you benefit from an auction by: converting property to cash quickly; getting fair market value; having the flexibility of deciding what and when to sell; and using well-trained auctioneers as a valuable resource in pre-sale marketing and in conducting an auction.

When push comes to shove, there's really nothing better than an auction to realize the highest price for your property in the least amount of time. For a sure bet, choose the auction method of selling when you want a hassle-free, low-risk, guaranteed return on your investment.

FINDERS KEEPERS; LOSERS WEEPERS

If you've never attended an auction, you're missing out on a great deal of fun, excitement and wonderful treasures! From the opening call of “What am I bid?” to the sound of the gavel slamming down and the ringing of the “Sold!” shout, auctions exhilarate and captivate all in attendance.

Everywhere you turn at an auction, there's a thrill in the air as potential buyers find something they want and then set out to successfully bid against others who want the same thing. Auctions bring out the competitive nature in all of us.

Aside from the bidding excitement and the entertaining rhythmic chant of the auctioneer, auctions are very organized and the rules are straightforward. As a resource, many auctioneers spend time with sellers and buyers in addressing commonly asked questions about the auction process. The most effective auction is one where everyone understands how things work.

The marketing of auctions by auctioneers is a service to buyers just as much as it is for sellers. Buyers looking for just the right auction can find information about upcoming events in newspapers, sale bills, brochures and even on the Internet.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Most people sell property or assets once every couple of years; professional auctioneers sell property almost every week. The experience they've gained day in and day our help you get the most at your auction.

Auctions are more than collecting the cash at the end of a sale or helping someone walk away with a valuable purchase. Auctions involve the marketing of merchandise, preparing for and conducting the sale, and tallying and dividing the proceeds for the sale. And, not just anyone can handle all these tasks successfully.

One sure way to ensure a successful auction, whether you are buying or selling, is to look for an auctioneer displaying the NAA emblem. Here's a symbol that identifies a professional who joins thousands across the country in sharing common traits:

Just take a closer look and behind the NAA emblem you'll find a leader in the auction profession ... one that's ready to work for you!

WE KNOW AUCTIONS

As a responsive, streamlined and forward-thinking organization, the National Auctioneers Association values each and every one of our more than 6,300 members worldwide.

NAA, founded in 1948, encourages creativity and invites input from members so the association can better provide auctioneers with the chance to grow and to be even more successful. In turn, their success leads to your success, whether selling or buying at auction. Simply put, NAA exists to help its members provide you with a positive and worry-free sale or purchase experience.

NAA members truly are masters of the procedure and conduct of the public auction. Just as doctors and lawyers follow strict standards and are trusted members of their respective professions, NAA members likewise are bound by strong ethics, and they are respected icons in the marketing community. It's no wonder, then, that a solid reputation for honesty and integrity is a fundamental quality of NAA membership. Not to mention, one that carries a lot of clout.

The preceding is an excerpt from the NAA literature on auctioneering.