Selling through us

This brief step by step guide is designed to help answer questions you might have about how to sell your paintings, antiques and jewellery through us.

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The first step to selling through us is to obtain a valuation. Auction valuations are free and can be obtained in the following ways.

• You can email us a brief  description and an image.
  Or
• You can post us a description and photograph.

Although we are able to estimate the value of your property from photographs and descriptions, an accurate valuation requires seeing the object first hand. Therefore without seeing the object the estimate given is purely a guide.

Please allow 14 working days for a response to emails and letters requesting valuations.

Please call our office and we will happily make you an appointment for us to come and visit you at home. We will assess your objects and make a thorough report. Our visit will be followed by a written valuation of your property that is for sale, usually within 3 working days.

We will happily collect works of art, jewellery and paintings free of charge from within the UK please contact our office for further details. For furniture and larger items we will organise transportation on your behalf, this however is at your own cost. Alternatively you can make your own arrangements.

When you have consigned your goods for sale with Barnes Thomas County Auctioneers we will discuss your requirements with you and record these on a consignment form. This document is your instruction to us to sell. It is your contract with Barnes Thomas County Auctioneers and your receipt of the property that you have consigned to us. This form specifies our terms of business.

The consignment form includes details of your wishes about the price at which you would be prepared to sell each item.

You have three options:

• Entirely without reserve. Your property will be sold for the highest bid received, with no minimum price specified.
• Subject to the Discretion of the auctioneer. The item will be sold at a price that is at the discretion of the auctioneer. This means that you are giving permission for your goods to be sold for between 10% & 20% below an agreed figure.
• Subject to a reserve. Your item will normally be sold at or in excess of your agreed reserve. However, in certain circumstances, your lot may be sold at a figure below that agreed reserve, with the Barnes Thomas County Auctioneers settling with you the same amount as if the item had been sold at the agreed reserve.

Confirmation of goods entered and confirmed illustration charges

One month prior to the auction Barnes Thomas County Auctioneers will inform you of the lots being entered in to forthcoming sale along with description of your lot (s) as it will appear in our catalogue. Illustration charges will be detailed. If any changes need to be made, please instruct us of them at this point. This form will need to be signed by you and returned to our office.

Sellers commission rates 12% + VAT

All vendors have a minimum commission charge of £10.00 per lot.

Insurance charges 1.5% of the hammer price. For unsold lots the amount to pay is based on the average of the highest and lowest estimates, this is also charged at the rate of 1.5%. The auctioneers will hold all goods on their premises and in their custody covered against the risk of fire, theft and water damage. The auctioneer will not be responsible for any accidental breakage or damage caused by himself or his staff.

You will be charged a fee of £5.00 per lot plus insurance as stated above. Other fees that will be charged are Illustration fees (as above) and shipping. You, the vendor, are then responsible for collecting your property from Barnes Thomas County Auctioneers. If you wish to re offer your property in another auction you can do so, please discuss this with our staff.

We highly recommend that your objects are illustrated in our catalogues. All illustrations are at a fixed rate of £40.00 inclusive of VAT

Internet illustrations are charged at £7.00 inclusive of VAT

Please note that Illustration & restoration charges are only incurred by prior agreement with you the vendor.

There may be additional charges for shipping, restoration, storage, packing, custom duties and import tax, if appropriate.

After your goods have sold successfully, you will be sent a sale result notification a few days after the auction, listing the individual lot(s) and the price realised for each item.

Payments are made in sterling cheque usually 21 days after the sale date, providing that we have been paid in full by the buyer for that lot (s). A statement of account will also be sent to you with your payment detailing charges. Charges will be deducted before the settlement cheque is despatched.

Full terms & Condition of Sale are available here.