Auctioneering school: Days 7 to 10

November 14th, 2006 | by mbhunter |

Thanks everyone for your patience with my auctioneering babble!

The last three days of class brought us back to Earth. The bid-calling is fun and necessary for successful auctioneering, but once it’s mastered, it’s the least important thing an auctioneer should be worrying about. It’s insignificant, actually.

On the morning of the 7th day Leland Little, a North Carolina antique and estate auctioneer, spoke to us about entering the antiques auctioneering business, or any auctioneering business, for that matter. His main point was that if you don’t understand your product, you don’t have any business selling it. And after 14 years in the business full-time, he still works his tail off. The level of control he has over his life and business is scary. I looked at myself and got really depressed.

The next day, Steve Proffitt, a lawyer and auctioneer, made it perfectly clear that auctioneers are in the crosshairs for all kinds of life-ruining litigation. “Litigation will ruin your life,” he said, with a tone that chilled me to the bone. Stray from complete professionalism and you’re toast, basically.

I was hoping that real estate auctioneering would be easier to get into. Nope! There’s a lot of opportunity, but a lot more opportunity for things to go wrong. Plus, lots of time on the road and lots of networking to do before the first sale is anywhere near the horizon.

So, I’m all graduated and stuff, and I have my diploma and can call bids a little better than I could before. But the work — and financial outlays — are just beginning. Virginia has a state exam for licensure, and a bond payment. An auctioneering license, once received, is just a hunting license for someone who hasn’t been in the business. Time to start hunting! Helping out at other auctions, maybe selling some of the cheaper stuff, networking, doing pro bono work for charities, civic organizations, churches.

I’m glad I went. I just hope that I wasn’t too naive thinking that I could do auctioneering.

Now back to your regularly scheduled blogging!