Questions people ask

Short, straight answers to the things sellers ask before they instruct us. Each question has its own page with the answer, the service it applies to and where to read more. If yours is not here, ask it through the contact form.

General questions

• How much does it cost to sell at auction?
• How long does a sale take from first contact to payment?
• Do I need to be there during the auction?
• Is there a minimum amount of equipment you will take on?
• Do you buy equipment outright?
• Can you collect the assets rather than sell them from my premises?
• Do you cover the whole of the UK?
• What happens if something does not sell?
• Is VAT charged on auction sales?
• How do I get an estimate of what my equipment is worth?

Retirement auctions

• Can I keep some items back?
• How long does a retirement sale take?
• Do I need to be there on collection day?
• What if my business has items on finance?
• Can the sale be run without announcing my retirement?

Closure auctions

• Can you clear the whole building as well as sell the equipment?
• Do staff and customers need to know before the sale is advertised?
• What happens to lots nobody buys?
• What if some of the equipment is on finance?
• How quickly can a closure sale run?

Surplus equipment

• Is there a minimum quantity?
• Can you sell from a site that is still operating?
• How do I know whether something is worth selling?
• Who disconnects the machines?
• What if I need the space cleared by a specific date?

Machinery auctions

• Do I need to know the exact model of each machine?
• Can buyers see the machines running?
• Who removes the machines and who pays?
• Will overseas buyers bid?
• How much is a used machine worth?
• What if a machine is on finance?

Factory clearance

• Do you take everything, including the rubbish?
• Who dismantles the racking and mezzanine?
• What if the sale does not cover the clearance cost?
• Can this happen while the site is still trading?
• What is a fixture and why does it matter?

Relocation sales

• Can we sell before we have moved out?
• What if we are not sure whether a machine is moving?
• Who takes the machines out?
• Do we have to sell everything that is not moving?
• What happens to items on finance or lease?

Insolvency asset sales

• Can a director instruct the sale after the appointment?
• How do you deal with retention of title claims?
• What checks do you make on vehicles and plant?
• What reporting does the office holder receive?
• Can directors or employees bid in the sale?
• What about assets held away from the premises?

Site dispersals

• Do we have to sell everything on the site?
• Who takes the machines out of the building?
• What if some of the equipment is on finance or hire?
• Can you sell the building or the lease?
• What happens to lots that do not sell?

Stock clearance

• Is there a minimum quantity?
• Can we set a reserve on stock lots?
• Do buyers pay VAT?
• What if the stock is branded?
• Can the stock be sold from somewhere other than our premises?

Plant and construction

• Do you need the machine's paperwork?
• What if a machine is still on finance?
• Can you sell plant from a live site?
• Who moves the plant after the sale?
• Is there a market for old or high hour machines?

Vehicles and fleets

• Can you sell vehicles that still have finance on them?
• What if a vehicle has no MOT or is not running?
• Do we need to move the vehicles to you?
• Who pays the buyer's premium and VAT?
• How long does a vehicle sale take?

Warehouse equipment

• Can racking be sold while it is still in use?
• What do buyers want to know about a forklift?
• Who removes the equipment after the sale?
• What happens to equipment that does not sell?
• Is VAT charged on warehouse equipment at auction?

Catering equipment

• Do you sell from the restaurant or take everything away?
• Who disconnects the gas and electrics?
• What about equipment that is leased or on hire?
• Does the landlord need to agree to the sale?
• How quickly can a kitchen be cleared?

Private treaty

• Is private treaty slower than auction?
• Can I keep using the machine while it is marketed?
• How is the sale price agreed?
• Will the sale be confidential?
• What if a buyer approaches me directly?

Single items and small lots

• Is it worth selling a single item at auction?
• Will my lots be mixed with other vendors' lots?
• Do I have to deliver the items to you?
• When do I get paid?
• Can I set a reserve on a single lot?