AUCTION SALES SUCCESS: Pro tips on preparing your car for the block
May 11, 2017
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
SOLD! This 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback (Lot #669) rolled across the block at the 2016 Northeast Auction for $346,500.
Lights, Camera, Auction! Selling your car at Barrett-Jackson brings the world of collector car aficionados and hobbyists right into your driver’s seat. With live television broadcasts, an extensive website to market your vehicle, and a team of experts out front and behind the scenes, get the most out of your consignment experience with these tips from The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions®.
A true classic, this 1932 Rolls-Royce Roadster (Lot #1382) sold for $341,000 at the 2017 Scottsdale Auction.
START EARLY AT BARRETT-JACKSON.COM
The consignment team receives hundreds of consignment requests each week leading up to an auction ‒ the sooner you start the process, the better chance you have of your car being accepted for the docket. You’ll need a copy of the clear title and it only takes a few minutes to complete the forms. Be sure that the title matches the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), as this will be verified when your car arrives on-site at the auction. Also, if you register as a user on the website, it allows you to access the status of your consignment request in real time. The earlier you consign, the more likely your vehicle will be able to benefit from Barrett-Jackson’s early marketing efforts, including the Preview Docket.
- IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS
As you prepare your collector car for auction, the overall condition of your car is important. Take the extra steps to have it professionally detailed, gather all of the paperwork and provenance, and take care of any mechanical issues that may need attention. Addressing these items will help a buyer see the value in your particular vehicle. Only when you’re selling a “Barn Find” or a car in original condition will it make sense to skip the detailing and keep the original patina intact.
- GREAT PHOTOS MATTER
This 2017 Ferrari 488 Spider (Lot #657) at the 2017 Northeast Auction brought in $434,500 and was the first ever to be sold at auction.
Every car has a stance, and it is beneficial to capture the attitude of your car with exceptional photos. Before your car crosses the auction block, it will appear on Barrett-Jackson.com’s docket pages. Particularly if it has high-quality photos, it could also possibly be marketed via digital newsletters, social media, print and digital ads – and it could even be featured in the Barrett-Jackson Experience magazine. All of these marketing tools combined bring the potential of hundreds of thousands of people seeing your car before it ever arrives at the auction site. (See “How To Photograph A Car” on Barrett-Jackson.com for pro tips anyone can master.)
- WRITE A COMPREHENSIVE AND ACCURATE DESCRIPTION
You are obligated to represent your car accurately, so it is important that you fully and accurately describe your vehicle so buyers are able to make an informed buying decision. As we have learned consigning thousands of cars each year, vague descriptions only lead to more questions and hurt the value of a car. Writing an accurate description helps sell your car and helps avoid any misunderstandings after the sale. Get specific; there is no such thing as too much information. Be sure to include important details like awards the car has won, mechanical specs, ownership and other information that makes your car desirable. Is your car restored? Who restored it? Was it a professional? How old is the restoration? Do you have documentation of the restoration, such as receipts and photos? Was it done with New Old Stock (NOS) parts? If the car was modified, explain exactly what was done. If the car is original, that needs to be stressed as it brings added value – but it needs to be verified. Don’t state a car is matching-numbers unless you can stand behind that statement with documentation. Do not embellish, and don’t speak in generalities. Statements like “looks great” and “beautiful car” don’t help a potential buyer make an educated purchasing decision. What exact paperwork do you have on the car? Scan and send copies to us ahead of time and bring everything with you to the auction (such as paperwork, photos, receipts).
- BE WITH YOUR CAR AT THE AUCTION
Giving potential bidders the opportunity to ask questions and engage in conversation when you are on hand at the display of your car or in the staging lanes can be priceless. You can also present storyboards with your car, which can give buyers a more complete picture of what makes it unique and collectible. Be sure that your storyboard is consistent with the information contained in your description.
To view the Preview Docket for the upcoming 2017 Northeast Auction, click HERE. Your vehicle could be among these!