Hi, my name is Walt. I’m an auctioneer with 25 years of experience in the auction business and licensed in the state of MA. I own Quick Auction Service, a company that specializes in building and running custom auctions, I’m also the webmaster of my own site and have been on eBay for 8 years. Besides eBay, the types of auctions I run most frequently are antiques and on-site estate auctions, although I’ve run everything from business overstock auctions to charity & special event auctions.

I enjoy sharing my knowledge and stories of the auction business. My goal for article is to help folks get the absolute most out of their auction experience.

Whether your fresh out of the package or a seasoned dealer I think I can offer something in this article to help you with your auciton adventures.

There may be as many reasons to attend auctions as there are types of auctions to attend. Maybe you want to attend an auction to buy items for re-sale on eBay, or some other market. Maybe you want to furnish your home with wonderful antiques, or you want to furnish your home as inexpensively without sacrificing quality.Some folks are just looking for a fun night out. With a little perseverance all these things are possible.

There are antiques and estate auctions, auto auctions, overstock auctions, absolute and no reserve auctions, real estate auctions, specialty auctions where only one genre of items are sold, tailgate auctions, live auctions, online auctions, sealed bid auctions, silent auctions, charity and fund raising auctions and many more.

Can you really buy for pennies on the dollar at an auction? You bet! Many times I’ve seen folks buy and re-sell at the same auction on the same night for a good profit, although be advised, this should only be done after the auction is over.

There are a lot of ways to find an auction, but here are some tips on how to find and attend the best ones.

Visit the genre of shops in the area that apply to the type of auction you want to attend. IE: If your looking for a good antique auction to attend, stop in the local antiques shops and ask for what there are for good auctions in the area. Sounds obvious right? But listen to what they don’t say as well as what they do say. Oftentimes when a dealer speaks poorly about an auction he or she attends, it may be likely that they are trying to keep a good thing secret. Think for a moment, why would a dealer keep attending a lousy auction?

Newspaper ads: I personally like to find ads in the classified ad section rather than flashy display ads. Flashy ads are usually indicative of an auction that will be high priced, may have reserves, (a set price on an item), and usually an enormous crowd. While any auction can be profitable to attend, it is usually best to steer clear of the glitzy ones, at least for the beginner.

Here’s the minimum you want to find out before you go. If there is a phone number in the ad, call and ask for the terms of the sale. What forms of payment do they accept? Is it an absolute auction? An absolute auction is one that has no minimum or reserve bids on items. These are the best auctions to attend! Is there a buyers premium? A buyers premium is like a tax that everyone who makes purchases at that auction must pay above the winning bid price. Most auctions these days do charge a buyers premium, 10% is not unreasonable but I feel much more than that is greedy, and the auctioneer that charges over 10% is counting on most bidders not doing the extra math as the bids quicken in pace.

A fair auction will have ample time to inspect the merchandise, usually at least 2 or 3 hours. Find out when inspection starts and make sure to attend! Never attend an auction if you can’t make the inspection, not unless your prepared to gamble. Most auctioneers sell at a rate of about 100 items per hour, which is why they sell “as is”. They simply don’t have the time to give a detailed description of all the items. Since almost all items at auction are sold AS IS, there are sure to be some damaged, refinished, fake and incomplete items at any given auction. Beware of any auctions that offer very little or no inspection time.

Good auctions will usually have 150 to 400 lots. A lot may be one item or a group of items. The exception to this are specialty auctions, auto auctions, real estate auctions etc.

When you attend your first sale, take note of the 1/2 dozen or so dealers that buy the most often. See if you can find out about other area auctions they attend.

When you do find an excellent auction, attend it as often as possible. By frequenting good sales, you help increase the bottom line of that business. It’s difficult for many auctioneers to keep the quality of merchandise consistent, so good attendance certainly helps. And when an auctioneer gets to know you as a buyer, he/she will go out of the way to accommodate you, to keep you coming back.

Home-based business opportunities these days abound. If you’re looking for a way to supplement your income or start an exciting new career, there’s likely a one that suits your skills and interests. Millions of people around the world are taking advantage of work-from-home opportunities, enabling them to take control of their own work lives, finances, and achieve a work-life balance.Home based businesses offer people the opportunity to set their own hours, control their own income and develop their skills and talents. While many are part-time projects used by their owners to create a supplemental source of income or to create a self-funding hobby, a growing number of people are turning their home businesses into full-time careers.Hot career fieldsIf you want to start a business from home, but aren’t sure what type of business to start, here are a few to consider:* A home based business in entertainment shopping and travel. It’s easy to learn, and the better models will have team-support and the added benefit of reduced price shopping and luxury holidays.* Home computer businesses are an easy way for people to make money from home. If you’re tech savvy you can offer your friends and neighbors support services. Many people prefer to deal with a local support service than having to contact a call center that could be anywhere in the world.* Internet marketing is an exciting and growing business model. With a few easy-to-learn marketing, writing and web design skills, you can quickly learn how to make a substantial income from selling products and services online and helping others market their businesses. Even if you don’t want to do it yourself, there are great outsourcing services who can do the hack work for you, while you focus on business growth.* Virtual assisting is a growth field for those wanting to work from home. A growing number of companies are choosing to outsource clerical duties to outside contractors to reduce benefit costs. A virtual assistant receives work online and performs data entry and other administrative tasks for a company. By snagging several of these jobs, you can create a steady stream of dependable income.* Medical coding is another great home-based business. Many hospitals and doctors’ offices outsource their coding work to outside contractors. A good medical coder can work for several clients and bring home a significant income.The number of home based business opportunities that require little or no training to start up is growing all the time, but require time to master. Finding a mentor to help will short-cut your learning curve.

The Astonishing Truth About Any Income Opportunity Home Based BusinessYou’ve probably been searching online for an easy way to replace your current income. Well let me start by saying you’re in for a surprise!While everyone with an internet connection is trying to sell you something online, I’d like to personally take the time out to offer you some insight. Insight that will allow YOU to make a decision and not be forced into an income opportunity home based business without knowing what you’re in for.There are many, many opportunities to make an income from your home if that’s what you desire. But with these opportunities are the “small print” that doesn’t tell you just how much work it takes to create an income that you can actually live off of.That’s what I’m here for today. To tell you WHAT you’re going to need and HOW you’re going to have to do it.Any MLM, network marketing, direct sales opportunity derives off marketing, PERIOD. If you’re the type of person that is deathly afraid of selling anything, or even having a conversation with someone about a product or service, you’re bound to fail at a home business.Here are the first things you must have in order to enjoy the benefits of an income opportunity home based business.

The Right Mindset – Confidence in yourself has EVERYTHING to do with your success in an income opportunity, no matter if it’s in your home or on the JOB.

The Time To Focus – Just as you or anyone else would dedicate 8-12 hours at a JOB for a boss, you have to be willing to dedicate a certain period just for your business. Time that will allow you to focus, educate yourself, and produce valuable marketing efforts that will drive you closer to that full time income.

Minimum Amount Of Funds Available – Yes, just as if you were to open a franchise business, you’re going to need some funds to start an income opportunity home based business. Start up costs, monthly fees, and additional marketing expenses WILL come into play as you’re building your personal empire.
Now That You’ve Understood That, Let’s Move OnThose qualities I just mentioned above are just your first step in creating some form of profit from a business at home. Without those qualities, and sorry to be so vague, you’re pretty much destined to fail.Sounds intimidating? To some, it probably is.But know this, my job and my purpose is NOT to force you into something you’re not ready for. Like many business professionals online, our goal is to provide you the RIGHT information to make your own decision.As far as an income opportunity home based business, there are several that can meet your needs but few that will actually allow you to market a service that will NEVER go unutilized.Juices, lotions, energy drinks, and home cleaning products are just a few of the products you can sell online. But in our current economy, who can continue to afford to waste their hard earned money on things of luxury?Nevertheless, one service that will always be in demand is the continued search for financial education.Learning how to increase your income, establish a higher credit score, and knowledge on how to invest your hard-earned money from your business will ALWAYS be in continuous need for many, many years to come.For this reason, I’ve personally chosen this avenue as my income opportunity home based business and by far have met my expectations.Which Income Opportunity Home Based Business Do You Recommend?Here it comes, the time that I mention to you what I personally recommend. First, let me explain to you what it is NOT:
No, it’s not “Get Rich Quick” scheme.
No, it’s not another multi-level marketing business.
No, you do not have to maintain a stock level of item in your home to sell.
And finally, NO, you don’t have to be confined to your home to work this business. It can be done from ANYWHERE you choose.
You’re probably anxious to know what it is by now.Guess what? I’m not going to tell you either! (Just kidding)The business I am informing you on is “Providing others a form of financial education through the training and support of professionals previously in the fields of financial advisors, investors, and wealth management.”