Quality entries are invited for our forthcoming auctions. When you contact us you will be allocated your individual account manager who will be pleased to guide you through every step of the process.

Selling at auction
An auction sale offers open and fair competition for anyone to bid up to their maximum price for your goods.  The pre-sale valuations and estimate will have been based on comparison with recent prices for similar items.  However antiques, fine art and collectables have no fixed values and estimates could be exceeded in a competitive live auction environment.

By choosing to sell by public auction through a reputable firm, executors and other parties can rest assured that they have adopted due diligence in their duty to sell at a fair price.

Getting Advice
Horners offer free pre-sales advice and valuation of goods to be sold.  Ring free 0800 975 4416 to arrange to meet a valuer at Acle Gallery or for large collections or larger items it may be possible for us to visit you.  Once you have decided to sell, Horners will prepare a catalogue description, take photographs, and advise on guide price and reserves.  Normally reserves will allow the auctioneer a 10% discretion if not marked with a firm reserve.

Entering goods for auction
If possible sellers should bring their goods to our auction gallery at Old Norwich Road, Acle, Norfolk, NR13 3BY.  Please ring first, free on 0800 975 4416 to ensure our staff can be available to give you their best attention.

If you are unable to bring goods along please ring us and we can arrange for a haulage firm to collect for you and we will provide you with an estimation of cost.

We provide limited insurance cover for goods when in our salerooms (see conditions of sale).  Clients wishing for further cover are advised to obtain extension to cover under their own household or business policy.

You will be given a receipt for goods left or collected and be asked to sign to confirm your agreement to terms and conditions of sale.

A formal pre-sale notification will be sent to you prior to auction, if goods are entered for special auctions, antiques, collectables etc.

The Auction

Acting as your agent the auctioneer will do his best to obtain a fair price for you.  For Saturday gallery auctions, a printed catalogue will be produced and distributed.  Horners website will carry a fully illustrated catalogue (www.horners.co.uk).  The Antique Trade Gazette website (www.the-saleroom.com) will carry a fully illustrated catalogue and on-line live bidding facility, and press advertising will be undertaken.

Buyers are often contacted personally for specialist lots.

Viewing
This is always held on the day before the Saturday auction with extended opening hours.  Staff are on hand to assist and advise potential bidders.

Auction day
Acle sale ground is just off the A47, about fifteen minutes drive from South Norwich and Great Yarmouth.  Large free car park and easy loading facilities, together with a  well lit comfortable heated saleroom make for a pleasant auction experience. We have a plasma screen display of all lots offered in the gallery saleroom. On site catering  is available for auction day.  All transactions and records are processed through our computer systems.

Specialist auctions are held on Saturdays to ensure that private buyers can attend. The weekly Country Auctions are held every Thursday.

Payout
Cheques for Antiques Fine Art & Collectors sales are sent to vendors, normally twenty one days after the auction. Payout of proceeds from the weekly general sales is available 8 days from the  day of the auction.

Charges
The vendor commission will be fixed prior to auction and will normally be lower for very high value items.  The standard rate is 16%.  No commission is charged for un-sold lots, only an unsold lotting fee of £5.00 + VAT per lot for Specialist Auctions and £2 + VAT per lot for Country Auctions.  There is no additional charge for insurance cover. All charges are subject to VAT.

Conditions & terms of sale
These are displayed in full at our salerooms and on our website. Ensure you read and understand them before entering into any transaction.