How to Choose an Auctioneer in Ontario

Choosing the right auctioneer can make a real difference to how smoothly a sale runs and how much you receive. Whether you are selling a farm, clearing an estate, closing a business or parting with a collection, the auction company you pick will handle your belongings, set expectations with buyers and manage your money. This guide walks through how to find and compare auctioneers in Ontario.

Key takeaways

• Define what you are selling first; auction companies tend to specialize.
• Review an auctioneer's recent sales and ask detailed questions before signing anything.
• Understand every cost, including commission and any additional charges, and get the agreement in writing.
• Decide whether a live, online or combined sale best suits your items and buyers.

Start by defining what you are selling

Auction companies tend to specialize. Before you start calling, make a rough list of what you plan to sell and group it into categories:

• Farm machinery, livestock or a full farm dispersal
• Household contents, furniture and everyday goods
• Antiques, art, coins, jewellery or collectibles
• Tools, shop equipment or industrial machinery
• Vehicles, trailers, boats or recreational equipment
• Business inventory or restaurant equipment
• Real estate

A company that runs regular farm sales in rural counties may not be the best fit for a fine art collection, and a city liquidation firm may not have the buyer base for a herd of cattle. Matching the auctioneer to your goods is the first step.

Where to find auctioneers

Good places to start include:

• Our auctioneer directory, which lists auction companies across Ontario with their location, sale types and links to their websites and bidding pages.
• Location pages such as auctions in Waterloo Region, auctions in Simcoe County or auctions in Ottawa, where you can see who is running sales in your area right now.
• Recommendations from neighbours, farm organizations, lawyers, real estate agents and estate trustees who have used a company before.
• Sale bills and online bidding platforms, which show the kinds of sales a company runs and how it presents them.

Aim to contact at least two or three companies so you can compare.

Look at their recent sales

The best evidence of how an auctioneer will handle your sale is how they have handled others. Look at a few recent sales and ask yourself:

• Are the photos clear, well lit and taken from several angles?
• Are descriptions accurate and detailed, including condition?
• Is the sale advertised well in advance?
• Are the terms clear and easy to find?
• Does the company run the types of sales you need, and how often?

If you can, attend a sale or preview in person. You will learn a lot from how staff treat buyers, how organized the site is and how bidding is managed.

Questions to ask in an interview

When you speak with an auctioneer, ask direct questions and take notes:

1. What types of sales do you run most often?
2. What areas do you serve, and where do your buyers come from?
3. Do you offer live, online or combined bidding, and which would you recommend for my items?
4. How do you advertise a sale?
5. What is your commission, and is it a flat rate or does it vary by item or total?
6. What expenses are charged separately, such as advertising, labour, trucking or cleaning?
7. Do you charge buyers a premium, and at what rate?
8. Will you hold the sale on site or move items to your facility?
9. Do you carry insurance for items in your care?
10. How and when will I be paid, and what documentation will I receive?
11. What happens to items that do not sell?
12. Can I set a reserve on any items?

A professional auctioneer will welcome these questions and answer them clearly.

Understand the costs

Auction fee structures vary widely. Commission might be a single percentage, a sliding scale or a minimum fee plus a percentage. Some companies include advertising and labour in their commission; others bill them separately. The buyer's premium is paid by buyers, but it is still worth understanding because it affects how buyers bid.

Ask every company for a written estimate of costs and compare them on the same basis. The lowest commission is not always the best deal if expenses are added on top or if a company with a stronger buyer base would bring higher prices.

Live, online or both

Many Ontario auctioneers now run timed online sales, live sales with online bidding, or traditional live sales. Each format has advantages:

• Live on-site sales suit farms and large properties where buyers want to inspect and haul items the same day.
• Online timed sales reach a wider audience and suit items that photograph well and can be picked up over a set window.
• Combined sales allow in-person and online bidders to compete.

Ask the auctioneer which format they recommend for your items and why.

Check credentials and reputation

Licensing requirements for auctioneers in Ontario can vary by municipality, so ask the company whether any local licence applies and whether they hold it. You can also ask whether they belong to a professional association. Beyond formal credentials, look for:

• Reviews and comments from past sellers and buyers
• How long the company has been operating
• Whether they have a permanent address and clear contact information
• How they respond to questions, including how quickly and how clearly

Get the agreement in writing

Before any items leave your property or any sale is advertised, get a written contract that covers:

• The items included in the sale
• The date, location and format of the sale
• Commission rates and every expense you will be charged
• Any reserves or minimum prices
• Insurance and responsibility for items in the company's care
• How unsold items will be handled
• When and how you will be paid
• What records you will receive, such as an itemized settlement statement

Read it carefully and ask about anything unclear. If you are an executor or the sale is large, consider having a lawyer review it.

Prepare for the sale

Once you have chosen an auctioneer, a few steps will help the sale go well:

• Remove personal papers, photos and keepsakes before the auction company arrives
• Gather manuals, receipts, serial numbers and service records for equipment and vehicles
• Tell the auctioneer about any known defects so items are described honestly
• Agree on who will be the main contact for decisions
• Plan for access, parking and safety on sale day if it is held on site

Summary

• Match the auctioneer to what you are selling
• Compare at least two or three companies
• Study their recent sales and, if possible, attend one
• Ask about every cost and get a written estimate
• Choose the right format: live, online or combined
• Get the full agreement in writing before the sale

Start your search in our auctioneer directory, then look at current sales near you, such as southwestern Ontario or eastern Ontario, to see how different companies run their auctions.

Next steps

Start comparing auction companies in our auctioneer directory, and see what is selling now in southwestern Ontario and eastern Ontario.