Auctions and ebay. The words go together like bread and toast.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the idea of going to an auction to look for items to sell. Now, more than ever before, it’s easy as pie. You don’t have to be an expert. You just need a few tips. Follow the easy suggestions below and soon you’ll be buying and selling like a pro!

Do you have to be an expert to get a good deal?

No! Absolutely not. No one, not even the experts, know everything. Now with the help of ebay and the internet there are wonderful research tools at your disposal where you can find out how popular and sellable the items you'll be bidding on will be.  

How do I find a good auction?

You can, of course, check your local newspapers.  Another fantastic auction resource is to check the internet.  You'll find that most local auction houses not only list what they're selling they also have pictures of what they're selling!

When you know what is available and what kind of condition it's in you're ready to start your next step, research.

How Do I know what to Buy and what to spend?

That’s easier than you think too. You know what the auction is selling. All you have to do is do a little research beforehand. Remember, knowledge is power and knowledge makes you money. Ebay has a fantastic and free research tool for you to use.

Let’s say you’re going to auction that has a lot of pink depression glass. Now, you know nothing about pink depression glass other than it’s very pretty and you have a feeling it might sell well on ebay. But you need to know what the prices are before you go to the auction and buy it.

Go to ebay and look in the upper right hand corner for the “advanced search” link. When you click on that link you will find that you can check a box that says “search by completed listings only”. Type in the article you’re looking for, i.e. pink depression plate, and the completed listings with prices for the last 30 days appear.

You can further refine your search results if you wish and add in options like “sort by highest price first.” This gives you invaluable insight as to how well the product you’re thinking of buying will sell and how much you can expect to get for it when you list it on ebay.

At the Auction

Arrive early. I suggest at least an hour beforehand. This gives you plenty of time to look over the items and see what you want to bid on and decide how high you’ll go on each item.

Pick a seat and register at the desk. They will ask for photo ID if you’ve never been there before and give you a bidding number. Most auctions will let you pay with cash, checks and credit cards. Check with your auction beforehand just to be sure.

Look over anything you’re interested in carefully.  Check for any damage and imperfections. Take notes on anything you’d like to buy and decide beforehand what you’re willing to pay. DO NOT get caught up in the excitement of the moment and overbid.  A basic rule of thumb for buying I use is to pay half of what I’m reasonably sure I can sell it for., i.e. if I think a plate will sell for $30, I will pay up to $15 for it.

Relax. Sit down. Look over your list of possibilities and get ready. Each auctioneer has their own rhythm and you’ll soon get used to how the auctioneer operates and what kind of bid increments you should expect.

Listing your Finds

Take plenty of pictures, be descriptive and always be honest. If there are any imperfections in your item let your bidders know.

Keep your starting bid low. You’ll find more people will probably bid on your treasures if you offer a low starting bid. This strategy works because once a bid is placed the bidder mentally owns the item and wants to keep bidding … just like you at the auction!

Additional Research Resources

As you grow more experienced and decide you want to take your business to the next level, check out the ebay marketplace.  For a low monthly fee you'll find you can get a longer historical price analysis and additional valuable tips about the items you're interested in. 

Ebay also offers additional free research resources that you should check regularly .  Start at Ebay's Seller Central.  There you'll find links where you can research what the hot sellers were on ebay in the previous month and what the most searched for items are on ebay.   

Ebay is a dynamic marketplace with ebbs and flows.  A good seller keeps up with the trends.  You'll find if you add these additional research tools to your repertoire,  you'll always be ready to snatch up a good buy when you see one.

Additional Buying Resources

Be sure to check out your Church Rummage Sales and local yard sales.  The deals can be phenomenal there.  Although you can't do the preliminary research like you can at auction, you can get a big edge on your competition by taking the very simple step of arriving early.  At a rummage sale, I always make sure to arrive at least an hour beforehand.  In the cases of these particular sales, the early bird truly does get the worm.

Ready, Set, Go ...

So, it's much easier than you think to find things to sell on ebay for a profit.  Follow these tips and in no time at all you'll be a successful ebay entrepreneur.  You'll be able to make money while you shop.  Can you imagine a better life?  Ebay makes it easy and you make it fun!