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Selling at Bonhams
This step by step guide is designed to help answer any questions you might have about how to sell your property through Bonhams.
Valuations
The first step to selling through Bonhams is to obtain a valuation. Auction valuations are free and can be obtained in the following ways.
You can post us a description and photograph
The best way to find out who to send this to is visit our locations page and send in your valuation request to the nearest saleroom or office who will then contact you to discuss your options further.
You can email a description and an image.
To find out who should contact go to the specialist page and send an email to the relevant specialist. If you are unsure about who to contact please email info@bonhams.com.
You can bring in your property for valuation
Although we are able to estimate the value of your property from photographs and descriptions, and this is a good starting point, a more accurate valuation requires seeing the object first hand. To find your nearest Bonhams Saleroom or Office look at our "Locations" page which will give you the addresses, contact details and opening hours for all our offices and salerooms. The pages also contain a list of specialist valuation days and weekly valuation days. If you are unable to attend the weekly valuation day you can telephone the office to arrange an appointment.
If your property is too large to bring in for valuation
We can arrange for a specialist to make a house call to look at items that are too large to bring in for valuation. Please visit our "locations" page to find your nearest saleroom, office or representative who will be happy to make an appointment to come and value your property for sale. Please see the consignment section to see what happens if you decide to sell through Bonhams.
Consignment
From valuation to consignment
Once we have discussed your requirements with you and inspected your property, we will give you an estimate of what the item(s) are likely to realise at auction and will advise you of the most appropriate sale. This might be a local auction held at your nearest Bonhams saleroom. However, we may recommend that certain items of specialist appeal or international interest are transferred to another Bonhams saleroom.
Transporting your property to the saleroom
The property that you wish to sell should be delivered to your local saleroom. If you wish, and at your own cost, we can organise carriage on your behalf. When organising the sale of an estate, we can usually make arrangements to clear houses of residual items not suitable for sale by auction. In addition, temporary safe storage of items can be arranged by request. If you are consigning goods from overseas, shipping charges and VAT / import duty may apply.
It is your responsibility to
comply with export regulations that apply in the countries of export and
import. You should take particular note of export licencing and CITES
(endangered species) export / import regulations. Please contact Bonhams
in advance if you have any doubts on how to proceed.
UK shipping & transportation: shipping@bonhams.com
USA shipping & transportation: shippingSF@bonhams.com
Receipt for consignment
When you have consigned your goods for sale at Bonhams our specialist will discuss your sale requirements with you and record these on a Receipt and Contract Form. This document is your instruction to us to sell. It is your contract with Bonhams and your receipt for the property you have consigned. The form carries your personal reference number for that particular consignment, in the top right-hand corner, which should be quoted in all communication concerning your sale items. This form specifies your terms, and a folder containing our Conditions of Business will be given to you.
Agreeing sale terms and reserve sale price
The Receipt and Contract Form includes details of your wishes about the price at which you will be prepared to sell each item.
You have several options:
No reserve / sell. Your property will be sold for the highest bid received, with no minimum price specified.
Discretion. The item will be sold at a price which is at the discretion of the auctioneer. This means you are giving permission for your goods to be sold at typically 10% – 20% below an agreed figure.
Agreed reserve. Your item will normally be sold at or in excess of your agreed reserve. However, in certain circumstances, your lot may be sold at a figure below the agree reserve, with Bonhams settling with you the same amount as if the item had been sold at the agreed reserve.
Bonhams treats your sale instructions with complete confidentiality; they are never discussed with anyone other than you or your authorised representatives.
Charges
What charges can I expect if I sell through Bonhams?
Minimum Commission
The Vendor’s Commission is subject to a minimum commission per lot of:
-£60 for New Bond Street sales and £30 at Knightsbridge
-£20 for UK regional sales
Please note that separate charges apply to wine and motor vehicles
Please contact the department for further information
Wine Department
Motor Cars Department
Loss and Damage Warranty
1.5% of the Hammer Price of each lot if sold, or if unsold 1.5% of the average of the high and low estimates
Unsold Charge
Minimum charge of £5 per lot (plus insurance as detailed above).
Illustration charges
Please note that these charges are only incurred by prior agreement with you the vendor
llustration Charges
(includes web illustration charge)
Full page: £200
3/4 page: £150
1/2 page: £100
1/4 page: £80
Thereafter, and when an item is part of a multiple, £20 to £50.
Web illustration charge:
£10 for New Bond Street sales
£5 for Knightsbridge, Regional salerooms & off-site sales
VAT
Value added Tax, at the current rate, is payable on all commissions and charges, except where it is indicated as VAT inclusive.
Additional Charges
Please note that these charges are only incurred by prior agreement with you the vendor
There may be additional charges for restoration, shipping, packing, storage, custom duties and import tax, if appropriate.
Exceptions to our normal charges
The Stamp, Wine and Motor Car departments commission and VAT rates can vary from our standard charges.
Wine: Buyer's rates are 10% + VAT. Sellers rates as normal.
Motor cars: Buyer's rates are 15% + VAT on the first £30,000 and 10% + VAT thereafter.
Sellers commission 10% (plus VAT)
Entry fee, 1/2 page colour £150(plus VAT) - full page colour £250(plus VAT).
Removal Charges, £120 + VAT per motor Car, £40 + VAT per motorcycle, £60 + VAT per combination, £10 + VAT per automobilia lot if marked with a °Ú Commercial Vehicles at quoted rates.
Conditions
All sales are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Business as stated on the Receipt / Contract From and the Conditions of Business folder.
Advertising
All normal costs of advertising and promotions are borne by Bonhams. In certain cases, Bonhams or the customer may feel the need for special advertising over and above what is usual. In such cases a special plan will be devised, costed and discussed with the customer.
When you can expect payment
After your goods have sold successfully, you will be sent a sale result notification a few days after the auction, listing the individual lot(s) and the price realised for each item. If you wish to know the outcome on the day, you are welcome to telephone the saleroom about an hour after the end of the auction. Payment is normally made by sterling cheque 21 days after the sale date (providing we have received full payment from the buyer for that lot). You will also receive a settlement statement detailing the charges which have been incurred. All relevant charges are normally deducted before your settlement cheque is prepared and dispatched. Should you request a bank transfer, any charges associated with the transfer will be at your cost.
What happens if the item fails to sell
You will be charged an unsold fee of £5 minimum per lot (plus insurance as detailed above). There may be other additional charges such as an illustration fee, see above. You, the vendor, are then responsible for collecting your property from Bonhams. If you wish to re-offer your property for sale you can do so and should discuss further with the department handling your property.
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