Coming to Look Before You Bid
Some houses hold preview days when you can see the lots in person. Where they are listed, whose clock the times are on, and what to do if it says by appointment.
Some auction houses open their doors so you can look at the lots in person before you bid. Those are Preview Days.
Where to Find Them
- On the auction's page, in a box called Come and look before you bid, just under the closing and pickup notes.
- On every lot in that auction, under the lot's details.
- On the house's home page, on the auction's card: the next preview day, and how many more there are.
Only preview days that have not finished yet are shown. If an auction has none, the house is not holding one: ask it with the Ask a question button on any lot.
What Each One Tells You
- The day and the hours, always on the house's own clock, never converted to yours, because you are driving there.
- Where. If no place is given, it is at the auction's pickup location. For an estate sale in someone's home the house may give only the town; the full address comes with your invoice or from the house.
- A note, if the house added one: by appointment, a phone number to call first, or what to bring.
Good to Know
- Looking is free and does not register you or place a bid.
- A preview day can change. The house can add or remove one at any time, so check the auction page before you set off.
- Bids are still placed online, here, whether or not you went to look. See How a timed auction works.