Auctioneer

Also known as:

Valuer/Auctioneer

Introduction

Auctioneers value items, and organise and conduct public auctions. They value and sell items as varied as paintings, china, property or farm machinery and animals. Most specialise in a limited range of items.

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Work Activities

Auctioneers value goods that are to be sold at an auction and organise all aspects of the sale.

Most auctioneers specialise in one type of goods. They must have a thorough knowledge of the items they are selling.

For example, specialists in fine and decorative arts need to know about jewellery, books, carpets, furniture, china and glass. Property auctioneers must know about the market for housing and industrial buildings in the area in which they work. Agricultural auctioneers must understand the value of farm machinery and animals.

The work involves:
• valuing the goods
• identifying and booking suitable sale rooms
• arranging insurance, transportation and security of goods
• producing publicity material and preparing catalogues
• presenting and describing each item in turn, and calling for bids
• ending the sale when there are no further bids.

Auctioneers must be familiar with legislation such as the Sale of Goods and Trade Description Acts.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As an auctioneer you must be good at figures. You will need negotiating skills and dedication.

You need to be confident, outgoing and willing to work long hours. You might need to move around the country.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Salaries for auctioneers are in the range of £15,000 - £20,000 a year, rising to £23,000 - £26,000. Higher earners can make around £31,000 a year.

Most work around 35-40 hours from Monday to Friday. However, you may have early starts, late finishes and some weekend work.

Employers throughout the UK are firms specialising in auctioning, even in auctioning a particular type of property. Other employers combine this function with other work such as estate agency or agricultural surveying.

Most auctioneers work indoors, but if you deal with farm goods you will have to spend some time outdoors.

Entry to auction houses is fairly competitive.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills and abilities gained in areas such as property or fine arts are useful.

You can advance as a technical member of the RICS.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in.

These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

• 16% of auctioneers work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.

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