Buying at Auction

At Halls we hope to make buying at auction easy and enjoyable, from viewing our colour catalogues online to receiving your lot at home. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Before the auction

All our clients need to provide photo ID and proof of name and address: a government-issued form of photo identification (the plastic card element of a driving licence, or a passport) and proof of address such as a bank statement or utility bill, dated within the last three months.

• Room bidding — on the day of the auction come to our Cash Office to register to bid and obtain your bidding number.
• Telephone bidding — you can arrange to be contacted by telephone to bid during the auction. Telephone lines must be booked by 4.30pm the day before the auction; phone the fine art team on +44 (0)1743 450700.
• Commission bidding — you may leave an absentee (commission) bid: the maximum you wish to spend excluding buyer’s premium. We will bid on your behalf for the lowest possible amount, subject to other competing bids. We do not open bidding at your maximum, nor do we ‘run you up’ artificially. Bids must be placed by 4.30pm the day before the auction.
• Online bidding — register and create a client account on this website, then bid live online, following the sale as it happens.

Timed auctions

Timed auctions take place without an auctioneer calling the sale. You can bid at any time during the defined time period by entering a maximum bid; we will bid on your behalf only as much as necessary to meet the reserve or keep you in the lead, up to your maximum. If a bid is placed in the final few minutes, the closing time is extended to stop ‘sniping’. Please note that we are unable to place commission bids on your behalf in a timed auction.

Bidding clearly

Our auctioneers are highly experienced and will be looking at everyone in the room as well as their screen on the rostrum. If they aren’t sure you are making a bid, they will ask you. If you didn’t mean to bid or were just swatting a fly, speak up! Raise your paddle number or hand to bid, and let the auctioneer know before the gavel comes down.

Viewing & condition reports

All auctions take place on a Wednesday and are open for viewing prior to the sale day; viewing for timed auctions is prior to the auction finishing. You do not need to book to view — just turn up! We don’t detail condition in our catalogue descriptions, so we recommend asking for a condition report and additional images. Condition reports must be requested before 4.30pm the day before an auction and are always given in writing.

Buyer’s premium

All UK auctioneers charge a premium in addition to the hammer price. Halls’ buyer’s premium is 24% plus VAT (28.8% inc. VAT) for the first £500,000 and 12% above £500,000 per lot. VAT is only refundable on the hammer price, not on the premium; Halls are part of the margin scheme.