Consigning with Brooks Auction

Curation for Everybody

At Brooks Auction, we believe good stuff should keep moving.

That might mean an 18th-century antique, a box of vintage toys, a tractor, a piece of jewelry, a garage full of tools, a clean-lined piece of used furniture, or the contents of an entire estate. Some things are rare. Some things are practical. Some things are weird in the best possible way. Our job is to sort through it, present it honestly, and help it find the right buyer.

Brooks Auction holds online auctions every week, often featuring items from dozens of consignors and up to 1,000 lots. We specialize in estates, private collections, downsizing projects, and full-house cleanouts.

If you are overwhelmed with stuff, we are here to help.

Interested in consigning with us? Here’s how it works.

1. Consultation

First, we need to understand what you have.

If you only have a handful of items, please send photos to info@brooks.auction. A helpful tip: on an Apple or Android device, take a few pictures, create an album in your photo app, and send the album as a link. This can save you from sending multiple emails.

If you have more than a few items, are downsizing, or are an executor handling an estate or full house, we can schedule an on-site consultation and provide a free quote.

Brooks Auction evaluates consignments on a case-by-case basis and reserves the right to refuse any items. We will not sell illegal items, concealed weapons, firearms of any kind, taxidermy, counterfeit goods, or offensive material that promotes hatred.

2. The Scale

Every consignment is different.

Sometimes, it is a few clean, easy-to-sell items. Sometimes, it is a house, a barn, a basement, a garage, and three mystery closets. In many cases, there may be labor, removal, or disposal costs involved. At the same time, we are also selling your items at auction.

Picture a balance scale.

On one side is the cost of the work required: labor, pickup, sorting, hauling, and disposal when needed.

On the other side is the gross total your items bring at auction.

Our job is to look at the entire project and make our best estimate of how those two sides balance. For some consignments, the auction proceeds may more than cover the labor and removal costs. For others, especially cleanouts with a large amount of non-saleable material, there may still be a balance due.

We will explain this clearly before moving forward.

3. Commission and Fees

Our commission rates are based on the final selling price of each lot.

Each lot sold is subject to a $3.00 per-lot fee, plus the following commission:

$5.00 – $50.00: 25%

$51.00 – $150.00: 22.5%

$151.00 – $350.00: 20%

$351.00 – $500.00: 17.5%

$501.00 and up: 15%

Additional service fees may apply when Brooks Auction provides pickup, removal, cleanout, or disposal services.

Labor fee for pickup of saleable items:

$1.75 per cubic foot

Disposal fee for non-saleable items:

$2.00 per cubic foot

All fees are assessed based on the scope of the job and will be discussed as part of your quote.

Commissions, lot fees, labor fees, disposal fees, advances, and any other agreed-upon charges may be deducted from the consignor’s auction proceeds.

4. Pickup

When pickup is arranged, our crew comes out and does the heavy lifting. We provide packing supplies, boxes, and tools needed for the job.

Our crew is trained to make decisions in the field and can answer questions during the pickup process. We work efficiently and carefully, with the understanding that many consignments involve personal property, family estates, or major life transitions.

Not everything from a home, estate, or collection will be auctionable. Brooks Auction reserves the right to determine what is saleable, what should be grouped into lots, what may be declined, and what may require disposal.

5. Drop-Off and Consignment

To save on labor fees, you may be able to schedule an appointment to drop off your items at our auction house.

Once your items arrive at Brooks Auction, they are unpacked, sorted, cleaned as needed, inspected, photographed, and catalogued by our trained staff. Items are then listed in our online auction.

We welcome accurate information provided by the consignor, including history, details, provenance, or certificates of authenticity when available. Brooks Auction reserves the right to edit descriptions for clarity, accuracy, and auction presentation.

Brooks Auction also reserves the right to combine items into group lots, separate items into multiple lots, decline items, or recommend donation or disposal when appropriate.

6. Estimates, Reserves, and Auction Results

Brooks Auction may provide opinions, estimates, or expectations about what items may bring at auction. These are educated opinions only, not guarantees.

Final selling prices are determined by bidders.

Reserves may be accepted only at the discretion of Brooks Auction and must be agreed upon before the item is listed. We generally recommend allowing the auction process to work, since realistic starting points and active bidding often create the best results.

Once items have been photographed, catalogued, advertised, or listed, they may not be withdrawn without Brooks Auction’s approval. Withdrawal fees may apply if significant work has already been performed.

7. Marketing

Our staff handles the marketing and presentation of your consigned items. Each auction is promoted through email campaigns, social media, and our online auction platform.

Items are photographed individually and described for online bidders. Our goal is to present each item clearly, honestly, and in a way that reaches qualified buyers.

Brooks Auction may use photographs, descriptions, sale results, and auction highlights for marketing, advertising, educational, or promotional purposes.

8. Auction and Preview

Items may be available for preview prior to the close of the auction. Preview details vary by sale and may require an appointment.

Brooks Auction’s facility is protected by 24-hour video surveillance and monitored by Brooks Auction staff. After-hours previews may be available by special appointment.

While Brooks Auction takes reasonable care in handling consigned property, items are consigned for auction and handled in a working auction environment.

9. Unsold, Declined, or Remaining Items

If an item does not sell, Brooks Auction may, at its discretion, relist it, group it with other items, donate it, dispose of it, or contact the consignor regarding pickup.

Items that are declined, unsold, or requested to be returned must be picked up by the consignor within the timeframe provided by Brooks Auction. Items not picked up within that timeframe may be considered abandoned and may be donated, disposed of, or otherwise handled at Brooks Auction’s discretion.

Return, storage, labor, or disposal fees may apply.

10. Consignor Authority

By consigning items with Brooks Auction, the consignor confirms that they are the legal owner of the property or have the authority to sell it.

The consignor also confirms that the property is free of liens, ownership disputes, or other claims unless those issues have been disclosed to Brooks Auction in writing before consignment.

11. Proceeds and Statements

Consignment proceeds and statements are typically mailed on the Wednesday two weeks after the end of the sale, provided buyer payments have cleared and there are no unresolved payment, title, ownership, or bidder issues.

Timing may vary depending on the size of the auction, payment processing, returned payments, disputed charges, title or ownership issues, or other administrative matters.

Any questions, concerns, or matters of contention regarding consignment proceeds or statements must be brought to our attention within 30 days of the auction date.

Please contact info@brooks.auction with a detailed description of your concern, and a Brooks Auction representative will get in touch as soon as possible.