CONSUMER GUIDE TO CHOOSING YOUR AUCTIONEER WISELY:

4.  VISIT COMPANY WEBSITE
 & SEEK TO SPEAK WITH PAST SATISFIED CLIENTS

 

4.  Visit the Company Website & Seek to Speak With Past Satisfied Clients

The due diligence order on this website isn't an accident.  The process began by outlining methods for obtaining INDEPENDENT, neutral, outside verified evidence that the auctioneer or firm hasn't experienced past episodes (e.g. lawsuits, judgments, etc.) for which a prospective client may want to consider.  If not, next the due diligence can focus on the firm's own INTERNAL promotional materials.

The most obvious place to learn more about a company is its website.  Company doesn't have a website?  O. K.  Get real!!!!  This is the 21st century, after all, and proper promotion of an auction is CRITICAL to success, and an integral part of that promotion is a website and substantive email distribution list!!

Within the website, some of the things a prospective client can look for include:

1) Videos of past auctions,

2) Photos of past auctions,

3) Testimonials supplied by past satisfied auction clients.

Don't be hesitant to call the auctioneer and ask for contact information for a past client's testimonial.  The past client is likely to elaborate further on why he or she was so satisfied with their auction experience!  Also, if touted past auction successes entail real estate, don't just accept the website's word that the transaction closed at the amount indicated.  As part of the courthouse research previously referenced, the actual act of cash sale should be readily available for your review either by performing a vendee/vendor search of the seller's (or buyer's) name (if you have it), or, in most instances, sales are recorded by subdivision and lot number, and search pages exist on most Clerk of Court websites for pulling up the sale and reviewing it.

Following these simple due diligence steps in researching a prospective auctioneer and/or his/her firm should go a LONG way toward helping to ensure you don't encounter problems before, during, or after your auction.  As mentioned at the outset, MANY past auction clients in Louisiana wish they'd performed just such a due diligence prior to hiring an auctioneer or bidding at an auction.  Just like the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"