Are You Downsizing Or Liquidating An Estate?
Step 1: Send photographs of your items to info@gardnergalleries.com
Step 2: A representative will be in touch to discuss your consignments estimated value, costs involved & timeline of the auction
Step 3: Items are professionally sorted by our staff, catalogued, photographed, sold by online auction and payment made to you shortly after
Acceptance of Items
Photographs are acceptable for the purpose of pre-auction estimates and whether the items are suitable for auction, images can be emailed to our office anytime. A representative will contact you within 48 hours once images are received to discuss the next steps (see below), and we may also request to view the items in person if necessary. If you wish to send photographs by text or other means, please contact our office for instructions.
If you are dealing with an entire residence or vast collection where there are too many items to email individually, a few sample images are sufficient, ie. one photo of each room. Prospective consignors are encouraged to have a Gardner's representative give an idea of value, as our knowledge of current market value can provide insight into what results might be expected.
Unfortunately, Gardner Galleries no longer accept small consignments with a total estimated value of less than $2,000.00 and will not accept items that have already been offered for private sale or through online platforms such as Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace. The demand for general household furnishings such as dining room sets, glassware, china and limited edition prints has declined in recent years and not something we sell individually. It is advised to send photographs first prior to making an appointment with one of our appraisers.
Commission Rates & Reserves
Our selling commission includes everything except cartage. Unlike many other auction houses, there is no extra charge for photography, insurance, cataloguing and advertising. All items are insured during transportation and when on our premises.
Commission rates are dependent on the quality and quantity of goods to be consigned: The standard selling rate is 25%. In certain cases where the overall quality of the items is above average or having items of high-value may result in a lower commission rate, and when of lower quality a higher rate or refusal of the consignment. Our current minimum consignment value is $3000.00, with exceptions.
Gardner Galleries rarely accept reserves. In some cases, the auctioneers will agree to a reserve to protect a very valuable item such as an important painting but the reserve price will always be less than our pre-auction low estimate. If the item does not sell, a cataloguing charge of $25.00 + HST per lot applies. Reserves are never accepted on furniture or items with an estimated value of less than $1,000.00. However, Gardner's will use their discretion as most responsible auction houses do in handling consigned goods, such as implementing a higher starting bid.
Consignment Drop-off & Moving Services
Once items have been approved for auction, business hours for receiving consignments are by appointment on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The loading area is located in the parking lot directly behind 407 Hamilton Road in London, with easy access off Rectory Street. There is always staff available to assist in moving heavier items, such as furniture. A consignment contract listing your items will be presented to you at this time, which you will be asked to sign and date. Once consigned for auction, items cannot be withdrawn without the mutual consent of Gardner Galleries.
As part of our goal to provide exceptional customer service throughout the entire auction process, we can arrange moving services on behalf of the consignor. For individual items and small consignments, we may provide our own moving van and staff for a minimal fee. For large estates and households, we work with several local cartage agents and the cost of this service is always disclosed prior to any arrangement. The standard rate for most professional cartage companies in the London area is currently $150.00/hour + HST.
When cartage has been agreed upon between the consignor and Gardner Galleries, removal of the items can then be scheduled. Items delivered to Gardner Galleries are processed by our staff, who will label every item and safely move into our storage area prior to the auction.
Advertising
Once items have been catalogued and photographed for auction, they will be promoted on this website prior to the auction start date. Items are viewed by thousands of registered bidders across Canada and worldwide, in addition to a weekly online newsletter with 15,000+ subscribers. Gardner Galleries may also post items for sale on social media including Facebook and Instagram, Artprice.com, MutualArt.com, Google Ads and in some cases printed media and radio. For highly unique items in specialized fields, Gardner's will reach out to collectors and institutions directly to inform them of the upcoming auction.
Gardner's is also open to the public for in-person viewing, which attracts hundreds of interested buyers through our doors each week.
The Auction & Payment
Online auctions typically run for 10 days, beginning on a Friday and ending the second Monday following. This method has proven successful as it provides clients extra time to research and view items in person. It also allows customers worldwide to find items for sale through online search engines, such as Google. Our website is very user friendly and easy to navigate - consignors can also follow along and watch their items sell.
Once the auction concludes, payment is processed by cheque within thirty (30) days and mailed to the consignors address on file, unless other arrangements have been made. Consignors will receive a detailed computerized printout of the results, including an itemized list of every lot sold. The entire payment process is securely handled by Gardner Galleries alone, and consignors personal information is kept safe from loss or unauthorized use.
