Selling your personal property at auction
Whether you're settling an estate, liquidating a business, downsizing, or simply turning unused assets into cash, an online personal property auction is one of the fastest and most effective ways to convert items into money at true market value. Here's how the process works when you sell with Iron Horse.
How the process works
Consultation and agreement
We start with a conversation about what you have, your timeline, and your goals. We'll evaluate the property, recommend the best approach, and put a clear written agreement in place covering commission, fees, timing, and how proceeds are handled.
Inventory, photography, and cataloging
Our team inventories your items and groups them into numbered lots. Each lot is photographed and given a clear written description, then loaded into our online catalog. Good photos and accurate descriptions are what drive bidding — this is where much of the value is built.
Marketing
Your auction is promoted through our bidder database, website, email lists, and online advertising. Because the sale is online, your property is exposed to buyers well beyond the local area — often regionally or nationally — which expands competition and drives stronger results.
The bidding period
The auction opens for a set period during which registered bidders place bids online. Lots close on a staggered schedule with extended/dynamic bidding, meaning a lot stays open as long as bidders keep competing — so items sell for what the market will truly bear.
Closing, removal, and settlement
After the auction closes, buyers pay and schedule pickup or removal of their items. Once collected funds clear, we settle with you according to the agreement — typically along with a detailed report of what each lot brought.