Selling at Sotheby's Australia

If you have property you wish to sell, the Sotheby's Australia team of specialists and client service representatives can help you through the entire process. Our offices and representatives in Sydney, Melbourne, South Australia and Western Australia are available to service all your needs.

1. Appraisals

The first step in the auction process is to determine the auction value of your property. Our world-renowned specialists will evaluate your special items at no charge and in complete confidence.

Sotheby's Australia specialists conduct insurance and fair market value appraisals for private collectors, corporations, museums, fiduciaries and government entities on a daily basis. Insurance appraisals, used for insurance purposes, reflect the cost of replacing property in today's retail market. Fair market value appraisals are used for estate, tax, and family division purposes and reflect prices paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller. An auction estimate reflects our expert opinion as to what amount an individual item may be expected to sell for in a specific sale on a specific date. This estimate, expressed in a low/high range of dollar amounts, is reached after the specialist compares prices realised for similar items in recent auctions and other sales venues. Other factors that guide the setting of estimates include the condition, rarity, provenance and market potential of the item. Estimates are not guarantees that the object will sell within the published range, but are intended to provide general guidelines for buyers and sellers and to stimulate competitive bidding.

The fair market value appraisal reflects the value of an object given the current auction market. An insurance appraisal reflects the cost to replace an object in the current retail market. Fees for formal appraisals are based on hourly rates for specialists and travel where applicable.

Appraisals via Photograph

You may send in photographs of the items you wish to consign for appropriate evaluation. Please note, this service is for consignment only. Clear photographs of each individual item, including dimensions and other pertinent information is required.

Photographs can be submitted by post to the nearest Sotheby's Australia location, by email to the relevant department or by completing an online appraisal request, click here for details. Please limit images to not more than 5 of each item.

Contact us for assistance at enquiries@sothebysaustralia.com.au if further instruction is needed.

Trust and Estate Services

Sotheby's Australia serves the needs of fiduciaries - lawyers, trust officers, accountants and executors - in the disposition of large and small estates. Our services are specially designed to aid in the appraisal and disposition of fine art, antiques, jewellery, collectors' motor cars and collectables. We offer a full range of estate services ranging from flexible financial terms to tailored accounting for heirs and their agents to world-class marketing and sales support.

2. Auction and Reserves

Based on the appraisal, you and the Sotheby's Australia specialist will decide whether your property is appropriate for sale at auction. We will also recommend an appropriate venue and possible sale timing. If you decide to proceed, you will sign a contract and Sotheby's Australia will take the property in for cataloguing and photography.

Each collecting category holds three to four fine sales a year and includes property which represents what is most desirable and unique in the current market. We produce museum quality catalogues for our fine sales, which remain a very useful as a market and educational resource. These catalogues feature colour images, detailed descriptions of the objects and their provenance where applicable.

Advertising & Marketing

Once you sign a consignment contract for the sale of your property in a Sotheby's Australia auction, we begin marketing the item(s) to potential buyers. After scheduling your property in the most appropriate upcoming auction, your objects will then be catalogued as lots for our printed and online catalogues. Depending on our arrangement, your property will then be professionally photographed.

We create an extensive marketing plan for each auction which includes direct mail, advertising, online promotion, lectures, special events, merchandising and a public preview. Most of our fine sales are posted online so Sotheby's Australia has unique access to millions of buyers.

Confidential Reserves

For each of your items, you will work with our specialists to set a minimum price, or reserve, below which your objects will not be sold. This reserve price will be held in strictest confidence. If bidding ceases before your reserve price has been met, the lot will be bought-in, or passed, by the auctioneer and you may have the property returned to you or you may choose to re-offer it in a future auction.

3. Commissions & Fees

We will assist you throughout the auction process, providing a detailed inventory of your consignment and prices realised for each lot. We provide secure on-site storage for your property and all items are insured throughout the auction process. You will receive payment for your property approximately 35 days after the completion of auction. Sales commissions vary based on the hammer price of your property and are netted from gross proceeds.

Our standard commission rates are as follows:
(All Exclusive of GST)

Australian, International & Aboriginal Fine Art
12% commission and $180 per lot offer fee*

Decorative Arts & Fine Furniture
12% commission and $100 per lot (furniture) offer fee*
12% commission and $50 per lot (other items) offer fee*

Fine Jewellery
12% commission and $30 per lot offer fee*

Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Motor Boats
12% commission and $1,000 per lot offer fee, or as agreed with the department*

Insurance Fee: (Mandatory with the exception of Motor Cars)
1.5% of each lot's hammer price

* Offer fee is payable irrespective of outcome of sale

4. After the Auction

Shortly after the auction, you will receive a listing of the final hammer price for each item you consigned. We will send payment within 35 days from the day of the auction provided we are in receipt of the buyer's payment. Commission and any other expenses, fees and charges as agreed in the contract will be deducted from your payment.

If your item does not sell at auction we will mail you a letter before our settlement date asking if you would like to have your property returned to you or if you would like to re-offer it in an upcoming auction. If you should choose to re-offer your property you will be given the opportunity to readjust estimates or reserves.

For more information, please contact client services at +61(0)2 9362 1000.