Our Auction Process and How It Works
At Hoffman Auctions, we believe auctions are one of the most efficient, transparent, and exciting ways to sell real estate and personal property. With nearly 25 years of experience serving Central Ohio and beyond, we’ve developed a proven system that delivers results while keeping the process clear and straightforward for sellers and buyers alike.
Here’s a step-by-step look at how our auction process works:
Step 1: Initial Consultation
Every successful auction starts with a conversation. We meet with you to understand your goals, your timeline, and the assets you’re looking to sell. Whether it’s real estate, an estate full of personal property, business assets, or specialty items like coins, firearms, or vehicles, we’ll explain your options and recommend the best auction method for your situation.
Step 2: Preparation & Setup
This is where the real labor begins. Our team takes pride in doing the heavy lifting so you don’t have to:
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Garage & Table Setup: At most homes, we begin by emptying the garage and setting up rows of tables. Items are cataloged (photographed, described, and assigned lot numbers) before being placed back onto tables in organized groups.
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Furniture & Larger Items: Big pieces of furniture often stay inside the home, but we’ll gather smaller items into one general area for easier buyer pickup.
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Tents & Shelters: When needed, we set up tents to create more display space or provide cover for bidders and staff.
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Dumpster Service: A dumpster may be brought onsite to handle trash and unsaleable items efficiently.
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Auction-Day Logistics: For live or simulcast events, we bring our mobile cashier trailer, a self-contained office on wheels that can run on a generator if needed. Portable toilets are brought in for bidder convenience, and sometimes a food vendor is onsite to keep both bidders and staff comfortable.
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Staffing: From cataloging to cashiering, it takes a team. We draw on our extended “auction family” of trusted staff and colleagues whenever extra manpower is required.
Step 3: Marketing & Promotion
While the setup is underway, we launch a tailored marketing campaign:
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Photography & Catalog: Every item and property is documented with professional descriptions and images.
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Advertising: Exposure includes HoffmanAuctions.com, the MarkNet Alliance national network, MLS for real estate, social media, targeted email campaigns, and even direct mail.
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Auction Type Selection: We determine whether the auction will be live, online-only, or simulcast (a combination of both) based on the property and market.
Step 4: Bidding Made Easy
On auction day, bidders can participate in one of three ways:
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Live Auctions: With the energy of a professional auctioneer calling bids in real time.
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Online-Only Auctions: Convenient bidding from anywhere, with staggered closings that encourage competition.
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Simulcast Auctions: The best of both worlds—live onsite action with simultaneous online participation.
All bidding is transparent, competitive, and fair.
Step 5: Purchase & Closing
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Real Estate: The high bidder signs a Real Estate Auction Purchase Agreement and provides a non-refundable earnest money deposit. Closing usually takes place within 30–45 days.
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Personal Property: Winning bidders receive an invoice the same day, pay in full, and pick up purchases during the scheduled times.
Payment & Buyer’s Premium
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Buyer’s Premium: A buyer’s premium of at least 10% is added to the final bid on all auctions, regardless of type. Some personal property auctions may carry a higher premium, and this will always be clearly stated in the auction terms.
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Credit Cards: Accepted up to a set limit for convenience.
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Higher-Dollar Purchases & Vehicles: Must be paid by cash or wire transfer to ensure secure, verified funds.
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Gold, Silver, & Jewelry: Must be picked up in person and paid in cash or wire transfer—no exceptions.
Step 6: Settlement & Results
After the auction, sellers receive a detailed settlement statement showing every transaction. Proceeds are distributed promptly, with no surprises.
Sellers appreciate that auctions are:
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Fast – Sales are completed in weeks, not months.
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Competitive – Bidders compete openly, driving true market value.
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Certain – Buyers commit on auction day with no contingencies or drawn-out negotiations.
A Note on Shipping:
We are a family-owned company that runs a large number of auctions throughout the year. That means we are constantly moving from one project to the next, and we simply don’t have the time or manpower to handle shipping for general auctions.
Here’s what you need to know about our shipping policy:
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General Household Auctions: We do not offer shipping on everyday items. Our buyer base is strong enough locally that these auctions work “just fine” without out-of-state bidders.
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Exceptions: For higher-end auctions (such as specialty collections, firearms, or valuable antiques), we may be able to arrange shipping—but usually through a trusted third-party shipper, not in-house.
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Gold, Silver & Jewelry: We will not ship gold, silver coins, or jewelry at any time. Unfortunately, scammers have taken advantage of auctioneers in the past, and we’ve made the decision to eliminate that risk moving forward. These items must be picked up in person and signed for by the winning bidder.
Why Choose Hoffman Auctions?
We’re more than auctioneers—we’re licensed REALTORS®, certified appraisers, and trusted advisors. Our reputation is built on honesty, professionalism, and results. With nearly 1,000 real estate transactions and countless personal property auctions completed, we’ve earned the trust of families, attorneys, executors, businesses, and organizations across Ohio.
When you’re ready to sell, we’re ready to deliver.
📞 Call us at (614) 314-0298 or visit HoffmanAuctions.com to learn how our auction process can work for you.
