Selling at Leonard Joel

From Single Items to Collections

If you have a single item or collection you wish to sell, the Leonard Joel team of specialists and staff can guide you through the entire valuation and auction process. We can provide you with experts across all collecting fields, no less than thirteen categories of auction to select from and the most expansive calendar of catalogue and weekly auctions in Australia. Leonard Joel specialists conduct insurance and market valuations for the entire spectrum of clients - private collectors, corporations, museums, fiduciaries and government entities are advised by our valuers and specialists on a daily basis.

Tailored Trust and Estate Services

Leonard Joel has a long and distinguished history of assisting both trust companies and executors with the dispersal of important private collections. We provide fiduciaries (lawyers, trust officers, accountants and executors) with a complete suite of services to manage accurately and successfully the dispersal of large and small estates. Our services are specially designed to aid in the appraisal and dispersal of fine art, antiques, jewellery, objet d'art, collectables, books & manuscripts and general household contents.

1. Appraisals

Identification & Pricing

The first step in the auction process is to both determine the origins, rarity and quality of the item/s in question and then the auction value of those items. Our specialist and general valuers are available to execute this process in a timely and thoughtful manner and we can conduct this process with you and in complete confidence - either online, at our salerooms or in situ.

Market Valuations

Generally speaking, clients considering selling require a market valuation. A market valuation reflects the value of an item in the current auction market and is the best indicator of the likely selling price for that item - market valuations are used for estate, tax, and family division purposes and reflect prices paid for equivalent items at auction.

Auction estimates are provided for market valuations and reflect our expert opinion as to the likely range an equivalent item might sell for at auction. 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 sale venues. Other factors that inform the setting of estimates include the condition, rarity, provenance and market interest in the item. Estimates are not a guarantee that the item will sell within the published range, but are intended to assist sellers with an indicative sale price and to stimulate competitive bidding amongst buyers.

Market Appraisals via Photograph

You may send in photographs of the items you wish to consign for appropriate valuation. Please note that this service is for the benefit of prospective sellers only and is not provided for general research purposes. Clear photographs of each individual item, including dimensions and other pertinent information is required. Please limit images to no more than 3 for each item. Photographs can be submitted by post to Leonard Joel, by direct email to the relevant department or by completing an online appraisal request, click here for details.

Insurance Valuations

If you are renewing your insurance policy or changing insurers you may require an updated insurance valuation. An insurance valuation reflects the cost to replace that item in the current retail market and is the value used to protect that item against loss or damage. Insurance valuations are set with a dollar value at current retail replacement value and are fully documented to provide both the insurer and insured with a record of assets at current retail values.

Fees for formal written valuations are based on hourly rates for specialists and travel where applicable.

2. Auction and Reserves

Consigning to Auction

Based on the appraisal our relevant specialist, in consultation with you, will decide whether your property is appropriate for sale at auction. We will also recommend the most suitable auction and sale timing for the dispersal of your items. If you decide to proceed, you will be provided with a consignment note for signature and Leonard Joel will then receive your property for cataloguing and photography. We provide secure on-site storage for your property and all items are insured throughout the auction process.

Confidential Reserves

Where appropriate our specialists, in consultation with you, will set a minimum price, or reserve, below which your objects will not be sold. This reserve price will be held in strictest confidence and acts as your protection against inadequate buyer interest on the day of the auction. If bidding ceases before your reserve price has been met then the lot will be passed-in by the auctioneer. At a later date you may either have the property returned to you or you may choose to re-offer it in a future auction.

Thirteen Specialist Categories to Choose From

With thirteen categories for placement, Leonard Joel is able to continually provide clients with sales on a weekly and bi-monthly basis. These sales include related items and collections that have been carefully selected to create catalogues that represent both the finest items available for sale at that time and with attractive estimates to generate maximum public interest. All our special auctions are accompanied by quality catalogues that act as very useful marketing and educational resources. These catalogues feature colour images with detailed descriptions of the objects and their provenance where applicable.

Marketing Your Collection

Once you consign your property to Leonard Joel the marketing of your collection or single item to potential buyers begins. 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. All our catalogue auctions are posted online and to the internationally recognised ARTFACT live-bidding platform - this provides a reliable and global live bidding facility to collectors that cannot attend the auction in person.

3. Commissions & Fees

Commission and indemnity charges are on a success fee basis only - meaning that we only charge these fees on the items we have sold. Offer fees are only billed once and are charged irrespective of sale outcome - unsold items can be re-offered without further offer fees.

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

Fine Art & Sculpture
14% commission and $40 per lot offer fee*

Fine Aboriginal & Tribal Art
14% commission and $40 per lot offer fee*

Classic Furniture, Objects and Design
14% commission and $50 per lot (furniture) offer fee*
14% commission and $30 per lot (other items) offer fee*

Fine Jewellery, Wristwatches 
14% commission and $30 per lot offer fee*

Pre-Owned Luxury
14% commission and $25 per lot offer fee*

Collectables, Toys & Memorabilia
14% commission and $15 per lot offer fee*

Special Monthly Auctions
14% commission and $15 per lot offer fee*

Indemnity Fee: (Mandatory)
1.5% of each lot's final sale price

* Offer fee is payable irrespective of outcome of sale

4. After the Auction

Sale Summary & Settlement

After the auction, Leonard Joel provides all catalogue clients with a detailed inventory of their consignment, prices realised for each lot and proceeds of sale. Provided we are in receipt of cleared funds from the buyer, clients receive their sale summary and payment for their property approximately 8 days after the completion of our weekly auction and 35 days after our catalogue auction. Sales commission, insurance and other applicable charges are identified clearly on this advice and are deducted from the hammer price of your sold items.

Unsold Items

In the unlikely event that you have unsold items, your sale summary will identify them. In consultation with one of our specialists, you may elect to re-offer those items with a reduced reserve in a subsequent auction or have your property returned to you. If you should choose to re-offer your property you will be given the opportunity to readjust estimates or reserves and no further offer fee will apply.

Please download our Auction Procedure Sheets:
Catalogue Auctions - Selling.pdf
Weekly Auctions - Selling.pdf

For more information, please contact our Front of House at +61(0)3 9826 4333