Terms and Conditions

Prospective purchasers should always thoroughly examine any items they are interested in before placing a bid and before the auction commences. For those unable to attend in person, we offer an image and condition report service by telephone and email, however buyers are responsible for satisfying themselves concerning the description and condition of the lots before proceeding to purchase - whilst every care is taken to provide an accurate description in the catalogue, it is based on a statement of opinion and not on fact.

We also take this opportunity to remind you to refer to our glossary for assistance when considering descriptions, although this is not exhaustive and should you wish any term explained, do please contact our Auction Centre directly - we advise that it is your responsibility to clarify descriptions with a member of our staff before purchasing.

Once you are content with your decision, we invite you to attend our auctions to enjoy the drama and theatre of a sale, however we acknowledge this is not always possible, and so we offer the following options:

• ABSENTEE BID   |   You are welcome to leave a bid with us and the auctioneer will bid on your behalf against other bidders. When you have decided which lots you would like to bid on you may leave bids in person at our Auction Centre, via email to [email protected], or by telephone on 01283 733988. We advise that such requests should be placed as far in advance as possible, and, where there is staff availability, if these are placed whilst at our London Auction venue, these will be accepted up until 30 minutes before the sale commences, however bids placed by email or telephone must be received by 4.30pm on the day before the auction to allow enough time for the relevant administration work to be carried out. Absentee bidder’s instructions may be cancelled at any time before the auction takes place, but cancellation cannot be guaranteed once an auction has commenced. No responsibility is accepted for bids not actioned by Hansons for whatever reason; we reserve the right to refuse an application where we feel it appropriate.
• TELEPHONE BIDS   |   You are welcome to register to bid by telephone; on the day of the auction, a member of our team will contact you shortly before the lot appears for sale, they will then act on your behalf in the saleroom, bidding on your instruction. We advise that such requests should be placed as far in advance as possible, and, where there is staff availability, if these are placed whilst at our London Auction venue, these will be accepted up until 30 minutes before the sale commences however bids placed by email or telephone must be received by 4.30pm on the day before the auction to allow enough time for the relevant administration work to be carried out - please note that this is a first come first served service, and where there are many bidders previously logged we may not always be able to accept registration. No responsibility is accepted for bids not actioned by Hansons for whatever reason; we reserve the right to refuse an application where we feel it appropriate.
• LIVE ONLINE BIDDING   |   This service allows you to take part in an auction from the comfort of your home, at the office, or perhaps from the pool side whilst you are on holiday! To access this service, please visit our website, www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk to access Hansonslive, where you will find instructions on how, and when, to register – this is an easy to use service, however should you have any difficulties do please contact us on 01283 733988 and we will be able to advise you further. Please note that there is an additional 3% + VAT buyer’s premium for this service. Our sales are also available on www.the-saleroom.com, noting that there is an additional 7% + VAT buyer’s premium for this service. No responsibility is accepted for bids not actioned by Hansons for whatever reason; we reserve the right to refuse an application where we feel it appropriate.

REGISTRATION   |   Buyers need to register at each sale before bidding in person. Please complete a registration form at the Auction Centre and pass this to our registration team who will then issue you with a bidding number – please note a form of identification will be needed. For those placing commission or telephone bids, we will ask for your name, address, telephone number (to include a land line) and email

address. No responsibility is accepted for bids not actioned by Hansons for whatever reason; we reserve the right to refuse an application where we feel it appropriate.

BUYER’S PREMIUM   |   A buyer’s premium of 25% + VAT is payable in addition to the hammer price. Please refer to the point titled LIVE ONLINE BIDDING above for details on the additional charges for this service. VAT (charged at the current rate) is payable on the premium only. A minimum lot charge of £5 + VAT applies.  We accept all major debit and credit cards, however, cheques are only accepted by prior arrangement and lots purchased in this manner cannot be collected until full bank clearance is completed (at the time of writing, approximately seven working days).

PRIVATE TREATY SALES   |   In addition to auction sales Hansons negotiate Private Treaty sales between ‘willing buyer and willing seller’, or where several parties are interested, we offer a sealed bid Private Treaty sale service, whereby the interested parties will be invited for ‘best and final offer’ sealed bids, thus ensuring the vendor receives the optimum price. Where items are not offered for sale by auction but are included in the auction catalogue as Private Treaty Sales, sealed bids are requested to be received by 12 noon on the day the items are offered for sale, with the highest bidder winning the item. In all cases, Private Treaty Sales incur the same charges as if the Lot had been sold at Auction. We reserve the right to refuse an application where we feel it appropriate; no responsibility is accepted for bids not actioned by Hansons for whatever reason.

AFTER SALE OFFERS   |   Where an item remains unsold on auction day, should a reasonable offer be made during the week following the sale, Hansons reserve the right, in their position as agents, to accept on the vendors behalf. All such sales incur the same charges as if the Lot had been sold at Auction.

CONTINUING CONTACT  |  Hansons do not pass your details onto third parties but we may forward enquiries to you from third parties, and buyers give permission for Hansons to pass to them any enquiries from third parties contacting Hansons regarding items offered to the market through our auctions. Please advise us if you do not want to receive such contact. 

COLLECTION OF PURCHASED ITEMS   |   All buyers and couriers must check their purchases prior to departure from the collection point - Hansons will accept no claims for loss or damage thereafter. All items must be paid for and collected within five days following the end of the sale, after this period storage charges of £5 + VAT per lot per day will apply and your items will not be insured. Storage charges will be payable prior to collection.

DELIVERY OF PURCHASED ITEMS   |   Online buyers can take advantage of our online hosts partnered delivery service, for those purchasing at the sale or via telephone or absentee bids, should you not be collecting in person, please advise our office ahead of time who will be collecting on your behalf as we will not release lots otherwise.

USEFUL INFORMATION  |  In these conditions Hansons/Hansons London means Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd.

Please note all furniture is sold as a work of art, not for functional use in a domestic setting. Upholstered items which do not comply with fire regulations will be sold for their structural and artistic value only, not for household use in their current state. Fire Safety Regulations do not apply to furniture intended for export and furniture manufactured prior to 1950.