House of Bid
Guides
Original articles — how the clock works, how to sort a house with Post-its and QR stickers, how families post an estate and build awareness, and how our catalogs differ from a walk-through directory.
estate auction basics
How a timed online estate auction works
A timed online estate auction is a photographed catalog with a closing clock on each lot. You register a paddle, bid from your phone or a browser, and collect wins at the sale address after the sale settles. There is no shipping cart. Preview days are usually before bidding ends.
Readbidding mechanics
What Bid now, Raise, and max bid mean
Bid now places the opening amount when nobody has bid yet. Once a bid stands, Raise places the next increment. A max bid is a private ceiling: the house bids the minimum needed to keep you winning, up to that amount. Other paddles never see your ceiling.
Readsale types
Estate sale, yard sale, and auction house — what is different
An estate sale on House of Bid is a family Event: one address, a photographed catalog, about 250 lots, $199 once. A yard sale is a smaller driveway catalog, $79 proposed. An auction house is a repeating business that applies for invitation and receives the Managed House rate card only after we approve.
Readfulfillment
How pickup works after you win
Winning is not shipping. Warehouse lots use a scheduled dock window. Estate and yard lots stay where they were photographed — you collect at the sale address. A pickup pass is issued after the sale settles. Staging does not charge a live card.
Readsellers families
How to list an estate sale
Post your estate first, then build awareness until enough people are watching. Launch the sale, add inventory in the rooms while you prepare for the date, and only then set the auction clock and preview. Photograph in place. Event is $199. Repeating houses apply at Join — not this family path.
Readmarket directory
House of Bid catalogs and EstateSales.NET listings
EstateSales.NET is a listing board. Families can post a few sales a year for a listing fee, but that site does not run the bidding software. House of Bid houses the estate on a clock: you commit to the auction, bidders bid, and what sells, sells. We do not scrape their catalogs. Bid here only when the lot is housed.
Readsellers families
Clear the house, protect a few lots, or leftover buy-now
A listing board lets you post a few sales a year. House of Bid houses the sale on a clock: bidders commit, and what sells, sells. Answer a short questionnaire so we know if you need to clear everything or protect a few lots. Floors and leftover buy-now stay below typical sold low. Comps are helpers, not an appraisal.
Readmarket directory
How to find an estate sale company
Families who do not want to run the sale themselves hire an estate sale company on House of Bid. Those companies photograph in the rooms and list a timed catalog here. Auction houses on Houses are catalogs you bid on. We do not scrape EstateSales.NET or copy their company directory. List your company at Join. Or run the sale yourself on Sell.
Readbidders
How to register a paddle
Open Register, enter name and email, and create a bidder. That paddle lets you explore catalogs, watch lots, and bid on the clock. You do not wait for an invitation. Guest paddles are off. Staging can load a test buyer without SMTP.
Readpricing literacy
How to read start bids, standing bids, and estimates
The start bid is the opening ask on a housed lot. Once someone bids, the standing bid is the live market. Typical sold ranges shown when we name a lot are comparable-sale helpers, not appraisals. Event $199 and Yard $79 are seller SKUs — not what a lot will hammer for.
Readestate sort
How to sort an estate sale room by room
Walk one room at a time. Mark every object with a Post-it: keep, donate, trash, or sell. Sell pieces get a QR sticker from our pack, an Amazon pack, or a sheet you print. Photograph each sell piece in place, then bind the sticker when the lot is named. Do not move the object after the photo.
Readestate sort
Post-its and QR stickers on an estate sale
Estate crews already sort with colored notes. House of Bid keeps that: yellow means sell, pink keep, green donate, blue trash. A sell note is not a catalog lot. Put a QR sticker on each sell piece so a scan opens the tag URL and binds the photographed object. Buy our pack, buy that pack on Amazon when the listing is live, or print the QR sheet.
Readestate sort
Print QR sheets or buy the sticker pack
Print House of Bid QR codes on a US Letter two-by-two sticker sheet. Each code is an unbound tag until someone binds it to a lot. The pack we sell is those same codes on vinyl with a Post-it legend card. You can order that pack from us, buy it on Amazon when the listing is live, or print the sheet at home. Checkout for the physical pack stays gated.
Readestate sort
Warehouse consignment vs sorting the house yourself
Warehouse consignment companies pick up the house contents, sort them off-site, photograph them on a studio table, and run a national timed auction. House of Bid keeps the walk in the rooms. Families mark keep, donate, trash, and sell with Post-its, QR-sticker only the sell pieces, and photograph in place. Choose Event or Yard on Sell, or apply as a repeating house on Join.
Readfulfillment
How staff run estate pickup after the clock
After the sale closes, only staff walk the house. Leave every paid piece in the room where it was photographed. Set a staging table at the front. Buyers wait there with a pass. Staff fetch by tag, scan, and match the invoice. A wrong handoff is a refund. If it is not marked, it does not leave.
Readsellers families
Seller lot-complete — we are good, then sign here
House of Bid will try to help if a piece is missed, but the seller must confirm each lot is complete before pickup starts. Walk the paid lots with staff. When both sides say we are good, the seller signs the lot-complete card, then leaves. Staff run the front. This card is an operations checklist, not legal advice.
Readlocal marketplace
How a local pickup-only marketplace works
Local works like Facebook Marketplace for pickup — list a photo, meet in person, pay at the handoff, no shipping. The difference is timed bidding: neighbors bid on a clock and the high bid wins, instead of messaging “Is this available?” or haggling with named offers like OfferUp. San Diego is first; other cities waitlist until enough neighbors join. Listings are not open yet.
Readsellers families
Where to post your estate sale link
A timed online estate catalog needs local eyes before the clock. House of Bid gives you paste text for Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, Craigslist yard, and printed flyers — you post; we do not auto-post where bots are banned. Our SEO helps search find our catalogs. Event is $199 once, not a percent of hammer.
Readsellers families
How many photos does each lot need?
Each lot needs enough photos that a stranger could find it in the house and judge condition without guessing. Shoot front and back, maker labels, damage, and the room or area where it sits. One pretty angle is not a catalog lot.
Readsellers families
What gets a listing removed?
House of Bid removes listings that lie about condition, hide damage, use stock photos of a piece the seller does not have, or offer prohibited goods. Sellers attest that the copy matches the object before publish, and staff review every estate launch before it opens for preview. Repeat abuse forfeits fees and ends hosting on this roof.
Readsellers families
How do opening bids and AI assist work?
On Sell, photograph in place and optional paste from Google Lens or sold links. Name this lot uses fixture comps to suggest a title, category, and opening range. You still set the reserve and publish — helpers, not an appraisal.
Readvaluation appraisal
Is your inherited silverware worth anything?
Sterling silver is worth more than silverplate because it's roughly 92.5% silver all the way through, while silverplate is a thin layer over a base metal. Check the back or underside for a hallmark, weigh the piece if you can, and note the maker and pattern before assuming anything is 'just old silver.' Condition and demand for the specific pattern often matter more than the silver content alone.
Readvaluation appraisal
How to identify sterling silver hallmarks
A hallmark is a small stamped mark, usually on the back or underside of a piece, that can indicate purity (like '925' or 'Sterling'), country of origin, and sometimes the maker and date. American pieces often just say 'Sterling'; British pieces use a fuller system of purity, city, and date letters. A hallmark is a clue to research further, not proof of age, authenticity, or value on its own.
Readvaluation appraisal
How to know what antique furniture is worth
Antique furniture value comes from age, maker or label, wood and construction quality, how original the piece is, and whether the market currently wants that style. A beautiful 200-year-old piece in a style collectors have moved away from can be worth less than a well-made recent piece in demand. Sentimental value and market value are different numbers.
Readvaluation appraisal
Spotting quality in antique furniture: joinery and wood
Open a drawer and look closely at the joints, the wood, and the hardware. Hand-cut dovetails, solid wood, irregular saw marks, and hand-forged hardware all point to older or higher-quality work, while perfectly uniform joints and machine hardware suggest later mass production. No single sign proves age or value — they are clues you weigh together.
Readvaluation appraisal
Is that painting special? A beginner's guide
Start by figuring out what you're actually looking at: an original oil or watercolor, a print, or a mass-produced reproduction, since that alone changes everything else. Then look at the signature or monogram, the condition of the canvas or paper, and whether the frame is original to the piece. None of this replaces a professional appraisal — it just helps you decide whether getting one is worth doing.
Readvaluation appraisal
Signed vs. unsigned art: does it actually matter?
A signature is one data point, not proof. It can match a known artist's hand and support authenticity, but signatures are also forged, added later, or belong to a minor or unknown painter. An unsigned piece can still be valuable if the materials, style, and history point to a real artist. Value comes from the whole picture, not just the name in the corner.
Readvaluation appraisal
What appraisers actually look for when they examine an object
Appraisers don't guess — they work through a consistent checklist: what is it made of, who made it, what condition is it in, how rare is it, and is there paperwork backing its history. Current market demand then determines what all of that adds up to today. You can run the same checklist on almost anything in an estate before deciding what deserves closer research.
Readvaluation appraisal
Costume vs. fine jewelry: how to tell what you have
Fine jewelry is usually stamped with a purity mark like 10k, 14k, 18k, or 925 and uses genuine stones set by hand. Costume jewelry is often unmarked or carries only a maker's name, uses plated base metal, and sets glass or synthetic stones in glue. Marks narrow it down but do not replace a jeweler.
Readvaluation appraisal
What collectors actually look for in vintage watches
Collectors weigh several things together: the brand and model, whether the movement is mechanical or quartz, how original the parts and dial are, whether it runs and keeps reasonable time, and whether the original box and papers survive. A well-known brand with a replaced dial and mismatched parts is worth less to a serious collector than a lesser-known brand that's fully original. No single feature decides value on its own.
Readvaluation appraisal
Is grandma's china actually worth collecting?
Some inherited china is genuinely collectible, but most everyday formal sets from the mid-to-late 1900s are worth far less than families expect — demand for full dinnerware services has dropped. What separates them is the backstamp, whether the pattern was limited or discontinued, completeness, and condition. Check the backstamp before assuming either extreme.
Readvaluation appraisal
Coin collecting basics: are your coins actually valuable?
Most inherited coins are common dates trading near face or melt value, not rare finds. Real value comes from low mintage, high grade, and numismatic demand beyond metal content. Key dates and mint errors are the exception, not the rule. A coin dealer or grading service can tell you which bucket yours falls into.
Readvaluation appraisal
How to spot a real antique vs. a reproduction
A real antique usually shows hand-tool marks, materials and hardware consistent with its claimed era, and wear that's uneven and concentrated where hands and feet actually touched it. A reproduction often has machine-perfect edges, modern materials hiding under an aged finish, and wear that's too even to be real. No single clue proves age on its own — look at construction, materials, and wear together.
Readvaluation appraisal
What to research before you sell a family heirloom
Before selling anything inherited, photograph it clearly, check for maker's marks or labels, and gather any paperwork tied to it — receipts, letters, photos of it in use. Do not clean, polish, or repair it first: restoration strips exactly the surface detail that establishes age. Get more than one opinion before deciding.
Readvaluation appraisal
Military memorabilia: what's actually collectible?
Genuinely collectible military memorabilia usually includes named or documented medals, uniforms and insignia tied to a specific unit or period, personal letters and photographs, and original paperwork. Mass-produced reproduction militaria — common on the collectibles market for decades — is usually worth little regardless of how authentic it looks. Firearms and other weapons found in an estate need licensed dealers and specific legal handling, not general research.
Readvaluation appraisal
Mid-century modern furniture: why it's worth more now
Mid-century modern furniture, roughly 1940s through 1960s, has grown far more collectible as tastes shifted toward clean lines and warm wood. A piece by a named, documented designer draws much more interest than an unmarked piece in the style of the era. Original finish and solid teak or walnut beat a refinished piece or veneer.
Readvaluation appraisal
Art glass and pottery marks: how to identify them
Value in art glass and pottery comes from a combination of maker, method, and condition, not any single clue. A mark on the base is a starting point for research, not proof by itself. Hand-tooled or hand-thrown pieces generally carry more interest than mold-cast or mass-produced ones. A chip, crack, or repair can drop a piece's desirability sharply even when the maker is well known.
Readvaluation appraisal
Old books and manuscripts: when are they worth something
Most old books are common and worth very little, including family bibles and anything simply a century old. Value depends on edition, dust jacket presence and condition, verified signatures, and physical condition. Old, leather-bound, or gilt-edged is not by itself a sign of worth. First editions in original jackets are the exception.
Readvaluation appraisal
Are musical instruments in an estate worth selling?
Whether an inherited instrument is worth selling depends on maker, condition, playability, and current demand — not age. Old upright pianos are hard to sell because moving and tuning often cost more than a buyer will pay. String instrument labels naming a famous maker are usually later copies. A playable, known-brand instrument is the best auction candidate.
Readvaluation appraisal
How auction estimates and starting bids are set
An estimate or starting bid is built from recent comparable sold prices, adjusted for that piece's condition and current demand. It is an entry point, not a guaranteed value or a ceiling. On a timed platform the starting bid opens the clock, and the closing price is whatever bidders actually pay — above or below the estimate.
Readvaluation appraisal
What not to throw away when clearing an estate
Before clearing a house, set aside anything with handwriting, a maker's mark, a signature, or a small enclosed space — the categories most often thrown out by accident. That means letters and photos, jewelry boxes and their contents, coin jars, books, tins, furniture hardware, and documents. A few minutes before the dumpster arrives prevents real losses.
Readsellers families
How to become a seller on House of Bid
There are two doors. A family settling one address lists on Sell at published Event or Yard prices with no application. A repeating auction business applies on Join, answers a short questionnaire about volume and setup, receives the fee structure by email the same day, and books a 30-minute call. Account review takes 24 to 48 hours.
Readvaluation appraisal
How to spot a fake designer handbag
Counterfeit designer bags usually fail on construction, not on the logo. Check stitch count and angle, hardware weight and engraving, lining material, the alignment of the pattern across seams, and the smell of the leather. Serial and date codes help but are widely faked. No single check is proof, and a real authentication is a paid service.
Readvaluation appraisal
What the frame tells you about the painting
A frame is evidence. Hand-carved wood with real gilding, a period-appropriate profile, and old fitting hardware suggest a picture someone once thought was worth protecting. Composition ornament, a stapled back, and modern hanging wire suggest a later reframe. The back of the frame and stretcher often carry labels, stamps, and stock numbers worth more than the front.
Readbidders
Buy what you like — then do the research
Most categories people buy as an investment do not outperform, and the ones that do require expertise you only build by caring about the objects. Buy what you actually want to live with, then research it properly — condition, maker, comparable sold prices. Taste plus homework tends to find better and stranger things than chasing whatever is currently hot.
Readvaluation appraisal
Pricing arrowheads, fossils, and crystals
Arrowheads, fossils, and mineral specimens are priced on authenticity, documented provenance, condition, and legality of collection — not on size or looks. Reproduction points are extremely common, fossils from protected land cannot be legally sold, and most decorative crystals are inexpensive commercial material. Documentation of where and when a piece was collected often matters more than the piece.
Readbidders
Tips and tricks for reselling what you win
Reselling profitably comes from buying below comparable sold prices with the full cost of the flip already counted: buyer premium, fuel, storage, cleaning, photography, listing fees, and your own hours. The reliable margin is in unglamorous work — sorting mixed box lots, cleaning, identifying unmarked pieces, and splitting bulk into the units buyers actually search for.
Readfulfillment
How to reserve your dock pickup window
Warehouse wins do not get a pickup pass automatically. Pay the invoice in full, open it from Account → Invoices, and a Pickup window panel appears with the open dock slots. Pick one and select Reserve dock slot — that mints a pickup pass with your window on it. Estate and yard buyers do not book a slot; they wait at the front during the sale's posted pickup days instead.
Readdeal radar
How to manage or cancel Deal Radar notifications
Deal Radar is not a recurring subscription you cancel — the free tier has no charge, and Early Access is a one-time unlock, not a monthly bill. What you manage instead is which categories and ZIPs you're watching and whether email notices are on. Both live on Account → Saved searches, and both change with one click — no ticket needed.
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