Videos
Short, practical collector tips from Dion Abadi, an Atlanta-based art and jewelry auctioneer and author. Each Short runs under a minute and links to a longer written guide on this site. All videos are published on the official YouTube channel @dionabadi-official.
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· 30 sec · YouTube Short
Read every line of a lot description before you bid: materials, size, attribution, and what the catalog leaves unsaid all matter.
Related: Buying art at auction: attribution terms and lot descriptions
· 30 sec · YouTube Short
Absentee bidding lets you leave a maximum bid without sitting in the room. Put the limit in writing, know how increments work, and do not stretch because you are away.
Related: Absentee bidding: how to bid without being in the room
· 30 sec · YouTube Short
Winning the lot is only halfway. Know the payment window, separate the hammer price from the full invoice, plan pickup, and get shipping terms in writing.
Related: After the hammer falls: payment, pickup, and shipping
· 29 sec · YouTube Short
Provenance is the ownership trail. Read the catalog claims, ask for sources, and watch for gaps before you bid.
· 42 sec · YouTube Short
Verify any auctioneer’s license with the state’s official public lookup before you bid or consign. Rules vary by state, so rely on the official agency.
Related: How to check an auctioneer’s license
· 30 sec · YouTube Short
Set your hard maximum before the auction starts, and include buyer’s premium and shipping in that number.
· 30 sec · YouTube Short
Why preview day matters before you bid: it is your chance to see lots in person before the sale.
· 30 sec · YouTube Short
What the low and high estimate mean, why they are guidance rather than a guarantee, how to plan with buyer’s premium, and when to ask the auction house.
· 12 sec · YouTube Short
A brief explanation of reserve prices and what they mean for bidders.
· 12 sec · YouTube Short
When a lot is sold “as-is,” the sale is generally final, so inspect carefully and ask questions before you bid.
· 12 sec · YouTube Short
Always ask about the buyer’s premium before you bid, so you know what the lot will really cost.
Related: Buyer’s premium at auction: what to check before you bid
· 12 sec · YouTube Short
Ask the auction house for the condition report before you bid.
· 10 sec · YouTube Short
Keep a reliable reference list as you research makers, media, condition, and provenance.
· 12 sec · YouTube Short
Read the auction terms before you bid: check fees, pickup details, and payment deadlines.
Related: Buyer’s premium at auction: what to check before you bid
· 24 sec · YouTube Short
A short collector tip from Atlanta with Dion Abadi.
Related: All collector tips from Dion Abadi
The written collector tips go deeper on each topic, and the topic guides cover buying art, buying estate jewelry, and buying watches at auction. Dion Abadi’s books cover the same ground in more detail.