Demolition Auction Dos and Don'ts

Did chills run down your spine when you saw a homeowner on Wrecklamation buy a like-new deep freezer for pennies on the dollar? Did you work up a sweat just watching Jodi auction off an unused sauna that would be perfect in your own bathroom? After witnessing the wallet and environmentally-friendly deals offered on Wrecklamation, you might find yourself interested in saving a few bucks on your next renovation project while also saving the planet, so here are some tips and tricks to make your demolition auction experience amazing.

DO bring plenty of cash. Payments almost always must be made in cash (except in rare cases for regulars), immediately after the auction ends and before any removal can begin.

DON'T expect to be able to bend the rules, especially on your first auction. You run the risk of losing your item if you aren't prepared to pay ASAP. If you're afraid of carrying so much cash on your person, plan ahead by finding the ATM machine or bank nearest the demolition auction. Detailed receipts showing the amount paid for each item will always be available for tax purposes.

DO get to the auction site early. Once the auction begins, things will move too quickly for you to get a good look at the item you are interested in bidding on.

DON'T visit the home before the day of the demolition auction. As it is private property (and perhaps still someone's home), you can be charged with trespassing. Arriving an hour before auction should be sufficient.

DO have a plan of attack. As Wrecklamation shows, demolition auctions can be very high-pressure and exciting, sometimes leading to overbidding and overbuying.

DON'T just start bidding on one item after another. You'll end up with a lot of pieces that you can't use and may have to just throw away, defeating the entire purpose of the recycling and cost-saving auction. Set a budget and write down the items that you need in order of importance and stick to that list. Your storage and savings will thank you later.

DO have a removal team ready if you?re planning on purchasing big items. All purchased items must be out the door by the end of the day, and chaos can ensue if you aren?t prepared to extract. Remember to factor this cost into the price of the items!

DON'T depend on hiring the team of an individual you've outbid. Chances are, they will be using their team to remove other purchases, or they may be spiteful -- hey, it happens. If you?re 100% set on getting a large or heavy item, hire a team and bring them with you to the auction. If you're less sure that you'll be bringing a large item home with you, then engage a removal team on an as-needed basis. Be sure they are ready to come remove your item as soon as you call with the good news. The demolition auctioneer should have team recommendations and average cost information.

DO measure your own house beforehand and bring a tape measure to the auction. No matter how awesome the buy and adorable the purchase, if it doesn't fit inside of your house dimensions, you're going to be very upset.

DON'T make guesses as you eyeball potential purchases. Get to the demolition auction early to measure items for compatibility, and have someone at home on standby with another tape measure in case you forgot a key measurement. There are no returns at demolition auctions, so it?s up to you to know what will and will not work.

DO research serial and model numbers of appliances, furniture, and electronic before you bid. While many demolition homes feature fancy new items for auction, older homes are often up for bid for even bigger bargains. Extra caution must be made to avoid purchasing items that have been recalled or that have known quality concerns.

DON'T just hope for the best. A quick Web search on your PDA for the serial and model numbers will bring up the possible age, any recalls, and quality concerns that should keep you from bidding, saving you thousands of dollars and a ton of disappointment.