Buying & Selling Information
Selling at Burstow & Hewett
Our sales provide the quickest and most efficient way of selling in the area. If you are thinking of selling, whether it is a single item or an entire house contents, we are thoroughly prepared and professionally experienced to help.
If you can bring the items in to us we are available on any day except sale days to give free advice and valuations for sale, without obligation.
If your items are too awkward to bring in, or if you would rather have a home visit, one of our qualified and experienced valuers will gladly come to you. There is also no charge for this service.
House Clearance
Every week we take instructions from prominent local firms of solicitors in the area, as well as from private individuals, trustees and executors.
If you are dealing with the contents of a property please contact us as soon as possible. We will endeavour to visit the property at the earliest convenience, usually within 24 hours, when our experienced valuers can offer advice on valuation, security and sale of the contents. Once a property is uninhabited it can be a target for burglars. Immediate action is required.
If you decide to proceed, we will arrange to clear the items to be sold (using our own staff and vans) as soon as possible to our secure premises, where they are allocated to the appropriate category of sale to ensure that they sell for the highest possible prices.
Buying at Burstow & Hewett
Advice
If you would like advice on any lots in our sales, please contact a member of staff by phone, fax or e-mail. We will be able to advise on quality, condition, estimated sale price, or any other matter.
Catalogues
Catalogues are available five days prior to the sale day, either from our salerooms or through the post. Catalogues may be viewed on this site five days prior to the sale and will include illustrations of selected lots. If an item of interest is not illustrated, we will gladly e-mail an image to you.
Care is taken to ensure that any statement as to authorship, attribution, origin, date, material and provenance is reliable and accurate but all such statements are statements of opinion only and are not to be taken as representation of fact. Please read our conditions of sale and glossary carefully before bidding. Prospective buyers are advised to inspect lots in person.
Commission Bidding (Absentee)
If you cannot attend the sale in person, we will be happy to bid on your behalf. We will buy the lot as cheaply as other bids or reserves permit, up to your maximum stated amount. Bidding forms are available in the salerooms or on this site.
Buyers Premium
The purchaser shall pay the bid price together with a buyers premium of 15% + VAT, which will be added to your account at the time of payment.
Condition Reports
Catalogue description occasionally refer to damage, absence of such advice does not imply that an item is free from defect. On request we will provide condition reports and digital images free of charge.
Estimates
Estimates are given with all catalogue descriptions. They do not necessarily imply the existence of a reserve price and are intended as a guide price in normal sale conditions. Estimates may be subject to revision.
Payments
Purchases must be paid for within 5 days of the sale. Methods of payment are cash, cheque supported by guarantee card, bankers draft, credit card or debit card. Payments made by credit card will be subject to a 2% surcharge.
Picture Cataloguing Glossary
Full Christian name and surname of the artist:
In our opinion a work by the artist. These are the only works which carry our limited guarantee, and may be returned within 7 days if found not to be genuine.
Surname only – with or without initials
A work which may or may not be by the artist
Attributed to.......
In our opinion probably a work by the artist but not guaranteed
After.......
In our opinion a copy of a known work of the artist
Circle of........
In our opinion a work of the period of the artist, which may or may not be by the artist.
Follower of.........
In our opinion a work in the style of the artist, which may be of a later date.
Bears signature/date/inscription
Has a signature/date/inscription which may be by the artist or may have been added at a later date.