- Auction Information
- Yes Waterhouse Realty & Auctioneers
is still in the auction business but….
The household auction as we once knew it has totally changed (but what hasn’t).
Joining in 1974 with my father Wesley in the auction business we would sell 2 and sometimes 3 or more household auctions weekly in the late spring and early fall ….. I can remember one month we conducted 17 auctions in 14 days but that same time frame we went 59 days between sales …. go figure. Not only was it a valuable method to serve those liquidating their household goods …. but it was also a “social event” for those who just liked to attend auctions.
Those household auctions could be $2,000.00 gross proceeds to as much as $7,000.00 or more if there were vehicles, riding mowers or other higher dollar items. The buying age at that time was normally in the 30’s and 40’s or higher depending on merchandise being offered.
COVID, buy sell and trade, garage sales, Ebay, and other factors have made the “on premise” household auction much like an 8 track tape player. 30’s and 40’s and even 50’s year olds today are not savers with a great many of them described as “minimalists” so the buying public is greatly limited even if the auction contains Grandpa and Grammas things.
Farm Retirement Auctions
My father started in the auction business in 1947. He told me that after getting “established” in the auction business he would sell 30 to as many as 50 machinery/farm equipment and livestock auctions from October to late April. Why only to April because 70% or more of the farms were not owned but rather rented. WOW!!! In the late 1940’s to the early 1950’s the average size farm was probably 80 to 120 acres with beef & dairy cattle, sheep, hogs, and chickens. The last I checked you can drive on Highway 13 from Elkader to Cedar Rapids and not see a herd of dairy cattle.
Today the consignment auctions serve sellers and buyers and the day of having a machinery auction on the farm is also just like an 8 track tape player.
Our entire focus is real estate auctions
Residential in some circumstances. Specifically farm real estate auctions serve Sellers and Buyers with advantages to both and is the modern way of selling farm land.
For the Seller you can establish a date and time your land will sell …. considering todays’ demand you will not be put in uncomfortable situation of having to pick among several interested buyers, everyone understands an auction is business not personal. There are many other advantages and we would like to visit with you …. the visit is confidential and without obligation outlining our 50+ years of experience of selling real estate at auction, market trends, and more.
For buyers you have a fair and equal opportunity and with broad base advertising you will know the land is being sold instead of being interested but only to hear that the land has already been sold!!!!
Auction ….. The Sound That Moves Millions Both People & Dollars
Proud to serve only the
best of people in 5 counties
Licensed Real Estate Broker & Auctioneer
Marvin 563 927-3660 or 563 920-0361
Auctioneer
David 563 920-2082