Link Auction

Sometime people ask me about where to get furniture, etc. The answer depends on what they are looking for but I often point to the luck that I have had at Link Auction. I haven't visited Link that many times but all of the best deals that I got on furnishings occurred there. I will briefly list the benefits of such auctions:

1. Rugs- I can't think of a better place to find a rug. Generally, there are only a couple bidders on any given rug. This is because, for any given rug, there may only be one or two people there who even have the correct space and desire for it. For this reason, I got a 9x11 foot handwoven Persion rug for around $100.

2. Mid-Century Modern Furniture- One often sees great designer furniture going through link for very little indeed. These chairs are built to last and you might find them for 10-20% of their new value. I have seen especially good deals on dining room sets (sets of 6 chairs etc.) 

An important caveat, however: You ought to visit the preview beforehand to make sure that the item you are interested in doesn't have any faults, is comfortable, etc.

3. Auctions are an excellent way to get some art. It is easy to find great prints for around $100-300. Another benefit of buying art at an auction would be that many works are already framed.

THINGS TO NOTE

1. There is a premium that you have to pay on top of your winning bid. The premium is sliding but I think it is around 20%.

2. I strongly advise setting limits for yourself before the auction and setting an overall max on how much you spend. It's fun to bid but you don't want to get caught up.