Please give us as much information as possible. As well as a description, include any relevant information you have such as the condition, dimensions, weight, material, medium, maker, artist, provenance, history, ancillary items, etc. If you have any paperwork (like receipts, certificates, etc.) do let us know. Clear colour photos are also useful, front, back and of any relevant detail such as signature, maker’s mark or any damage.

You can discuss any condition issues with one of our valuers. Any condition issues with items we sell are detailed as part of our auction cataloguing.

We typically take items into our Singapore saleroom so that they can be inspected, catalogued and photographed. We will advise you if/when we need to do so. Please do not send us items, or bring in items for appraisal or consignment, before being requested to do so or confirming with us first.

Certainly. You can easily submit items for appraisal via WhatsApp Messenger. Simply send photos and details to our dedicated WhatsApp account at +65 8660 3476. Our valuation team will review your message and respond to you. Please note that this number is for messaging only, and we may not be able to answer calls to it.

Absolutely! Large consignments are where we really excel, given the size and experience of our valuation team. Please send us an introductory email to hello@hotlotz.com outlining your circumstances for our consideration or give us a call on (+65) 6254 7616. Appraisers with responsibility for special projects, including Private Collection, Estate Services, Business Sellers or Home Contents will then contact you.

Yes. We are generally happy to come to you. It may depend on an initial assessment of your item(s) including the number and nature of them.

No. We can only work for you on a consignment basis, meaning we try to sell the item on your behalf. The item remains yours until we sell it.

Various aspects will affect the item’s value, such as auction records for similar items, quality, condition, size, weight, maker, artist, provenance, history, rarity, exhibition and publication history, ancillary items, and paperwork (like receipts, certificates, etc.).

It will vary by individual item and what someone is prepared to pay for it. We can provide you with a free appraisal and valuation for any items we typically sell.

Estimates are based on the experience of our valuations team and what we believe the item will sell for at auction. They also take into account auction records for similar items and factors including condition, rarity, certification and available provenance. Given the competitive nature of auctions, estimates are often exceeded.

Auction pricing is based on prices achieved at auction, not what the item might fetch in a retail environment (which might be considerably higher). We tend to be conservative about auction pricing, both to drive interest and competition for the item and because we would rather under promise and over deliver.

Yes. We will agree with you an ‘opening bid’ or reserve amount, which is the minimum price at which we can sell an item. This will be recorded in your sales contract. It is better to set a lower opening bid amount in order to drive interest and competition for the item, which will increase the sale price.

Before an item can be included in an auction, it needs to be appraised, catalogued and a sales contract prepared and agreed. The sales contract will also specify the auction the item will appear in, based on the most appropriate category of auction and our auction calendar. As we generally work on commission, it’s in our interests to list and sell your item as soon as possible.

Yes. Items are made available for viewing by buyers in our Singapore saleroom (unless agree with you otherwise) while the auction catalogue is online or in the marketplace.

We will provide you with a receipt for any items in our possession. These are kept at our saleroom, which has high standards of security and we provide insurance (covered by our insurance fee).

All of our auctions take place using an industry-leading global platform. We also use electronic direct mail, platforms such as Google, Facebook and Instagram and newspaper and trade publication advertising. In addition, we adopt specific marketing campaigns for particular auctions.

No, you grant us exclusivity whilst an item is in auction or on sale in our Marketplace. If we discover your item on sale elsewhere we will withdraw it from sale and you will be invoiced for a withdrawal fee.

Yes, but you will be charged a withdrawal fee of $50 (inc. GST) as recorded in your sales contract. If you withdraw the item after the relevant auction catalogue has been published, an additional amount of 20% of the low estimate amount for the item specified in your sales contract will apply. This fee will be invoiced and must be paid before you collect your item.

The day after the auction closing date, you will receive an email notifying you whether (or not) the item(s) sold and the closing bid price(s) achieved. Please note the closing bid price includes GST which is the responsibility of the buyer, but the GST amount will then be removed and we use the GST exclusive price for the seller. You can also check the status of your consigned items at any time in the overview section of your Hotlotz account. We also publish auction results on the ‘Auctions/Auction Results’ page of our website.

What happens if an item does not sell will be agreed with you in your sales contract. We usually list items for one auction only. Items that are unsold in auction can be given a ‘second chance’ and offered for immediate sale with a fixed price in our online marketplace. The marketplace is particularly useful for sellers who do not want unsold items returned. We do not charge you any seller’s commission or insurance fee if the item is unsold.

Payments (or settlements) usually take place within 30 days of the auction’s closing date. Settlements are made by bank transfer into your nominated bank account. Please note that you are responsible for accurately recording your bank account details in your online Hotlotz account dashboard. You will receive a ‘Settlement Statement’ by automated email confirming that the transfer has taken place. A copy of the statement will also be filed in your online dashboard (Simply log in and go to My Account; Paperwork; Settlement Statements). Payments can only be made to the bank account of the individual or organisation named as the seller in the sales contract and your Hotlotz account. You must ensure that you have recorded your full legal name (exactly as it's written in your passport) in your Hotlotz account and that it matches with the sales contract and bank account name. Please update your profile if that’s not the case.

If your settlement is delayed it may be for a number of reasons. Typically it is because the bank account names does not match the name of the seller in the sales contract and your Hotlotz account. You must ensure that you have recorded your full legal name (exactly as it's written in your passport) in your Hotlotz account and that it matches with the sales contract and bank account name. Please update your profile if that’s not the case. Settlements will also be delayed if we are waiting for payment from a buyer. We have very robust processes in place to ensure that settlements are made in a timely manner but occasionally buyers can be slow to pay their invoices for example if they are away. Buyers who renege on purchases are extremely rare as they are banned from future bidding with us and our global platform partner, the-saleroom.com. This acts as a deterrent. We never dispatch items without receiving a cleared payment. In the unlikely event that any buyer reneges on a sale we will offer the item to the underbidder, if one exists.

We charge seller’s commission, only once an item sells. The rate is either a percentage agreed with you for auctions and recorded in your sales contract, or a uniform 21.8% (inc. GST) for marketplace sales. A minimum amount of commission, which is $50 (inc. GST), applies in all cases (in order to cover our costs of sale). We apply the commission per lot, which might have one or more items. Other fees may apply, such as an insurance fee of 1.7% (inc. GST), a withdrawal fee of $50 (inc. GST), or fees related to shipping, certification or professional cleaning.

We charge a minimum seller’s commission fee of $50 (inc. GST) per item sold. This is outlined in your sales contract. This is to cover our costs of sale, in case the % rate of seller’s commission ends up being lower than $50 (inc. GST) and therefore does not cover our costs.

All sales in Singapore are generally subject to GST, which is the buyer’s responsibility. To meet price display rules, the price of each item has to have GST applied and the GST has to be included in the auction ‘closing bid’ price or marketplace ‘buy now’ price. The price of the item will therefore be less than the auction ‘closing bid’ price or marketplace ‘buy now’ price once that GST is removed. This GST exclusive price is the amount we settle to the seller for the item, after deductions for our commission and fees. Where a seller has agreed to be named, Hotlotz may not have to charge GST on the item – in which case the buyer will still pay the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price and the seller may need to account for the GST. In this case, Hotlotz will settle the full amount of the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price to the seller for the item, after deductions for any commission and fees.

The seller’s commission that we charge are calculated on the price once any GST on the item, which is the buyer’s responsibility, is removed. This applies to all items except those that are sold by a named seller where GST on the item is not chargeable by Hotlotz so the commission that Hotlotz charges is calculated on the full amount of the auction 'closing bid price' or marketplace 'buy now' price. Our commission is also subject to GST, which is the seller’s responsibility.’

No, it will not change the amount that you are settled. We can remove – or ‘zero rate’ – GST (where it is chargeable by Hotlotz) for an auction buyer who is not a resident of Singapore provided export criteria stipulated by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore are met. In short, Hotlotz must manage the export and it must take place within 60 days of the auction sale date. Whether such GST is payable or not affects the buyer, but not the seller or the amount settled to the seller. GST charged on our commissions and fees can never be zero-rated.

Yes, the insurance fee is for the insurance we provide and it is mandatory.

Where a seller has agreed to be named, Hotlotz may not have to charge GST on the item – in which case the buyer will still pay the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price and the seller may need to account for the GST. In this case, Hotlotz will settle the full amount of the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price to the seller for the item, after deductions for any commission and fees. The commission and fees that Hotlotz charges are calculated on the full amount of the auction 'closing bid price' or marketplace 'buy now' price.

We can try to help you with any collection/drop-off or shipping arranged by you, but please give us as much notice as possible of anything needed. If you have large or heavy items, or delicate items that require specialist packing, please ensure that you have adequate manpower and packing materials. We provide limited, often recycled packing materials, and whilst we will always try our best to help, it’s not always possible.

Clients benefit from our internal logistics team who can manage all domestic and international shipping for you. You will be offered this service at the relevant time. We can provide you with a quote from our trusted shipping companies if needed (and typically we just need the full address including post code).

If you are arranging someone else to collect your item or your own shipping, please send us a confirmation email authorising us to accept or release the item and include the name of the third-party and the proposed date and time.

Many buyers collect their items in person or arrange their own collection or shipping. Also, delivery costs would vary greatly because of the size of items or delivery location. Our preference is to give buyers the choice, rather than effectively charging everyone something for delivery within our pricing.

Your bid amount includes any GST. It is a requirement for us in Singapore to have all pricing inclusive of any GST. Accordingly, all estimates, opening bid amounts, bidding increments, closing bids and marketplace prices that are displayed or quoted in any correspondence are always inclusive of any GST.

The price of items in the marketplace is fixed and inclusive of any GST.

We are required in Singapore to charge GST on the buyer's premium. Our buyer’s premium of 30% on top of the closing bid price for auction sales includes the GST.

GST can be zero-rated for auction items if the buyer is non-resident in Singapore and Hotlotz manages the export process for the items and the export is carried out within 60 days of the auction date. This applies for GST on the closing bid price (for all items except those that are sold by a named seller where GST is not charged by Hotlotz) and the buyer’s premium. In any other scenario, GST will usually be applied. Buyers of goods bought in auction who have indicated in their Hotlotz account that their country of residence is not Singapore will be contacted after the sale by Hotlotz client services to discuss the export of their goods.

Yes. GST can only be zero-rated for auction items if Hotlotz manages the export process.

No, you have to pay the full 'buy now' price (inclusive of any GST) for all items in the marketplace. Hotlotz is exploring participation in an electronic ‘Tourist Refund Scheme’. This will enable a tourist who makes a purchase from Hotlotz and departs with the goods from Singapore via Changi International Airport or Seletar Airport, to be eligible to claim a GST refund under the scheme.

Please let us know. If your Hotlotz account shows you are non-resident, you will be contacted after the auction anyway. You will be asked to confirm that you are non-resident and provide an overseas shipping address. You will also be asked to instruct Hotlotz to manage the export process on your behalf, and for it to take place within 60 days of the auction closing date. If you agree, Hotlotz will send an email with a link to a zero-rated GST invoice (where GST is chargeable by Hotlotz). Payment of that invoice is then due immediately.

Yes. We are required in Singapore to charge GST on the seller’s commission and any other miscellaneous charges like insurance fees.

Yes, Hotlotz has been GST registered since January 2021. Our GST registration number is 201524698M.

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Confirming the identity of our clients is a standard and important part of doing business with a reputable auction house, and it works in everyone's interest. It protects our clients from fraud, and safeguards the integrity of every sale. As a Singapore-registered auction house, we also have regulatory responsibilities relating to client identity, which these checks allow us to meet.