Lunds Auctioneers & Appraisers

About Lunds Auction & Appraisal Specialists

Lunds Auctioneers & Appraisers, which now trades as Lunds Auction & Appraisal Specialists, is an auction house and appraisal service in Victoria, British Columbia. It sells fine art, antiques and collectables through live online auctions and in-person bidding.

The house works on a consignment-only basis. It has moved away from general household auctions to focus on specialty items with higher intrinsic value. Its clients include estate executors, collectors, and legal and financial professionals who need fair market valuations.

History

Wilf Lund founded the business in 1955. The Boyle family acquired it in 1971, and it has operated from the same historic Fort Street location for decades.

According to the company, it was the first auction house in North America to embrace the Internet in the 1990s. It developed reverse search systems that alerted collectors when items matching their interests came up. Today it works with LiveAuctioneers to reach bidders around the world.

What Lunds sells

Lunds runs themed specialty auctions, which its site describes as weekly. The main categories are:

• Fine art
• Antiques
• Art and decorative items
• Collectables

The house also offers written appraisals, both on-site and in-home, and estate sale management. These services support executors and families handling whole collections.

According to Lunds, typical consignors include estates and collectors selling high-value or unusual items, and sellers who want privacy or professional guidance instead of selling on their own. Buyers come looking for specific or rare pieces and benefit from the house's international marketing. The company also says it holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Selling at Lunds

Sellers can get a free, no-obligation auction estimate at the showroom, from photos, or through a home visit for larger collections. Staff help choose the right auction type and set realistic estimates, with reserve prices where needed.

• Items are marketed through online catalogues, targeted promotions and email outreach
• Lunds handles intake, cataloguing, auction management and settlement
• Sellers receive a detailed settlement report and payment within 8 days of the auction ending

The website does not publish a commission rate, so sellers should ask for the current fee structure when they consign.

Buying and bidding

Online bidders register on LiveAuctioneers and ask for approval to bid in Lunds auctions. You can also leave advance bids directly with the house. The buyer's premium depends on how you bid:

• Bidding on LiveAuctioneers: 25% buyer's premium
• Advance bids placed with Lunds directly: 20% buyer's premium

Local buyers can pay in person by Visa, MasterCard, debit or cash. Out-of-town buyers can pay by phone with Visa or MasterCard for amounts under $3,000. Amounts over $3,000 need a wire transfer.

Location and viewing

The showroom is at 926 Fort Street in Victoria. In-person previews run on the Saturday, Monday and Tuesday before each auction, and detailed online catalogues with photos are available for remote buyers. The house is open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays.

• Monday: 9 am to 6 pm
• Tuesday: 9 am to 4 pm
• Wednesday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
• Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm

Buyers who cannot visit can use the online catalogue on LiveAuctioneers to follow each sale and bid remotely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the buyer's premium at Lunds?

It is 25% if you bid through LiveAuctioneers and 20% if you place an advance bid directly with Lunds.

When can I preview items at Lunds?

Previews are held at the Victoria showroom on the Saturday, Monday and Tuesday before each auction. Online catalogues with detailed images are also available.

How quickly are sellers paid after a Lunds auction?

Sellers receive a detailed settlement report and payment within 8 days of the auction ending.