Auction Market Reports

What Are Auction Market Reports?

An auction market report is a structured analysis of realized prices for a specific category of antique or collectible — built from actual hammer prices recorded at auction, not estimates or asking prices. Each report draws from Appraizely's database of 5 million+ auction records spanning 500+ houses worldwide, including Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams, Heritage Auctions, Phillips, and specialist houses covering watches, jewelry, fine art, ceramics, silver, furniture, and more. The result is a data-backed snapshot of what buyers are actually paying for specific types of items right now and over the past several years.

Realized prices — the final hammer price a buyer pays at auction — are the benchmark that professional appraisers, insurance underwriters, estate attorneys, and IRS reviewers rely on for fair market value determinations. Retail asking prices and eBay listings are not comparable: they reflect what sellers hope to receive, not what buyers are willing to pay in a competitive, transparent setting. Auction records are public, timestamped, and verifiable, which is why IRS Publication 561 and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) both specify the comparable sales method — auction realized prices — as the standard approach for personal property valuation.

Each report is pre-built and available for instant download as a PDF. Reports include price trend analysis over 5+ years, condition multipliers showing how damage or restoration affects value, sell-through rates by auction house and season, and 20–50 comparable auction sales with lot descriptions, dates, and realized prices. The AI-generated narrative section summarizes market direction and key value drivers in plain language, so you can understand the data without being an auction specialist.

Who Uses These Reports

Collectors and buyers use reports before placing bids at auction or negotiating private purchases, to understand what the market supports for condition-specific comparables. Dealers and resellers reference reports when pricing inventory or evaluating estate sale lots, where overpaying on one lot can erase the margin on an entire day. Estate executors and probate attorneys use the comparable sales data to establish fair market value for IRS Form 706 filings and equitable distribution — the same methodology human appraisers use, available instantly and at a fraction of the cost. Insurance professionals reference auction records when setting scheduled personal property coverage or processing claims, where the difference between a defensible value and a guessed figure can be significant.

Reports are available individually for single-category research, or as part of a Pro subscription for unlimited access across all categories. Once purchased, each report stays in your account for future reference.