Best Books on Government and Police Auctions

www.hotauctions4u.com promises, for $19.95 (and $1.99 P&H), to deliver a buyer's guide to free government auctions. It will tell you how to find auctions in every American city, how simple the bidding process is and how to bid.

http://www.books4you.addr.com/SeizedAuctionConfiscatedTreasures.html also promises to deliver a great guide to government auctions, but furthermore, it tells you how to apply for the money given away each year in loans, subsidies, scholarships and grants.

Confiscated Seized Items By The Government is the name of the book, but there is no details of the author.

The Insider's Handbook to Government Auctions by Richard Dean is widely available, selling on Ebay for $0.99 as a digital download.

How to Buy Cars & Trucks, Vans & SUVs at Wholesale Prices From Government Auctions by James Furr seems to be one of the only other books available on the topic of government or Police auctions. Available on Amazon, it currently sells for $12.48.

Government and Police Auction Warnings

The first pitfall is dealing with auctions that pose as representatives of government agencies, when in actual fact they aren't (i.e. an auction house states they sell goods seized by the F.B.I. when they don't). Check with the applicable agency that they are associated with the auction.

At auction, all prices are determined by rarity and condition - this applies to all types of goods and chattels. The condition of an item can make it a great deal, or a costly mistake, if it is not established beforehand.

Items may not be as well-looked after as they would be, if they were owned by an individual. Don't forget, they have been held in property rooms across the country for goodness knows how long, and they have not exactly been wrapped in cotton wool.

Take care that you inspect all items cautiously - the color, the style, the model, wear and tear. Dings and dents may not necessarily be listed in the auction guide. Out-of-season or obsolete items (such as clothes) may not be a good buy if they're not the current range.

Even though they will be functional and maintained, usually you can't return auctioned items if they do not work as you thought they would or should, or something goes wrong. Items are sold as is, and generally there is no warranty, returns or refunds.

Once the department (Police or government) sell the item, they don't want anything else to do with it. It is very important to view the item BEFORE you make the decision to buy it. If you purchase it, and a week later it stops working, can you get it repaired? How much will it cost, considering there's no warranty?

If you are going to a real estate auction, then there are several more things to think about. Potential building repairs can run up huge bills. For example, what is the location of the property?

A house is not a bargain if it is not convenient for any reason - too far away from public services (public transport, hospitals etc) for one. Similarly, if a block of land is zoned industrial, then purchasing it with a view to building a dream home on it sometime in the future is not realistic, and a waste of your money.

Rarely, you can purchase an item at a Police auction, and then the original and rightful owner turns up to claim it. Unfortunately, sometimes the item must be returned. This is exceptional, however it is something that must be remembered.

If you are purchasing from an online auction, take care to avoid any additional costs. If you're an international buyer, ask these questions before purchasing:

Are there costs to bringing the item into your country, or taking it out of the country you bought it in?

If you're using an escrow service, what are their charges?

If you're having the item/s delivered, are they shipping them together to reduce the cost, or separately?

Furthermore, is the delivery the cheapest/slowest or the most expensive/fastest?

If the item is expensive, does it require insurance?

Does the site charge fees to join, or only when you've bid on an item?

Grabbing a bargain on a Police/government auction website is no longer a bargain if you had not taken these potential costs into consideration.

Auctions can also be a little daunting - they are fast-paced, and very confusing if you are inexperienced. You can conceivably end up with an item you never wanted, by accidentally bidding on something! Consider taking someone with you if you are attending a 'live' auction, possibly use an agent (although they do charge, and this can defeat the purpose of a bargain!).

It would be a shame to grab a great bargain at a Police or government auction, only to have the bargain diminished through unforeseen costs. Plan ahead, research, and make your bargain worthwhile!