The short answer
Auction houses usually require lots to be removed within a few working days, after which storage charges apply. PORTR collects from the saleroom and delivers to your address, priced online from the lot size, the distance and the access, so you can book within the removal window.
How long do you have to collect an auction lot?
Removal deadlines vary by saleroom but are typically between one and five working days after the sale. Beyond that, most auction houses either charge daily storage or move the lot to an off-site facility, which adds both cost and a second collection problem.
Check the terms on your invoice rather than the catalogue. The invoice states the actual deadline for your sale, and it is the document the saleroom will hold you to.
What does the saleroom need before releasing to a courier?
Almost every auction house requires the lot to be paid in full before release, and most require the buyer's authorisation for a third party to collect on their behalf. Some ask for that in writing by email.
Provide your lot number, the name the purchase is under and the invoice reference in the collection notes. A driver arriving without a lot number cannot be matched to your purchase at the collection desk.
Confirm the saleroom's collection hours. Auction premises frequently have narrow release windows, and they are often not the same as their public opening hours.
How is auction collection priced?
The same way as every other PORTR booking: the vehicle your lot requires, the real driving distance from the saleroom to your address, the handling time, and the access at the delivery end. Each element is itemised before payment.
Auction lots are frequently heavier than they look. A Victorian chest of drawers in solid mahogany needs two people where a modern flat-pack equivalent does not, and you control whether a second person is added.
What should you check before the driver arrives?
Measure the lot against the narrowest point of the route into your property. Auction furniture is often older and built without regard for modern doorways, and it rarely dismantles.
Decide in advance where the item is going. If it needs to reach an upstairs room, add Room of Choice so the time is allowed for and priced properly rather than negotiated on the doorstep.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to move it? Get an instant price — your addresses and item list is all it takes.
Related service: Large item delivery