Table Auction

Table auction.  It’s not what it sounds like.   A few years ago, we didn’t know what it was either, but after learning about it, we decided to have one.  And just to be clear about it, no tables are sold at a table auction.

Today, as I write this, it is November 10, 2015.  This is a significant date for our family.  Exactly twenty-five years ago we moved into a large old farmhouse on Kansas Road on November 10.  Five years ago we spent our first night in our current home on November 10.

For twenty years, from 1990 to 2010, our family enjoyed the mini-farm on Kansas Road, but after our children were out of the house, the joy sort of left the place.  It was a wonderful piece of real estate on which to raise our children, and God surely saw to it that we landed there.  That’s another story.  But in 2010, our current home came up for sale, and we felt like this would be the place for empty nesters to settle into for a while.  So we put a for sale sign out by the road in front of the farm on Kansas Road.

Our former home on Kansas Road.

Right away, there was interest from several Amish families.  Five-plus acres, two large sheds, a nice heated steel building, a three-stall garage with a shop, and a large farmhouse—this was perfect for an Amish family.  On top of it, there was free natural gas—a big plus.  We showed the place a number of times, but weren’t getting offers that matched our asking price, so I went to talk with an Amish neighbor about it.  His name is Hammer Dan, and he has a keen interest in land sales and auctions.  We discussed my asking price, and he offered advice along with loaning me his large file of home sales in the area.  As we talked, he wondered out loud if I had given any consideration to a table auction.

A what?  A table auction.  He went on to explain.  A table auction is an inexpensive and effective way to sell a property.  No auctioneer or real  estate agency fees are involved.  All it takes is several interested parties who are willing to sit around a table, pass a tablet around the circle, and write in their bids.   As the owner, I would also sit at the table, and confirm the bids.  After talking with all the interested parties, and learning that they would welcome this kind of sale, we decided to do it.  So I asked Hammer Dan if he would consider convening the auction, and he agreed to do it.

So that’s what we did.  We set a date for thirty days later, and got the word out to all interested parties.  During that time, there were a couple more Amish families who came to look.  On the appointed day, we set up a table in the garage, and at the request of Hammer Dan, we also set up a table for hats.  Yes, hats.  Just in case you never noticed, Amish men are required to wear hats in public.  Maybe it never occurred to you to wonder about this.  It is part of their rules, but I haven’t figured out why.  When entering a house or building, they may take their hats off.  So that’s why we needed a table for hats.  We also had a table set up with water and cups.  This was appreciated.  Nerves were on edge—my own included—and having a cup of water was good way to settle them.

At the appointed time, we gathered around the table.  Dan began the proceedings by explaining the rules of the auction, and a description of the property.  He was professional about it, and I was impressed.  I sat there beside him, shaking in my boots, and hoping we’d get what we needed.  The biggest surprise was a neighbor up the road who had been through the house with his wife, but hadn’t shown much interest.  He came to the table too.  Along with him sat two other neighbors—a father and son-in-law who had a keen interest in the place, but wouldn’t offer enough to get it.  And then, there was a young man from down near Mt Hope.  He and his wife wanted it too.

The bidding began.  A yellow tablet started around the table.  Bidder one and his son-in-law were first.  They wrote down their name and the amount they were offering.  Bidders two and three upped the bid.  It came back to me and Hammer Dan.  All good.  So we started the next round.  Bidder one upped it.  Bidder two needed a break to confer with his wife.  (At the beginning, during announcements, we had mentioned that if a break was needed, we would allow it.)   Bidder two came back in, sat down, and upped the bid.  Bidder three looked at it and smiled.  He was out.   So the tablet went back to bidder one.  He hesitated, looking sweaty and nervous, but took the pen and wrote on the line.  Back to bidder two.

He looked at the tablet, wrote in his bid, and handed it to  me and Hammer Dan.  Seeing the amount, I felt relieved, and honestly, surprised.  The bid was now where I could accept it.  Back to bidder one.  He and his son-in-law whispered to each other, and after a long pause, he took the pen and wrote with it.  Back to bidder two.  He looked at the tablet, and passed it to me.  At this point, I thought bidder one was the winner.  But not so.  Bidder one’s mark on the tablet was a smiley face, and bidder two’s last bid took it.  The sale was over, and we were pleased.  Of course, not everyone could walk away happy, but there was a sense of peace about the whole thing.  Even though we didn’t quite get our original asking price, there were no fees involved, so it all turned out okay.

And that is a “table auction.”  For us, it worked out fine, because we were in the heart of an Amish community with a desirable property.  We feel blessed knowing that our former property is being enjoyed by a young Amish family who takes good care of it.  May they have many years happiness, and raise lots of cute little children in the old farmhouse on Kansas Road.

From Kidron, Ohio, we hope you have a wonderful weekend.  So long.