By Surplus Cascade · Updated October 25, 2026
Ask how seller commission is calculated.
A quoted percentage is only meaningful when the calculation basis is clear. Ask whether it applies to hammer price, another amount or specific categories, and identify any minimums. Surplus Cascade charges an individually agreed commission; there is no fixed public rate that applies to every project.
Separate preparation and platform expenses.
Identify photography, descriptions, cataloguing, marketing, platform costs, administration and other expenses. Ask which are included, which need approval and which apply even if a lot does not sell. Avoid comparing two proposals with different assumptions about who provides the list, photos and preparation work.
Understand the buyer-facing terms.
Buyer premiums, taxes, payment conditions and collection charges affect how bidders assess a lot. They are separate from the seller commission and should be described accurately by the platform or sale operator. Do not calculate expected seller proceeds from a bid amount without the agreed deductions.
Agree reserves, descriptions and inspection.
Define grouping, starting prices or reserve strategy, condition statements and inspection arrangements. A working claim needs a basis; an untested asset should remain described as such. Decide who approves the catalogue and who answers questions before bidding begins.
Include collection and unsold outcomes.
Confirm who disconnects, packs, loads and transports equipment and who pays. Define the collection window and the next step for unsold, cancelled or uncollected lots. Relisting, storage and recycling can involve extra work; they are not automatically included.
Keep the proceeds calculation transparent
Ask for a worksheet showing the seller settlement basis, commission, approved expenses and any further deductions. Buyer charges belong on a separate line unless the seller agreement expressly says otherwise. A proposed reserve, estimate or advertised lot value is not a completed-sale result. Compare this worksheet with a direct purchase using the same asset and handling scope.
Compare net proceeds and uncertainty.
Request settlement timing, reporting and deductions in the agreed terms. Auction results and sale timing are not guaranteed. Compare an auction with a direct purchase using the same inventory, preparation and removal scope.
Read Surplus Cascade auction services, direct purchase terms and the sale-route comparison before selecting a route.