Buying at Heirloom
Heirloom Auctions Cayman conducts open online auctions, each presenting the curated contents of a single selected Cayman property. Every lot is professionally described and photographed.
To bid, locate the lots of interest and enter your maximum bid. The system will bid on your behalf, in increments, up to that amount. You will be notified immediately if you are outbid, and any last-minute bid triggers an automatic extension.
Successful bidders collect directly from the property. Full collection details are provided following payment confirmation.
For buyers in the Cayman Islands, Heirloom offers access to quality furnishings and objects from well-appointed local properties, without the cost, delay, and uncertainty of importing from overseas.
Creating an Account
Registration is free and takes two minutes. All intending bidders are required to provide their name, contact details, and a credit card to complete registration. This is for identity verification only; your card is not charged unless you win a lot.
New buyers may be asked for further identification such as a passport or driver's licence. This is standard practice in the auction world and protects all parties.
What you get with a free account
- Bid on any current or upcoming auction
- Set up lot alerts to receive an email when items matching your keywords are listed
- Track your bids and purchase record in your dashboard
- Receive outbid notifications in real time
- Receive advance notification of upcoming auctions
Browsing & Notifications
Browsing Auctions
All current and upcoming auctions are listed on the Auctions page. You can filter by status (live, closing soon, upcoming) and browse individual property catalogs. Each lot has full photos, a written description, condition notes, estimate, and current bid.
Lot Alerts
Lot alerts may be configured in account preferences. Enter keywords such as material, maker, or category, and you will be notified by email when a matching lot is listed in any current catalogue.
Auction Notifications
Subscribe to receive notification when a new auction is listed. One notification is sent per auction. Your details will not be used for any other purpose.
Condition Reports
Condition reports are available upon request. To request a report, use the enquiry function on the relevant lot page. Reports are provided within 24 hours and include written notes and supporting photographs where available.
Estimates
Pre-sale estimates are a guide to the likely range within which a successful bid may fall. Reserves, where set, are always at or below the lower estimate, meaning every lot could sell from the first bid.
Bidding at Auction
All Heirloom auctions are open for bidding online only. There is no saleroom, no phone bidding. Everything happens through the website.
How online bidding works
Enter your maximum bid: the highest amount you are willing to pay. The system will bid on your behalf, in increments, up to that maximum. Other bidders will only see the current bid, not your maximum. If someone outbids your maximum, you will be notified immediately.
Bid extensions
If a bid is placed in the final 5 minutes of an auction, that lot's timer automatically extends by a further 5 minutes. This prevents last-second sniping and ensures a fair result; the most motivated bidder always wins.
Registering to bid
Registration and login are required to place a bid. Registration is free and takes under two minutes.
Bidding Increments
Increments are applied automatically by the system. The table below shows the minimum increment applied at each price level.
| Current Bid (CI$) | Increment (CI$) |
|---|---|
| CI$10 – CI$199 | CI$10 |
| CI$200 – CI$299 | CI$20 |
| CI$300 – CI$499 | CI$25 |
| CI$500 – CI$999 | CI$50 |
| CI$1,000 – CI$1,999 | CI$100 |
| CI$2,000 – CI$2,999 | CI$200 |
| CI$3,000 – CI$9,999 | CI$250 |
| CI$10,000 – CI$99,999 | CI$500 |
| CI$100,000+ | CI$1,000 |
All amounts are in Cayman Islands Dollars (CI$).
Terms and Conditions
Full Terms and Conditions governing all purchases at Heirloom Auctions Cayman are available to read before you bid.
After the Auction
Invoicing
Invoices are sent by email to all successful bidders within two hours of each auction closing. If no invoice is received, please check the spam folder. If the invoice cannot be located, contact us at info@heirloomauctions.ky.
You can also view all successful purchases in your account dashboard under "My Lots".
Your Invoice Number
Your invoice number is your authority to collect. If you are sending someone else to collect on your behalf, ensure they have the invoice number. The collection team will not release lots without it.
Payment
Payment is due within 24 hours of receiving your invoice. Lots will not be released until payment is confirmed.
Accepted payment methods
- Bank transfer: preferred. Details provided on your invoice. Please allow up to 24 hours for transfers to clear.
- Credit card: via the secure "Pay Now" link in your invoice email. A 1.5% surcharge applies to card payments.
- Zelle / wire transfer: available on request for larger purchases.
Cash payments cannot be accepted.
Collection
Successful bidders collect directly from the property. Full collection details, including the property address and collection schedule, are provided following payment confirmation.
How it works
- Upon payment confirmation, the full property address and collection day instructions will be provided by email
- Collection is typically on a Saturday, within 48 hours of auction close
- Bring your invoice number; this is required to collect
- Bring appropriate transport for your lots (trailers welcome)
- Our team is on-site to assist with loading large items
Important notes
- All lots must be collected on the designated collection day.
- The full property address is provided to successful bidders following payment.
- Lots not collected by the end of collection day are forfeited and will be re-offered in a future auction.
Please plan ahead. Transport should be arranged before bidding on large items. Enquiries regarding the dimensions or weight of any lot are welcome prior to placing a bid.