Pete’s Auction Service

NOICE. Been looking for an auction house like this near Charlottesville for some time, not sure how we didn’t know it was here, seeing as it’s been here as long as we have. WTF. Anyway, the most well-​known auction houses in Charlottesville are typically quite expensive. But here, you get REALISTIC prices on nearly everything unless there’s a bidding war.
First off, the address here, good luck. Best thing to do is keep going past Madison, and eventually you’ll see the warehouse on the right, you can’t miss it. Parking is haphazard and in the grass, but easy. Once you get inside, WELCOME TO GLORY.
Pete’s is run awesome, unlike most auction houses we’ve seen. The bulk of furniture and larger items tend to be situated around the outside walls, minus the front one, and then they have typically six large table areas FILLED with everything imaginable. There doesn’t seem to be a system to where they start, but furniture tends to go first. Once you’re registered, get READY SON.
Basically, Pete’s runs like this. The bigger items they go through one at a time, but when you get to the tables it’s an insane free-​for-​all essentially. The auctioneer will usually open bids on WHATEVER you want, and people tend to focus on the killer items first. After this phase passes, you’ll then hear them say things like «$ 10 choice», which means you start a bid at that (they can go lower if you wait), and then bid up as other people do. Win, and, well you get to pick WHATEVER you fancy on that table that’s not already purchased. Sometimes if they don’t get enough interest they’ll just say «$ 5 everything left» and you can just take it all.
Prices are highly reasonable overall. Bigger items still nab big prices, but at probably 10% of what you’d see them marked for at antique stores. I wouldn’t be surprised if 90% of antique dealers in VA stock their stores with this place, and I’m pretty sure I recognized a few of them. Hands down best auction house in VA, probably the world. Even nuubs can enjoy it and nab nice things for reasonable prices, maybe even ridiculously reasonable prices.

I love Pete’s Auction. It took me quite a while to write this review because I’m worried to let my secret place go.
If you are looking for:
— furniture
— antiques
— collectibles
— any type of ceramics
— guns or knives
You have to come to one of their sales. Their sales are generally every other Saturday beginning at 9:30. They have a great email list which sends out alerts. You can get some really amazing items for a song that would cost an arm and a leg closer to D.C. I have seen mid-​century modern furniture sell for a tenth of the price it would be at a retail outlet.
So here’s the rundown:
You get there and park anywhere on the grass. The auction is held inside the bid white barn. You will see a ton of people and a ton of cars parked. Often times there is even a police officer directing traffic because this auction is the place to be if you are in Madison on a Saturday. After entering through the door, you smile to the nice ladies on the right selling hot dogs, hamburgers, coffee, and baked goods. You turn to your left towards the sign that says «Register to Bid». All you need is your license which you hand over. They write down your information and ask for your phone number. They hand you a bidder number, and you are ready to go. Pete (the auctioneer) explains the rules of the sale in detail. Pay attention to him and to what is actually being sold. Once he says «Sold,» you are the new owner of that item, for better or for worse.
That being said, it is a lot of fun going out here. I always get plenty of laughs from the auctioneer, his assistants, and the fellow auction attendees. Enjoy yourself. Get some good deals.
VERY IMPORTANT
No GPS or Waze will get you to this place correctly. It always thinks that it is on South Seminole Rd instead of North. So what you have to do is be on the lookout after passing the Prince Michel winery on your right going away from DC. After you pass the winery, go three or four more miles, and it will be on your left just after you crest a hill. There are several buildings there which are all blue, and you should see all the parked cars as well as the Special Event road sign.
Credit cards– Expect to pay a 2% administrative fee.