Making exclusions clear in sale photographs and descriptions
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Once an exclusion is agreed, communicate it wherever a buyer or site worker could otherwise infer that the item is included. The description, photographs and physical records should identify the same sale package.
Deciding what must stay out comes first. Use the catalogue-exclusion guide for ownership and scope questions. This page is about making the resulting decision clear.
Cross-check three places
| Place | What to check | A useful correction |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue wording | Does the lot description imply all nearby items are included? | Name the excluded item precisely where relevant |
| Photographs and captions | Is an excluded object prominent or apparently attached to the package? | Use a clearer image or an unambiguous caption without disguising condition |
| Site record and labels | Can the viewing or collection contact distinguish the retained item? | Match the exclusion to an asset or retained-item reference |
Keep the included-items schedule alongside this check. An exclusion list alone can still leave the buyer unsure what is actually being sold.
Use specific boundaries
'Background items excluded' may be insufficient where a control cabinet, tool rack or accessory looks integral to the asset. Describe the item and explain the physical sale scope accurately. If its relationship to the machine is uncertain, refer the question before advertising.
A fictional example is a workbench shown beneath a machine. If the bench is retained, the description and photographs should make that clear. The sale team also needs to consider whether the planned package and collection assumptions change as a result. Do not assume that a caption solves a technical separation question.
For retirement keepsakes, use the retained-item register to identify the object and its approved destination. That avoids a small personal item moving between photographs, cupboards and lot descriptions without a record.
Avoid contradictory versions
Tell the sale manager if an exclusion changes after photography or a draft catalogue. Keep the approved current scope in one place and record which materials need updating.
Check the final catalogue through the proofreading guide. Look at the words and images together: each can appear reasonable alone while implying a different package when combined.
A verbal explanation to one buyer is not a dependable way to correct published ambiguity. Agree how the sale manager will issue the accurate information to relevant parties under the sale's process.
Preserve the evidence
Keep the approved description, relevant photographs and exclusion references with the sale file. If a query arises later, the team should be able to identify what was communicated and when.
Send the clear scope record to UK Auction Group. It supports consistent marketing and later handover, while unresolved ownership or technical questions remain with the responsible people before the exclusion is treated as settled.
Explore the sale preparation guides.
Sources
- UK Auction Group: asset disposal Checked
This guide gives general information. Equipment-specific, legal, tax and safety decisions may need a qualified adviser or competent specialist. The guides do not promise sale prices, fees or results.