So you want to raise some funds but are tired of the old bake sale. How about putting yourself up on the auction block. This works real well even if you don't have something that you are good at. This can be done by a single person or by a group. Sell as many services as you want and your time allows.

Get a friend or family member to be the auctioneer. Set a date for the auction and get the word out that you or your group is holding a service auction. Some people may not know what a service auction is so please explain that services will be auctioned off. Give examples of the services offered. Give a specific time period when services will be preformed. Example: Services to be performed during the month of June. Or: Services to be performed each Sat. Sept.-Nov. Please indicated if payment will be collected at the time of the auction or when the service is performed.

On the day of the auction make sure each bidder signs in, has a number assigned to them, they leave a contact phone number and an address. If a group is being auctioned off each participant being auctioned off also has a number assigned to them or a letter. A person will need to keep track of who bid for whom, how much was bid, and which service is to be provided. Below are samples of forms used.

Sign In Sheet:

Name________________________ Bidders #________________

Address________________________

Phone #________________________

Auction Record Sheet:

Service Provider Name____________________ Service Provider #_________

Bidder #____________ Service Bid On______________________

Winning Bid $___________

Paid: Check#______

Cash_______

Date paid________________

Date of Service________________

Bidders Stub:

Service Provider #__________

Service___________________

Winning Bid $______________

Paid : Check #___________

Cash_____________

Date Paid__________________

Date of Service _____________

Bidders can set a date before they leave the auction or the service provider may contact them later to set a time and date for the service to be performed. Make your forms according to what is decided. Make sure a reciept or bidders stub is given to the bidder. Be creative in your service choices.

Service Auction ideas:

Lawn care : could include mowing, weeding, raking leaves, trimming hedges. Sell your services for all or individual chores.

Cooking: 1 dinner, cookies, cake

Household chores: washing windows, house cleaning, dusting

Other services: babysitting, pet sitting, house sitting, walking pets, watering house plants, taking kids to a park, painting walls or fences

If you speciallize in a certian thing like knitting, sewing, painting, pottery an offer to make an item may be bid on. This of course would need to be discussed with the winning bidder.

If you don't wish for a person to go alone to a bidders home service providers can be auctioned off in pairs. Or if a Bidder has bid on more then one service then service providers can plan to do their services at the same time.