Bridgeport resident wins auctioneer championship
October 2, 2009October 2009
In both last year’s contest, in which Zaffarano finished third, and this year’s, he competed against some of the best and most experienced auctioneers in the state. The championship also makes him this year’s Illinois State Auctioneers Association ambassador, who helps promote the auctioneer business and educate the community about auctions. Next year, Zaffarano also will represent the organization in an international auctioneers contest to be held in Greensboro, NC.
Zaffarano started his auctioneer career in the auto industry, but three years ago he noticed real estate auctions were starting to take off, so he earned a real estate license. “In less than a year and a half, I sold more than $9 million worth of real estate auction property, so I knew this business was growing,” he said.
What sets Zaffarano apart from other auctioneers, he believes, is that he continues to educate himself about the industry, and his goal is to educate others as well.
“I’d like to continue to educate the public on why auctions should be a first choice and not the last resort,” he said. A good auctioneer, he said, can produce very good results, but a bad auctioneer can leave “a bad taste in the client’s mouth,” which is why “it’s so important to find the right person for the job. It’s very important that whoever clients retain to do their event knows what they’re doing because clients are putting all their trust into that individual,” he said.
Zaffarano feels honored to receive this year’s championship award and to be the Illinois State Auctioneers Association ambassador.
“I will be promoting the business, promoting the association, attending all the district meetings, and doing everything that I can to continue to educate the public,” he added.
For more information, visit www.zaffaranoauctioneers.com.
—Ivette Sandoval
