Jim Hands’ father, Thomas Rutherford Clayton Hands ( Nov. 2, 1915 – Sept. 7, 1980) started the auctioneering business in Perth, Ontario in 1938. Both Jim and his father developed both the knowledge of articles and their values, selling everything, from household effects, farm machinery, livestock, tools of the trades, and, as time went on, more and more real estate. Jim, a graduate of Reisch Auction School, Mason City, Iowa, stepped on to the auctioneering platform on June 13, 1973. Jim’s wife, Judy, is a Certified Auctioneer, graduating from the Southwestern Ontario School of Auctioneering in 2000.
For the Hands family, auctions are a living, breathing, family legacy. Their flexible approach enabled them initially to conduct household, estate, farm, livestock, bankruptcy, consignment and charitable auctions. As of 2020, they have pivoted to real estate auctions via phone (proxy bidding), online auctions and appraisals. As local residents, they provide purchasers with a wealth of knowledge and insight to the area; this instills confidence in decisions to purchase or sell properties.
The Hands name is synonymous with trust, integrity and experience. The straw hat and cane became the trademarks of The Voice of Experience, the cane used for pointing out merchandise and recognizing bids, the straw hat used for keeping out the sun, rain and snow.
