To many people, auctions are about finding a hidden treasure or hearing the fast-paced chant of an auctioneer. For Carson Chesley, they’re about helping families navigate major life transitions.
Chesley, owner of C&C Auctioneers, is a fourth-generation auctioneer who has built his business around helping clients downsize, settle estates and prepare for the next chapter of their lives.
“I got a little rambunctious, went out to California, tried new things, came back, and I realized auctioneering and farming was in my blood,” Chesley said.
After returning home, Chesley attended auction school in Indianapolis, where he learned the fundamentals of the profession before developing a chant of his own.
Today, his work extends far beyond the auction block.
As both an auctioneer and licensed real estate agent, Chesley can help families sort through belongings, sell valuable items and move forward with selling a home, all through a single business.
“We bring this all together, one-stop shop,” Chesley said. “You’re just taken care of with one call, not 10 different calls.”
His work can take him from charity events to estate sales and collector auctions. Recently, Chesley oversaw the auction of a large collection of Model A Fords, bringing together buyers and sellers from across the region.
For seller Tom Smith, the auction represented more than a sale.
After health issues forced him and his wife to relocate permanently to South Carolina, the couple faced the difficult task of parting with years of possessions and memories.
“We’re going to have to sell everything up here,” Smith said. “It’s great, but I have mixed feelings. I’m really sad about having to let this stuff go.”
For buyers, however, those same items offer an opportunity to continue a legacy.
Claire Ankley, who attended the auction looking for a Model A Ford, said her family’s love of the antique vehicles goes back generations.
“I started driving one when I was 10 years old,” Ankley said. “We just love Model As. The whole family does.”
Chesley said one of the most fascinating aspects of his job is discovering the unexpected value hidden inside homes and collections. He recalled selling a pair of 1939 World’s Fair uranium lamps that brought $7,300 after attracting interest from buyers around the country.
“Nobody knows what the value of everything in your home is,” Chesley said. “You don’t know what’s in a house of value until you get it out there for the world to see.”
Still, he said the most rewarding part of auctioneering isn’t uncovering a rare collectible or setting a record price.
Instead, it’s helping clients feel a sense of relief during what can be an overwhelming time.
“The amount of weight that you can see that is lifted off the client,” Chesley said. “I could call somebody who could come and list the property, take care of the stuff, sell some items that I never would have thought would have brought money and just alleviated the stress. That’s nice.”
Whether he’s selling antiques, vehicles or household belongings, Chesley said every auction has a story behind it. His goal, he said, is to help people move forward while preserving the memories that matter most.