For new work the floor is not negotiable: the hours in it.
The floor on handwoven work
A handloom saree represents days or weeks of somebody's labour. That is a real cost and it is the number a reserve should protect. Selling below it is not a bargain for anybody — it is unpaid work.
Set it as a reserve, not as a high starting price, so the room can still find the number above it.
What moves the price above the floor
The weave and the region, named specifically.
The amount and kind of work — the border, the pallu, the technique.
Handloom versus powerloom, which is a large multiplier and should always be stated.
Condition, for anything vintage.
For resale and vintage
Different arithmetic: what you paid, what condition it is in, and how specific the buyer for it is. Vintage pieces have narrower audiences and benefit more from being explained properly than from being started high.
Pacing
Sarees take time to show properly — drape, reverse, border. That is time well spent, and it means fewer items per show than a card seller would run. Plan the hour around that rather than rushing each piece.
Questions people ask
Should I start low on an expensive saree?
Low start plus a reserve at your floor. That gets bidders in without risking the piece.
How do I price something I inherited?
Describe it accurately and let the room price it. Start low, reserve at the number you would genuinely rather keep it for.
Do blouse pieces affect price?
Say whether one is included and its length. It matters more than sellers expect.