Auction Benefits

•  The seller sets the terms and conditions of sale and creates a deadline (the date that the auction is to be held).
•  This auction-oriented target marketing puts a 'spotlight' on the property and shows the vendors motivation to sell.
•  The 'no price' aspect will attract more genuinely interested, cash-in-hand buyers.
•  It allows sellers to plan ahead in the knowledge that a specific date has been set for the sale of the property.
•  A sale by auction is unconditional and allows the transaction to proceed to settlement without delays.
•  A sense of urgency is created by the set deadline, bringing interested buyers to a point of decision.
•  The property is neither overpriced nor undersold; its value is determined by the market, in the form of bids or offers.
•  A successful purchase requires a payment of a deposit on the day of auction.
• Market feedback will assist the seller to decide on a reserve price, whilst still allowing for the possibility of achieving a premium through buyer competition.
•  Auctions provide a transparent arena where buyers compete against other public offers, taking away the guesswork.
• The seller always has the option to accept an offer prior to auction, if a desirable offer is received.
• Prospective buyers will be focused on establishing the maximum price they will pay, not how little they should offer.
• A premium sale price can be achieved when multiple interested parties compete against each other to secure the property, through bidding.
•  The seller controls the terms of sale and can choose to allow variations to the date of settlement or deposit amount required.
•  If the property is passed-in, it will be released to the market as an exclusive listing at a saleable price, which will be established from the market feedback received throughout the auction campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if no one registers for/turns up to the auction?

In this instance, your Harcourts auctioneer will pass the property in and inform any attendees of the next steps to take if they are interested in purchasing the property. In reality, this isn’t something that happens very often. With a robust and well thought-out marketing campaign, any home can attract prospective buyers.

What if nobody bids?

It’s understandable that buyers might be nervous under the excitement and pressure of an auction. This is why it’s not uncommon for an auctioneer to be met with silence when asking for an opening bid. Some buyers will have a strategy and may wait to see what others at the auction might bid. So to get the auction rolling, your Harcourts auctioneer may choose to nominate a starting bid - this is referred to as a ‘vendor bid’. A vendor bid will only be used in order to create momentum during the auction and cannot be used above the seller’s reserve price.

What if the reserve price is not reached?

In this event, your Harcourts auctioneer can pause the auction and come and speak to you, the seller. They will go back to the current highest bidder and ask if they’re prepared to increase their offer to a price at which you’re prepared to sell. If the bidder is not prepared to do that, your Harcourts auctioneer will then ask if you’re prepared to adjust your reserve price. That’s why it’s important for you to have a price in mind that whilst you wouldn’t be entirely happy with, you
are prepared to sell at. If neither of these scenarios happen, then a sale cannot occur, and your property will be what is referred to as ‘passed in’.

What happens when the property sells?

After your Harcourts auctioneer announces the property as ‘sold’, it is then time to focus on the buyer. Your Harcourts sales consultant or auctioneer will then take the buyer aside and begin to process the contract of sale, straight away. The buyer will then make arrangements to pay the deposit. As the seller, you will be required to sign the contract and the sale will be concluded.