How do online property auctions work?

In light of Covid-19, the way buyers and sellers transact has changed. Buyers who would normally head out to a Saturday auction will have to adopt a more digital approach to purchasing a home as more and more agents move to sell properties via auctions online. 

While it’s unclear how long it will take for the real estate market to return to how it once was, for the moment, if a seller decides on selling their property via auction, then an online auction process will be the norm. 

The online auction process

Once a buyer intends to bid on your property, the process to actually bidding online is relatively simple. When agents use an online platform, they are most likely to be using either Gavl or Auction Now. Here's how these kinds of platforms work.

Buyers can register their interest by creating an account on the relevant platform. If you intend to bid, you will need to submit identification and credit card details and be approved by the property’s listing agent. 

Once a bidder has been approved by the property’s listing agent, the platform will put a hold on the bidder’s credit card, which could be anywhere between $1,500 and $2,500. 

You can watch an online auction and bid on a property using either your computer or mobile phone, and you can bid directly in the platform or app. 

In both Gavl and Auction Now, the successful bidder can sign contracts online or in the app. Gavl allows you to transfer deposits directly into the agent's trust account.

Here's more information about how Gavl works:

Here's more information about how Auction Now works:

This helpful video above was created by Belle Property Castle Hill and Cooley Auctions.

You can also hear more about online auctions from Soho Property App’s interview with Damien Cooley, the founder of Auction Now below.

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