Do Buyers Agents Go to Auctions For You?

How does auction representation work?

Before auction day, we develop a comprehensive strategy:

• Pre-auction research: We analyse comparable sales data to determine fair market value
• Bidding strategy: We establish your maximum budget and develop a customized bidding approach
• Pre-auction negotiations: We attempt to negotiate with sellers before auction to potentially secure the property off-market
• Auction day bidding: We attend the auction and bid on your behalf using professional tactics
• Post-auction negotiations: If the property is passed in, we negotiate with the seller immediately following the auction
• Contract execution: If successful, we coordinate with your solicitor to finalize contracts

You can attend the auction yourself to observe, or we can handle everything while you receive real-time updates.

Why is professional auction bidding better than bidding myself?

Auction bidding is emotional and competitive. Professional representation provides several advantages:

• Emotional distance: We don't have emotional attachment to properties, preventing irrational overbidding in the heat of the moment
• Experience: We attend hundreds of auctions. Most buyers attend auctions once every 7-10 years.
• Strategic bidding: We know when to bid aggressively, when to pause, and when to walk away
• Body language reading: We observe other bidders and the auctioneer to gauge competition and vendor expectations
• Bidding increments: We use strategic bid amounts to control auction pace and psychology
• Vendor bid detection: We identify vendor bids (dummy bids from the auctioneer) that inexperienced buyers miss

The average Australian overpays by 5-10% at auctions due to emotional bidding. Professional representation eliminates this premium.

What happens in pre-auction negotiations?

Before auction day, we attempt to secure properties through pre-auction negotiation:

• We contact the selling agent 7-10 days before auction
• We present a strong, unconditional offer at fair market value
• If the seller accepts, the property is sold before auction, avoiding competition
• If declined, we proceed to auction with a clear understanding of vendor expectations

Many sellers accept strong pre-auction offers to avoid the risk and uncertainty of auction day. This strategy saves you from competing against multiple bidders and often secures properties below what they'd achieve at auction.

What if the property is passed in at auction?

If the property doesn't meet reserve and is passed in, we immediately negotiate:

• Highest bidder advantage: If you were the highest bidder, you typically get first negotiating rights
• Post-auction pressure: Sellers face uncertainty after a passed-in auction, creating negotiation leverage
• Private negotiation: We negotiate one-on-one with the agent without public competition
• Strategic positioning: We use auction results and comparable data to justify our offer

Many of our best deals are secured post-auction through this negotiation process.

How do you determine my maximum auction budget?

We establish your maximum budget through:

1. Comparable sales analysis: What have similar properties sold for in the same suburb recently?
2. Independent valuation: Our professional assessment of fair market value
3. Your financial capacity: Your finance pre-approval and comfortable spending limit
4. Property condition: Any issues discovered during due diligence that impact value
5. Market conditions: Current supply/demand dynamics affecting pricing

We recommend a maximum budget before auction day. You make the final decision on how high you're willing to go, but we provide expert guidance to ensure you don't overpay.

Can I attend the auction myself?

You're welcome to attend and observe, but we strongly recommend not bidding yourself if we're representing you. Here's why:

• Your presence and body language can signal to the auctioneer and other bidders that you're emotionally invested
• Emotion can override our strategic bidding plan
• Other bidders may target you specifically, driving up the price
• You may bid beyond your pre-determined maximum in the heat of competition

Many clients prefer to wait nearby (in a car or cafe) and receive real-time updates via phone. Others attend and observe from a distance without revealing their connection to the bidder.

What's the fee for auction representation?

Auction representation is structured two ways:

• Included in full service: If you've engaged our complete buyers agent service (2-3% fee), auction representation is included at no additional cost
• Standalone service: If you've found a property yourself and only need auction bidding representation, we offer this as a standalone service for $3,000

The standalone service includes pre-auction research, strategy development, auction day bidding, and post-auction negotiations if applicable.