How to bid at auction: eight top tips

If you’ve ever been to an auction, you’ll know that the experience can be both exciting and tense, as a property goes under the hammer and rival buyers compete to present the highest bid, until just one of them is left.

If you have your heart set on a particular home and you discover that it’s up for auction, you may be wondering what you can do to get ready, and how to best be prepared on the day, to improve your chances of snagging the property.

To find out what you can do to get ready for the big day, we spoke to Arjun Paliwal, the founder and Head of Research at buyers agency InvestorKit, to get some of his top tips on what buyers can do prior to an auction.

Whether you’re a first-time bidder or whether you’ve been to a few auctions already and are looking to up your game and get that successful bid over the line, you may be wondering how to bid on a house. Eight key things to keep in mind when preparing for a property auction are:

1. Shortlist several properties
2. Monitor recent sales right up until auction day
3. Compare properties with similar features
4. Set a cut-off range, rather than a cut-off price
5. Attend open homes and auctions to understand market demand
6. Follow trend reports by property professionals
7. Consider placing a strong opening bid
8. Consider placing smaller or odd-numbered bids

1. Shortlist several properties

“By nature, auctions are fast-paced and can be emotionally driven,” said Mr Paliwal.

“To minimise getting swept up in the action and paying more than initially planned for, have a shortlist of several properties to fall back on so you have momentum – rather than just one.

“Not having all your eggs in one basket will mean you’re less likely to make a regretful over-purchase.

“You’re also less likely to start house hunting again from scratch.”

2. Monitor recent sales right up until auction day

“Looking at comparable sales – the recent selling prices of similar properties in the area – will give you a strong indication of the market value of a property,” said Mr Paliwal.

He added that, while many buyers are still taking the traditional approach of using the last three to six months of sales, this may not be an accurate method in a hot market. In fact, it may give results that are between 3–10% behind the correct market price.

“To ensure you have a realistic price guide on the day, continue researching right up until the auction,” he said.

“This might include calling agents to get a guide on a recent sale or one under offer.”

3. Compare properties with similar features

“In doing your due diligence to understand market value, look into the specific details and features of a similar home,” Mr Paliwal told Canstar.

“Ask yourself: are you comparing a property that might be flood- or bushfire-prone to another property in a suburb that might not be affected by this?

“Similarly, if the property you’re looking to buy has a pool or bus stop in front of it, ensure you compare properties with similar features as part of your research.”

4. Set a cut-off range, rather than a cut-off price

“As part of your prep work and strategy ahead of auction day, determine a cut-off price range that you’re willing to pay, rather than a specific maximum price,” Mr Paliwal said, explaining that the bottom of this range is ‘fair value’, a price that is realistic for the property, while the top of the range is your absolute non-negotiable.

“Think about this top price in your range as a reality check,” he continued.

“If you pay anything above this, you will think it is overvalued and a purchase you will regret.

“By doing so, you have some wiggle room for how much you’re willing to pay.”

5. Attend open homes and auctions to understand market demand

If you’re thinking about how to bid on a house at auction, then it pays to understand the market you’re entering. “To better understand how many bidders you might be up against at an auction, visit open homes for private properties and attend auctions in the neighbourhood to get an idea of how much interest there is in the area,” said Mr Paliwal.

“You’ll be better prepared and less surprised at the auction you plan to bid at.”

6. Follow trend reports produced by property professionals

Mr Paliwal said that CoreLogic and SQM Research provide an overview and analysis on the property market, along with recent trends on performance in various areas, suburbs and, sometimes, even streets.

“When doing your research, the key thing to look at is the guide on what a property might sell for based on this research, compared with what it ends up selling for on the day,” he added.

“The percentage difference can provide you with a better price guide and ensure you aren’t blindsided by the realistic sales price on auction day.”

7. Consider placing a strong opening bid

“Making yourself known with a strong opening bid can dishearten your competition and wipe them out early on,” said Mr Paliwal.

He said too many bidders at the start of an auction can bring out people’s competitive spirits and see high bids placed too quickly, and this strategy can curb that.

“If you’re thinking of a starting bid and you’re willing to go up to say $1.5 million on a property – and based on your research, you think this could be the end price – consider making an opening bid of $1.25 million-plus to scare off competition.

“You’ll likely wipe out two-thirds of bidders who didn’t do their homework well,” he said.

8. Consider placing smaller or odd-numbered bids

Mr Paliwal said that placing smaller or odd-numbered bids may be a potential strategy when bidding at auction, to slow down and reduce auction heat so bids don’t reach a price too quickly, particularly when you’re $200-50K out from your end price.

“When the bidding starts to get closer to your cut-off range, consider bidding in one-, five- or ten-thousand dollar increments or use odd numbers,” he said.

“This can force the auctioneer and bidders to slow down and rethink the bid due to unexpected numbers.

“A pause can remove the heat and intensity and mean the price won’t rise as quickly.”

Cover image source: Nokwan007/Shutterstock.com