We bring market insights, news and lifestyle updates direct to your inbox.

Sign up to our newsletters >

See the properties 
defining luxury in the 
Luxury Homes magazine

Auctions have proudly been part of the fabric of this fourth generation, family-owned and led business since 1902. This method of sale is one we believe in and have recommended to our clients since then. We still believe it’s the purest form of selling real estate.

Auction is a form of selling real estate where the market determines the price of an asset in an open forum negotiation, which is essentially what happens on auction day. Buyers can look each other in the eye and see what someone else is prepared to pay for it, and can then decide if it’s worth more to them and continue bidding, all on an open and even playing field in regard to terms and conditions.

The seller has the benefit of exposing their asset to the entire market, maintaining control of the process by only selling should their reserve price be met. It’s also sold on favourable terms as an unconditional contract gives security to the transaction that what a bidder offers, is what a bidder pays. During other methods of sale, so often the contract price is renegotiated, for example during a due diligence period, which might only come weeks or even months after the contract was agreed. Auction requires the buyer to do their due diligence prior to deciding how much they’re prepared to pay. Vendors can sell any time before the auction - if a good offer comes in; on the day - through competitive bidding and open negotiation on the auction floor; or sometimes when further negotiations are required, they can sell it post-auction.

No matter what state the market is in, an auction campaign, if carried out correctly, gives you the best chance of creating that competition between bidders to achieve the maximum price for the vendor. At worst, an auction campaign gives you a platform. A platform where post-auction negotiations can take place to still achieve the best possible outcome for the vendor, and for those unsuccessful, they become a pool of buyers for the future.

Your guide to property auctions

Everything you need to know before auction day

Whether you’re buying your first home, an investment property or adding to your portfolio, the process can be just as stressful as it is exciting.

And when you find your dream property and see it’s going to auction, things can feel a little more complex.

The good news? You’re not alone; most people attending an auction are doing so for the first time.

Luckily, our expert auctioneers have shared their best advice to help you prepare and bid with confidence.

Think of this as your auction day buyer cheat sheet.

Discover practical tips from Ray White to help you prepare, stay calm and bid with confidence.

Advice for buying at auction

Whether you're a first home buyer or considering buying a property at auction, the process can be daunting if you're not familiar with what happens at auction. At Ray White, auctions our the lifeblood of our group and we have expert auctioneers across Australia who successfully call auctions on a weekly basis. Read the advice from our auctioneers below to learn more about the auction process and what's involved in an auction for buyers.

Read our expert advice from Ray White auctioneers

Advice for selling at auction

Looking to sell your home? An auction provides the most transparent and decisive environment in real estate. To sell a property by auction has benefits and outcomes that benefit all parties involved in the transaction. From a contractual and legislative perspective, a sale by auction is binding by all parties with transparent conversations under these terms. Read the advice from our auctioneers below to learn more about the auction process and what's involved in an auction for vendors.

Read our expert advice for vendors from Ray White auctioneers

Auction terms explained

Auctions can be overwhelming, but knowing the key terms and phrases will help you confidently navigate the auction process and get ready to bid.

Read our simple auction terms explained guide here

What's the difference between auction and private treaty?

Once you’ve decided that you want to make an offer for a property there are two main methods to purchasing: auction and private treaty.

At auctions you’ll be bidding against other potential buyers, will have to make fast decisions and will generally know if you will own the home when the auction concludes. If you’re negotiating through a private treaty you’re negotiating the sale price with the vendor and the initial price is set by the market value of the property, not a price reserve. The process can take days or weeks longer than an auction.

Read more about auctions vs private treaties

Live auctions

What do I need to know about auctions?

Watch our auction mythbusting video series where we answer some commonly asked questions around property auctions - from bidding tips to reserve prices. Learn the best real estate auction strategies and find tips to prepare for an auction.

  • Want to feel prepared at an auction? Luke Banitsiotis, chief auctioneer, Ray White Victoria | Tasmania debunks common myths around buying at auction.

  • Learn the best real estate auction bidding strategies, including why you should "bid quickly" and the importance of knowing your strategy and sticking to your budget.

Get more auction and market insights to your inbox

Sign up to our newsletter

Back to top