In order to help consumers gain familiarity with real estate auctions, ListedBy–an online real estate marketplace and social network with live bidding auction and ‘Best Offer’ functionality–has released a new tool called ListedBy – Real Estate Auction Primer for Consumers. This tool acts as a ‘must-know’ guide for anyone looking to buy or sell real estate through auction.
“As the auction market gains traction, important terminologies and factors are a must for both buyers and sellers,” says Stephan Piscano, CEO and Co-Founder, ListedBy. “ListedBy’s model changes the auction practice almost entirely and adds new dimensions even experienced real estate professionals can greatly benefit from.”
ListedBy – Real Estate Auction Primer for Consumers is now available for download, free of charge, in the Knowledge Centre on ListedBy Blog. Consumers considering auctioning their home or purchasing a property at auction can also tap expert advice on the ListedBy Member Forum, and read the following considerations, terminology and strategies for getting by in the world of real estate auctions.
Basic Terminology and Strategies
1. Auction – The term auction is derived from the Latin ‘auge?’, which means ‘I increase’ or ‘I augment’. It is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder at a pre-set set auction expiry date and time.
2. English Auction – Is an auction where the price is driven up by buyers and where the highest bidder wins, at auction expiry.
3. Dutch Auction – A process where the starting price of an asset begins higher and scales down until the offer meets a bid.
4. Reserve Auction – A ‘Reserve Auction’ sets a minimum price below which the seller is not obliged to sell the property at the expiry of the auction. As a home seller, use this strategy to secure an absolute price below which you are not ready to sell, and to advise bidders that bids must go higher for an acceptable agreement to be reached.
5. No Reserve Auction – A ‘No Reserve’ auction, also known as an Absolute Auction, legally binds the seller to release the property to the highest bidder above the set starting bid price. This strategy is usually used to create early excitement around an attractive, lower but acceptable price. The approach can drive a bidding competition that can result in a final sale price higher than originally expected by the seller.
6. Buy It Now – By placing a bid under a Buy It Now price option set by the seller, the bidder instantly wins the auction and both seller and buyer are obligated to transact at the set price. Leverage Buy It Now to avoid entering into a competitive bidding scenario and to secure and close on the property quickly.
7. Buyer’s Premium – A traditional practice that new business models such as ListedBy.com are eliminating. Also referred to as a Buyer’s Penalty, or the fee that a winning bidder must pay over and above the price of the subject property. The premium is typically between two and ten percent of the asset value.
8. Open Outcry – Unlike sealed bid auctions, ‘open outcry’ auctions are ‘open’ or ‘fully transparent.’ The identity of all bidders is disclosed to each other during an open outcry.
9. Auction Expiry – An auction has a start date and time, and a close ‘expiry’ date and time after which new bids are no longer accepted. In cases where a last minute bid comes in just prior to the expiry, certain auctioneer rules may include a short extension, to give former bidders a chance to counter the late coming bid.
Key Considerations
1. Fees and charges – New, advertising and service driven business models are doing away with all fees associated with buying or selling property at auction. As a seller, look for auctioning your property through a provider or platform that does not charge any fees or commissions. As a buyer, look for auction venues that do not charge any Buyer Premium or penalty.
2. Transparency – Sealed bids may have some advantages in certain cases. However, in buying or selling your home, it is important to first consider a fully transparent environment where everyone gets to see who is bidding and how much. Transparency gives everyone a greater sense of trust and confidence in the process, equal chance, and optimizes a property’s market value. New platforms such as ListedBy.com allow everyone to view each other’s bids and member profiles including any ratings, recommendations or comments.
3. Online Auctions – New, entirely Web-based auction platforms and service providers offer a simpler, quicker and more efficient avenue for buyers and sellers to engage in auction. An online avenue also does away with the added effort, inconvenience, resources and expenses needed to organize and run a physical, on-location auction.
4. Engage a REALTOR® – While buying and selling at auction online is relatively easy, look to engage an experienced representative who understands real estate marketing, knows the area, the auction process and various strategies that can be used to maximize your property value or clinch you a better deal, if you are a buyer. A local REALTOR® who also has experience in online auctions can bring significant advantage to the process. The Member Directory on ListedBy lists agents from across the U.S. and can be a great place to begin your research.
Benefits of Online Auction for Buyers
- Knowledge that the property will sell at auction expiry.
- Knowledge of who you are bidding against and where the bids are at any point in time. A fair play environment.
- Ability to participate free of charge and from anywhere, anytime.
- Ability to conveniently view and bid on multiple properties.
- No Buyer Premiums means additional funds to put towards a desired property.
- Significantly cuts down price negotiations time typically consumed in traditional buying and selling.
Benefits of Online Auction for Sellers
- Expose your property to cash-ready, pre-qualified buyers.
- Let the market reflect the right value of your property.
- Create excitement around the sale of your property.
- Certainty that the property will sell and by when.
- A way to potentially sell your property more quickly.
- Create competition among buyers.
- Less back and forth negotiations lends for an overall faster, easier process.
For more information, visit www.ListedBy.com.