Insights
 
Connect with sellers just like you and share your experience with auction. Get tips and tricks on selling properties, home improvement, and real estate investment.
 
Getting Your Property Ready
 

Some auction companies and realtors will tell you to make improvements to your property. We take the opposite approach; leave the property as it is and let the potential high bidders use their imagination about cosmetic changes they would make to the home.

 

Ensure your property looks great for the open public inspection by making sure your floors, walls, bathrooms and furniture are clean. Eliminate extra clutter, mow the lawn and make sure the house smells nice.


Packing up everything you own while making your property attractive to buyers can seem like a daunting task. A lot of things aren’t coming with you and charities are always looking for intact, useable items. Spend some extra time deciding which items can be given to a good cause.


Rearrange furniture to give rooms a more spacious feel – and to make it easier for buyers to walk through them.


Buyers are attracted to light. Open all blinds and curtains, and turn on all lights.


Clear out half the items in your bedroom closets and kitchen cabinets to make them look spacious but not empty.


You might consider a vase of fresh flowers in the kitchen or a potted plant at the front door, to give a feeling of welcome. 


Sellers often emphasize the look of a property but neglect the other senses. For example, buyers can be very sensitive to odors, whether from pets, cigarettes, or cooking. Wash rugs, shampoo carpets, and place scented candles or air fresheners in problem areas.


Alert your neighbors to the open public inspection dates and the day of auction.


Remove/Replace any fixtures you don’t want to sell with the property prior to listing.


Look at your house from the street and consider: if you were a potential buyer and just drove up (or saw a photo), would you want to go inside? Is the landscaping well-maintained? Can someone easily get to and from the front door? Does the house look as if it has been taken care of? 


Remember, there’s no need to make last-minute repairs because Williams & Williams sells your house as-is! 


Follow these simple steps and suggestions to maximize your results on auction day. If you need more tips or have any further questions, feel free to call us at 800.801.8003, or visit williamsauction.com.

 
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Glossary of Terms

Absentee Bid

A procedure which allows a bidder to participate in the bidding process without being physically present at the auction. Generally, a bidder submits an offer on an item prior to the auction and instructs the auctioneer to place the bid on the absentee bidder's behalf. The auctioneer or his representative usually handles absentee bids under an established set of guidelines. The particular rules and procedures of absentee bids are unique to each auction company.

Absentee Bidder

A person (or entity) who does not attend the sale but submits, in advance, a written or oral bid to the auctioneer that is the top price he or she will pay for a given property, and instructs the auctioneer to so enter the bid on his or her behalf.

Absolute Auction

An auction where the property is sold to the highest qualified bidder with no limiting conditions as to the bidder or the amount of the high bid. The seller may not bid personally or through an agent. Also known as an auction "without reserve."

Accounting of Sale

A report issued to the seller by the auctioneer detailing the financial aspects of the auction.

As Is, Where Is

Selling the property without warranties of any kind or including as to the condition or fitness of the property for a particular use. Buyers are solely responsible for examining and judging the property for their own protection. Otherwise known as "As Is, with all faults" and "In its present condition."

Assured Price

The benefit of this strategy is the seller is assured a price and a sale on auction day.

Auction

A method of selling real property in a public forum through inviting offers through open and competitive bidding. Also referred to as public auction or auction sale.

Auctioneer

The person or firm contracted by the seller to direct, conduct, or be responsible for a sale by auction. This person may or may not actually call or cry the auction.

Auction Services Agreement

A contract executed by the auctioneer and the seller which authorizes the auctioneer to conduct the auction, sets out the terms of the relationship, and identifies the rights and responsibilities of each party.

Auction Marketing Plan

The plan for how the property and auction will be promoted to drive purchase interest.

Auction Value

The price obtained for a particular property from open competitive bidding at public auction. Also known as Market Value.

Auction With Reserve

An auction in which the seller reserves the right to accept or decline the high bid. Also referred to as an auction "Subject to Seller Confirmation."

Ballroom Auction

An auction of one or more properties conducted in a meeting room facility.

Bank Letter of Credit

A letter from a bank certifying that a named person is worthy of a given level of credit. Often requested from prospective bidders or buyers who are not paying with currency at auctions.

Bid

A prospective buyer's indication or offer of a price he or she will pay to purchase property at auction. Bids are usually in standardized increments established by the auctioneer.

Bid Acknowledgment

A form executed by the high bidder confirming and acknowledging the bidders' identity, the bid price, the description of the property, and his or her agreement to the terms and conditions governing the auction and sale of the property.

Bidder Number

The number issued to each person who registers at an auction.

Buyer's Choice

A method of sale whereby the successful high bidder wins the right to choose a property or properties from a grouping of similar or like-kind properties set by the auctioneer. After the high bidder's selection, the property is deleted from the group, and the second round of bidding commences, with the high bidder in round two choosing a property, which is then deleted from the group and so on, until all properties within the group are sold.

Broker Participation

An arrangement for third-party brokers to register a potential bidder for a property being sold at auction in order to receive a commission paid by the represented bidder or the auction firm upon closing and exchange of the property.

Buyer's Broker

A real estate broker who represents the bidder and, as the agent of the buyer, is normally paid for his/her services by the bidder.

Buyer's Premium

An advertised percentage of the high bid or flat fee paid by the bidder and added to the high bid to determine the total contract price to be paid by the bidder. Also known as a "Buyer's Fee" in some states.

Carrying Costs

The costs incurred by the owner when holding a vacant or underutilized property (e.g., insurance, taxes, maintenance, management).

Catalog or Brochure

A publication advertising and describing the property/ies available for sale at public auction, often including photographs, property descriptions, and the terms and conditions of the sale.

Clerk

The person employed by the auction firm to record what is sold and to whom and for what price.

Closing

The act of completing the final steps of a real estate transaction, including the funding of the purchase price, payment of closing costs, disbursement of escrow funds, and legal conveyance of the property to the buyer.

Commission

The fee paid to the auctioneer by the seller pursuant to the listing agreement in exchange for providing auction services, which is typically expressed as a percentage of the gross selling price of the property.

Conditions of Sale

The legal terms that govern the conduct of an auction and the conveyance of the property, including acceptable methods of payment, closing terms, buyer's premiums, possession, and any other limiting factors of an auction. Usually included in published advertisements or announced by the auctioneer prior to the start of the auction. Also known as Terms & Conditions of Auction.

Contract

An agreement between two or more persons or entities that creates or modifies a legal relationship.

Due Diligence

The process of gathering information about the condition and legal status of assets to be sold.

Escrow

The process of holding down payment funds tendered by the high bidder until disbursement of the funds pursuant to written instructions by the bidder and seller. The auctioneer either holds the down payment funds in trust and deposits the funds into a third-party or real estate broker escrow/trust account either immediately upon receipt of the funds or upon acceptance of the high bid by the seller. This process is dictated by the Terms of Sale, the Purchase Contract, and applicable state law.

High Bid

The last bid offered by a bidder and acknowledged by the auctioneer prior to declaring the auction closed.

Increment

The minimum amount by which the current high bid can be increased, as set by the auctioneer.

Listing Agreement

A contract between the seller and the auction house allowing an item to be listed for auction.

Listing Broker

A real estate broker who has a listing on a property and cooperates with the auction company by allowing the auction agreement to supersede his/her listing agreement.

Live Auction

This is an auction that takes place in "real time"

"Live from the Lawn TMAuction"

Exclusive to Williams & Williams, this is a live auction that takes place at the property location or an alternate designated location with competitive, real-time bidding conducted at the auction site and via the internet through AuctionNetwork.com. The auctioneer addresses both on site and online bidders and accepts bids from both locations.

Market Value

The open market value of an item. The high bid at an auction represents the market value of the property.  Also called Auction Value.

Maximum Bid

The upper bid limit set by the buyer when using proxy or "automatic" bidding.

Minimum Bid

The smallest amount that can be bid by a buyer.

Nominal Opening Bid

The bid amount the auctioneer will use to kick off the auction and set the initial bid increments. The auctioneer has the option to start below this bid amount, if desired.

On-site Auction

An auction conducted on the premises of the property being sold.

Opening Bid

The first bid offered by a bidder at an auction.

Open Public Inspection

Specified date and time a property is available for prospective buyer viewing and audits. Also known as Preview or Open Inspection.

Property Assessment Package

The Property Assessment Package contains a Property Condition Report and Limited Lien Search Report prepared by third party vendors and at no additional cost, a Property Assessment Report prepared by Williams & Williams.

Property Information Package (PIP)

A collection of property information documentation and auction instructions prepared by the seller and auction firm for property being sold at an auction, which is distributed to prospective bidders prior to the auction. Sometimes called a Due Diligence Package.

Proxy Bid

A method of bidding in which the computer automatically places bids for you at the lowest increment, up to a maximum bid you have set. Proxy bids are accepted on all Auction Network auctions, including "Live From the Lawn" and "Online Only".

Referring Broker

A real estate broker who does not have a listing on a property, but refers the auction company to a potential seller for an auction.

Reserve

A price set and agreed upon by the auction company and the seller, identifying the minimum high bid amount that will be accepted by the seller.

Ringmen

Individuals who are positioned throughout the auction attendees to assist the auctioneer in spotting bidders and provide prospective bidders with information to help them in their bidding decisions.

Seller

The entity that has legal possession (or ownership) of any interests, benefits, or rights inherent to the real or personal property and the legal right to market and convey the property.

Terms and Conditions

The printed rules of the auction and certain aspects of the Purchase & Sale Agreement that are read and/or distributed to potential bidders prior to an auction sale.

Trustee's Sale

A sale at auction by a trustee.
 
 
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