A buyer spots a property in next week's auction. It looks like good value. But they have never bought at auction before, and they have questions: how does it work, where is the legal pack, how much deposit do I need on the day, how quickly must I complete, can I view it first, can I bid online? The auction is in six days, and every day without answers is a day less to prepare.
Property auction enquiries are time-sensitive in a way ordinary sales enquiries are not. Buyers work to a fixed date, and they need a lot of information before they can bid with confidence.
The questions auction buyers ask
- How does buying at auction work?
- Where can I find the legal pack?
- What deposit is due on the day, and how is it paid?
- How long do I have to complete?
- When can I view the property?
- Can I bid by phone, online or by proxy?
- Are there buyer's fees?
- What happens if I win and cannot complete?
Why speed matters more at auction
With a fixed auction date, buyers need time for viewings, legal pack reviews, surveys and finance. Every day spent waiting for an answer shortens that preparation. A buyer who cannot get answers in time may decide not to bid at all.
Publishing an auction guide
Most auction questions are about process. A clear guide on your website covering how auctions work, deposits, fees, completion timescales and bidding options answers most of them. Link it from every auction listing.
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Answering instantly
Buyer: How much deposit do I need on the day? Answer: A 10% deposit is due when the hammer falls, along with the buyer's fee listed in the auction catalogue. Completion is usually required within 28 days. The legal pack for each lot is available to download from the listing, and it's worth having your solicitor review it before the auction.
SpideyChat for real estate answers from your published auction guide and listings at any hour. Specific legal and financial questions should always be referred to the buyer's own solicitor or adviser.
International and remote bidders
Auctions attract buyers from further afield, including overseas investors and people relocating. Remote bidding questions and time zone issues are common. The needs of these buyers overlap with those in foreign buyers and multilingual property enquiries and relocation buyers researching from another city.
First-time auction buyers
Many auction enquiries come from people who have never bid before. They are often nervous about the speed and finality of it. A short explanation of what happens on the day, from registering to the fall of the hammer, and what they need to have ready, turns nervous enquirers into prepared bidders.
Viewing slots
Auction properties often have set viewing times. Publish them clearly, and capture viewing requests from buyers who cannot make the scheduled slots so your team can decide whether to add extra times.
Last-minute questions
The days before an auction bring a rush of questions, much like the last-minute doubts retailers see before a purchase, described in the questions visitors ask right before they buy. Having answers ready and instant makes the difference between a nervous buyer who bids and one who does not.
Lots that sell before auction
Sometimes a lot sells prior to auction. Buyers who were interested should be told promptly and offered similar lots, the same principle as capturing demand for sold-out items in how to answer stock and restock questions without an inbox.
To see how auction questions would be answered on your site, try an assistant, or read about lead capture.