Each month Auction Network offers real estate opportunities through our innovative online bidding platform. Online bidding is available only to registered members of Auction Network. Click here to create an account.
FAQs
When do listings appear on the website?
Online Only properties, meaning they are only available to our Internet bidders, are posted in the Auction MartTM on auctionnetwork.com 25 to 30 days prior to the start of bidding. This window allows for property research, inspections and time to get financing in order.
How do I find available properties?
Properties can be located by going to our home page, clicking on the “Real Estate Auction” tab and dropping down to the “Online Only” option. If you already know the address of the property you’re interested in viewing, you can also type it into our smart search window.
The Auction MartTM page lists all the properties currently available during that month’s sales cycle. Properties are grouped by state and also listed individually in the drop-down box next to each state listing. Want to see all the properties for sale in a certain state? Simply click the orange state link. Each property is displayed along with the nominal opening bid amount and start/end dates. You can also refine the search using the property types option on the left side of the screen.
I found a property, now what?
Once you’ve located a property in the Auction MartTM, you’ll be taken to a property details page. There you will find photos, information, terms and other useful tools such as “Add to My Favorites,” “Add to Calendar,” “Send to a Friend” or “Register.”
Like a shopping cart, “Add to My Favorites” will add the property to the “Favorite Properties” section in your personalized Auction Network account.
Want to be reminded to check back later? Just utilize the “Add to Calendar” feature and you’ll be able to download an .ics file that can be synchronized with your computer’s calendar or mail client so that you are notified as the sale approaches.
For those who like to get second opinions from the BFFs or maybe found a property they know would be just what the mother-in-law needs to have her own place (and get her out of yours), click the “Send to a Friend” link.
Why do I need to join Auction Network to bid?
To place a bid, you’ll first have to join the Auction Network. After all we can’t work with you if we don’t know who you are, right? Signing up is simple and free. Click on the “Sign In/Create Account” option at the top of the page and give us some basic information. By creating the account you’ll be able to save your searches and favorite properties and stay in the know about auctions of most interest to you. Your information will be kept confidential.
What's involved in registering?
Now that you’re a member, click the “Register” button. You’ll need to satisfy our lawyers by accepting the terms and conditions associated with the property. If interested in other properties during the same sales cycle, you can also accept those terms from this same page.
Since we won’t be in your living room or office to collect down payments when you become the high bidder, we’ll need you to enter credit card information and agree to a couple more statements and click “Submit.” Nothing is charged to your credit card by Auction Network unless you win the auction. Check with your bank regarding their policies. Some banks will hold a $1 credit in a pending account. Deposits aren’t required to bid on our Online Only properties. The credit card is required so that we can ensure you are of legal age to purchase real estate and confirm your identity. The name on your credit card must match the profile information.
Once you see the green “Already Registered” button appear on the property details page, you can rest easy knowing you’re now registered and ready to bid when the auction begins.
How do I bid?
You can’t place a bid in advance of the auction opening to everyone.
When the auction starts, you can enter your bid in one of two places on our website.
During Live from the Lawn broadcast days, the area below the main video window displays Online Only auctions getting ready to expire the soonest along with the time remaining. Open one, two, three … heck all the Online Only auction widgets and place them on your screen so you can receive more details and keep up with the bidding. The Live from the Lawn host will also be monitoring Online Only auctions and will periodically provide information on which auctions are getting close to ending and who is in the lead.
The Online Only auctions are also listed on the right side of the home page.
Or you can return to the property details page and click the “Place Bid” tab. Either way, enter your bid by typing that amount in the “Your Maximum Bid” field. You will be asked to confirm the amount. The amount can either be a current bid or a proxy bid.
What's the difference between a current bid and a proxy bid?
A current bid is what you are prepared to pay right then and there. You will be required to beat the current high bid based on the increments.
With a proxy bid you can place the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the property. For example, if the current bid is $10,000 (with $1,000 bidding increments) and you’re willing to pay a total of $30,000, you’d enter $30,000 into the system and your bid would be shown as $11,000. Auction Network’s proprietary software will then automatically bid for you each time you’re outbid up to a maximum of $30,000. If the auction ends and you have the high bid of $20,000, you’re only on the hook for $20,000; not $30,000. Make sense?
You will be notified by our automated system when and if you are out bid.
Can I place a bid as time is expiring?
Yes. To ensure fairness, our system automatically extends the auction ending time by two minutes any time the bid price is raised with less than two minutes remaining. This helps eliminate last-second bidders who attempt to snipe the bids.
What do I do if I need help?
If you have questions, we have customer service representatives available seven days a week. You can reach them by calling 866.921.2135, email at customerservice@williamsauction.com or by using the virtual chat function on the property details page.
What happens if I am the high bidder online?
If you do come out of top … congratulations. You’ll receive a winning bid notification. Expect a call from one of our closing representatives to verify your selected form of payment and walk you through the closing process following seller acceptance.
How can I find results on properties already auctioned?
The day a property sells, and for that day only, we will post high bid results on auctionnetwork.com under the "Today’s Auctioned Results" tab. You can find that tab on the right-hand side of the page. High bid results are only available for the day we are auctioning properties. The amount of the high bid is proprietary information between our buyers and sellers.