Bidding Technique. Things to watch out for:-

*  Sign in and join the auction at least five minutes before the start time.

*  Read the Auction Act 1927 link at the foot of the Auction console.

*  Bidder names are not visible in the Auction, only a randomly allocated bidder number is shown.  To identify your bid, by the bidder number you will see ‘You’ in red.  If its not there you are not on the leader board. 

*  All bid times are based upon when a bid is received at the server.  Your bidding screen refreshes every ten seconds, allowing you to see who holds the top 5 places.  When bidding is fast you may have to bid above the recommended bid value shown to stay with the leaders.   If the bidding is a long way below what you think is the right price you could try to leap ahead of the bidding and put in what you think is a Realistic LOW price for the property.  A sudden leap in bidding has a psychological effect on other bidders who may give up and allow you to secure the property at that realistic low price.

*  When you begin to  enter the first number in the next bid, your screen will stop refreshing, giving you time to enter the bid.  BUT you won’t see if more bids have come in.  So don’t enter a number then wait, put the numbers in.   You don’t need commas or a pound sign or pence.  Press Bid, then you will see your bid with commas inserted.  Various warning messages may be displayed in red e.g. if your bid is massively high.  If you have made a mistake and your bid is not correct, press reject.  If it is correct press Confirm.  You will then see where you stand.

*  Make up your mind before you go to Auction what will be your maximum bid.  Write it down on a piece of paper and then don’t go Above  it ! 

*  If bidding is fast then wait till it slows down.  Don’t panic, many bidders choose to hold back and bid when the price gets closer to what they feel is the right price. Again it’s like running a race, there is a mental game going on behind the numbers.  Moving into the race as a new bidder, toward the end of the bidding, can break the confidence of your opponent who thought he controlled the race.   

*  Remember if bidding stalls you may need to bid to keep things going if you want to buy the property.  We always have a reserve price so the auctioneer may have to withdraw the lot if the reserve price has not been reached. If a lot is withdrawn from the auction but you are still interested in buying contact the auctioneer straightaway and make an offer in confidence.  If  bidders make an offer after the lot has been withdrawn the  auctioneer will normally ask for best and final bids from the top bidders.    

*  Bids can be withdrawn only if they are the leading bid and made in error.  If you advise the auctioneer through the console before SOLD is displayed, he will pause the auction and withdraw your bid.  You cannot withdraw your bid after the SOLD notice has been displayed.