Buyer FAQs

Buyer FAQs

 

 

How do I bid online?

An online event is probably the easiest way to buy real estate. Imagine “point & click” real estate sales. On our bidding platform, you register with a credit card and your contact info. The credit card is not charged but is utilized to verify that you have an account only.  During registration, you will choose how the platform will contact you, via e-mail and/or text.

When you are ready to bid, you may place a “Max” bid or just place one bid on the asset. A “Max” bid allows you to enter your limit or max and the platform will bid for you up to your max limit. Of course, the system will only bid for you in the pre-determined bid increments displayed on the site. The “Max” bid is the best method as the first Max bid will “own” the space until you are “outbid”. Once you are outbid, the system will notify you of the “outbid” situation.

When you are the winning bidder, the bidding platform will send you a congratulatory e-mail with additional instructions. Our office will e-mail an “electronic” contract for your signature that you may sign on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop. In addition, we will ask you to wire transfer, hand deliver or overnight a deposit in certified funds.

How To Register and Bid 

Is it like eBay?

Yes, except for "sniping" at the last minute. Our bidding platform gives everyone a fair chance to bid.

Do we get to see the bids?

Yes. All bids are displayed on the bidding platform. Bidders and interested parties can only see the bids not who is bidding.

Do I need to have all of the cash when the auction closes?

No. We only require 10% of the total purchase price within 24 hours. The balance is usually paid at closing within 30 days of the auction.

What is an Auto or Max Bid?

The online bidding system allows for an “automatic incremental bid” where the bidder enters the bidder’s maximum amount but only bids up to the next nearest amount. This keeps a bidder from having to re-bid after another bidder submits bids. The bidding platform gives priority to Auto | Max bids. For example, if Bidder "A" has entered a max bid of $50,000 and Bidder "B" enters a single bid of $50,000, Bidder "A's" Max bid in the event of a tie will prevail. The system will only bid for you up to the next increment. You may wish to consider utilizing an Auto | Max bid

What is a Soft or Dynamic Close?

If a bid is received within the final 5 minutes of a property closing, the auction will automatically extend for another 10 minutes and will continue to do so until all bidding within a given 5-minute period ceases. This is the online version of a live auctioneer’s “Going Once, Going Twice…”

How does a real estate agent earn a commission?

Visit www.SVNGilmoreAuction.com, roll your cursor over “Why Buy or Sell?”, and click “Real Estate Agents/Brokers”. Download the pdf form, follow the instructions, have your client and your broker sign and email it to David.gilmore@svn.com a minimum of 2 days before the end of bidding. If your client buys, you will receive a commission check at closing.

Can I bid on my phone?

Yes. Download our app, SVN Auctions, from the App Store or Google Play to your smartphone. The same amazing features that are packed into our bidding platform is now in the palm of your hands! With real-time updates, notifications, auto bids & maxbids, you will be able to bid online at ANY  TIME, ANYWHERE with your phone.

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What is a Buyer's Premium?

The Buyer’s Premium is added to the winning bid price to arrive at the final contract price. You can think of the BP as similar to the “tax” you pay at the grocery store. For example, if the winning bid is $100,000 on a property then you would add the BP of ten percent or $10,000 for a total contract price of $110,000. Or, if the BP is five percent then you would add $5000 for a total of $105,000. If there is a BP, then please consider this and stop bidding at a lower price to stay within your range.

What about the title? Am I buying a property with back taxes, liens, or title issues?

All our auctions are sold with good, insurable titles and no liens, judgments, mortgages or back taxes. The seller is responsible to provide good title. If the title cannot be cleared, which is very rare, we return the deposit to the buyer, and the sale is null and void.

How do I inspect the property?

Most of our improved properties (homes, commercial buildings and vacant apartment units) are usually held open at designated times before the event. Some properties are shown by appointment only. Please feel free to bring your contractor or home inspector to the preview.

Does the winning bidder ever NOT close on the transaction?

Every once in a while, the winning bidder does not close on the sale. When this occurs, we will immediately notify the “backup” or 2nd highest bidder to negotiate an offer. We will contact the other registered bidders and the open market if this doesn't work.

Can I make an offer before the accelerated marketing event?

Sorry, but no. Our clients want to see the competitive bidding for their property.

Is this like a traditional sale with an inspection period after the bidding?

Sorry, No. Please feel free to bring your contractor, roofer, or inspector to the showing or open house. The property sells in "as is, where is" condition

Will the Seller be bidding up the price?

No. The owner and SVN Gilmore are prohibited from bidding. Rest assured, you will only be competing against other bidders at an SVN Gilmore event.

Is there additional information on these properties?

We distribute property information on our website and via e-mail. Any last-minute information is sent out to interested parties by e-mail. Please make sure that you are on our e-mail subscriber list.

Why is the property being sold this way instead of using the traditional listing method?

Some owners require an Accelerated Sale for various reasons including foreclosure, divorce, partnership breakup, bankruptcy, bank REO, estate settlement, job transfer, surplus disposal or corporate liquidation. Our clients usually need to know when their property will be sold.

This is my first time bidding, any tips?

First, we recommend you decide how you will pay for the asset. If you are planning to borrow some of the purchase price, you should see a lender and get a prequalification letter.

Check out the values in the neighborhood or area and inspect the property. You should be able to find comparable property information at: www.realtor.com, www.zillow.com, www.loopnet.com, and www.costar.com.

Set a range of values for your property. Maybe decide on a low price (a steal), a medium price (a great deal), and a high price (still a good deal but your top price).

When it is time to bid, you will be prepared. Good luck with your bidding.