People Who Attend Auctions

Auctions offer excitement and nervousness as buyers compete for their piece of the Australian dream.

The Future Habitat team attend many auctions, where we we regularly see this cast of characters.

The Buyer’s Agent

Well, we’re there aren’t we? They’re possibly the only truly confident person at the auction. They make their presence known from the get go. They’re so bold, they sometimes even stand up front facing the crowd. These days there are normally more than one. They know who they are and spend time before the auction sizing each other up.

The Neighbours

Some have lived in the area for many years and are constantly amazed at recent property prices. Their house is worth more because it’s better than the one that’s on offer. The nosy ones have savoured the opportunity to stickybeak through their neighbour’s house so will have been to at least one inspection during the campaign. Some not-so-nosy neighbours will be thinking of selling and are sizing up the agency. They will also grab the buyer’s agent at the end of the auction and take them through their home in the hope the buyer’s agent has a client for their home.

The Over-It Couple

They’ve dedicated more than a year of their life to their property search.  They’ve been to hundreds of inspections every single Saturday morning and midweek. They’ve spent a fortune on building inspections. They’ve bid at auctions and been outbid numerous times. They’re DONE. This is it – this is the ONE!

The Nesting Upsizers

She’s heavily pregnant and looking panicked. The waddle and the size of the bump indicates the baby was due yesterday and the need for the extra bedroom is critical – they need it NOW. We know when we’re in trouble if we see this couple.

The Dejected Couple

They arrive with family and friends, and are filled with hope and anticipation. They make some eager bids during the auction, and are blown out of the water. They have saved and saved (and saved!) and were SURE their future home wouldn’t sell for that much over the quoted price. But…no. They quietly leave, get in the car and move on.

The Cashed-Up Investor

They pull up as cool as a cucumber, have usually seen the property for the first time that morning, look over the contract and take up a lot of the agent’s time before the auction. Sometimes the auction is halted so they can register! They submit a few bids on the chance of a ‘good buy’, and rarely are the successful bidder. They then jump back in their car and drive away quickly off to the next auction in the hope of grabbing a ‘bargain’.

The Empty Nesters

Their family home has just sold for a truck-load, and they probably have more cash than anyone at the auction. With no borrowing, they don’t need to worry about the bank valuation or going over their 80% borrowing capacity. It’s normally a family affair – they are usually accompanied by at least one of their adult children.

The Early Lookers

They’ve just started their journey to their property dream and they’re going to a few auctions to get a feel for the area and prices. They sip on their takeaway coffees and have a confident, hopeful outlook.

The Worried Looking Agent

For the past month, the agent has worked her/his heart out on the marketing campaign and now the time has come. The “Auction” flag is up and they keep checking in with the staff member at the registration table to make sure they have more than one bidder. Anybody that walks through the door will be asked by the agent “Are you registering today?”

The Auctioneer

Well, of course the auctioneer is here! He creates the theatre and gets bids moving as quickly as possible and the higher the increment the better. They are witty and try to put the bidders at ease. Although, they also have a knack to annoy bidders. The refuse small increments early and when asked if the property is ‘on the market’, the usual response from the auctioneer is “This property has been on the market for the last four weeks”