‘Bid strong, bid quickly’: Top auction tips for buyers this spring

Spring has long been a busy season in Australia’s property market, and it’s been a popular time to take homes to auction, drawing bidders to offer their best price in real time.  

For many Australians, the auction stage has been a high-stakes environment that can feel daunting even for seasoned buyers.  

Competitive bidding, fast decisions, and emotional pressures often combine to make auctions one of the toughest hurdles on the path to homeownership.  

For first-time buyers in particular, the experience can be overwhelming. But with the right preparation and a clear plan, auctions can be less intimidating.  

We asked three experienced auctioneers – Jellis Craig’s Ben Harrison and Sam Rigopoulos and Compton Green’s Adrian Butera – for their best tips to help buyers navigate auctions this spring.  

Preparing for an auction  

Before bidding starts, successful buyers should have laid the groundwork with thorough preparation.  

Mr Harrison, partner and auctioneer at Jellis Craig Northcote, said it was important to remain calm and not become overwhelmed by the auction process.  

“Sometimes people can talk themselves out of the auction process, so the first tip is to concentrate on the house that you want to buy, not the process,” he said.  

He said buyers need to do their homework, such as reviewing the contracts, speaking with agents about settlement terms, and locking in a clear bidding strategy. 

Mr Butera, managing director and auctioneer at Compton Green Inner West, encouraged buyers to think about the mechanics of auctions themselves. 

“Every auctioneer is different,” he said.  

“Their calls are different, the way they declare a property on the market may be slightly different.  

“I would encourage every bidder to attend a few auctions, even if they’re not bidding, so they can understand and see a really thorough example of how auctions happen in that area.” 

Mr Rigopoulos, director and auctioneer at Jellis Craig Northcote, said buyers should take a more direct approach.  

“If you like the home, cut the competition off at the pass,” he said.  

“Make a bold offer early that stifles the growth and depth of competing interest – bid to buy, not just to participate.  

“Get comfortable with the fact that to buy means being prepared to pay more than anyone else looking at it.”  

Bidding during the auction 

Once the auctioneer opens up the bidding, confidence and speed matter just as much as preparation.  

Mr Harrison said he even found it nerve-wracking when bidding for himself, but said strength in delivery was critical.  

“If you are hesitating between bids, all you’re doing is encouraging your competition to think that you’re nearly done,” he said.  

“It’s a matter of showing strength and standing tall, bid strong and bid quickly.” 

Mr Butera said buyers needed to be clear and decisive, warning against holding back until a property was declared on the market.  

“We’ve seen examples where buyers held back and waited but failed to realise that the auctioneer may have passed it into somebody else, giving them the first right to buy the property at the reserve,” he said.

“If your objective is to buy the property, then bid with confidence.” 

Mr Rigopoulos said auctions ultimately come down to perception and psychology as much as money.  

“There are only two things that can sway an auction in your favour,” he said.  

“You simply have more money to spend, or the competition thinks you have more money to spend.”  

His advice was to project strength: bid aggressively, reply quickly to rival bids, and present yourself as someone with deep pockets.  

“Seasoned buyer advocates stand in a position that allows the whole crowd to see them – they dress sharp, they look serious, and they bid like they aren’t going to run out of steam,” he said. 

After an unsuccessful auction 

Even with the best preparation and a confident strategy, many buyers inevitably walk away empty-handed.  

Handling that disappointment is just as important.  

Mr Harrison said it was natural to feel deflated after an unsuccessful auction because buyers often invest a lot of time, energy and emotions in the lead up to an auction.  

“It’s okay to mourn and it’s okay to be disappointed, but it’s not okay to stay in that frame of mind for weeks on end,” he said. 

Mr Butera said buyers should use the experience to show agents they are serious contenders.  

“Buyers should actively be reminding agents that they bidded at the auction and missed out, and asking the agents to help them find another home like it,” he said.  

Agents are more likely to hunt for opportunities for bidders who had proven themselves at auction, he said.  

Mr Rigopoulos agreed that proactive communication is important.  

“I would send an email or text message to every key agent in your market, letting them know what you missed out on and what you are looking for,” he said.  

“We don’t always know who the bidders are across the market, so that proactive contact means we might be able to place you into a home we have coming up.” 

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