It happens almost every time: the moment we list a property for auction, someone reaches out with a “strong pre-auction offer.” Sometimes it’s a buyer. Sometimes it’s a well-meaning agent. But in either case, the question misses the point entirely.
At Double A Auction & Realty, we don’t entertain pre-auction offers—and there’s a very good reason why.
Auctions Exist to Create Fairness and Competition
An auction is designed to let every qualified buyer compete at the same time under the same published terms. When a pre-auction offer comes in, it short-circuits that process. It creates an uneven playing field, gives one buyer inside access, and undermines the transparent structure that defines a fair market sale.
If a buyer truly wants the property, the solution is simple: bid at auction. Everyone gets the same chance. No favorites. No hidden deals. No backroom shortcuts.
Pre-Auction Offers Break the Seller’s Strategy
Our sellers choose the auction method for a reason. They want certainty. They want a clear, time-defined process. They don’t want to spend weeks chasing “maybes” and “if my financing works” conversations that drain momentum.
When a property goes to auction, it’s not an invitation for side deals—it’s a commitment to an efficient, open market transaction. Entertaining pre-auction offers risks losing that energy and undermines the seller’s confidence in the process they’ve chosen.
The Terms Are Already Published
Every auction we conduct has clear, public terms: buyer’s premium, deposit amount, closing window, and property condition. These aren’t negotiable—they’re part of what makes an auction transparent.
A pre-auction offer usually comes with contingencies, financing delays, or other conditions that simply don’t align with the seller’s chosen format. Auctions eliminate those uncertainties. That’s the point.
If You Want to Buy, Participate
The best advice to any buyer or buyer’s agent is simple: register, read the terms, and be ready to bid.
We post everything well in advance so that buyers can perform inspections, verify information, and bid with confidence. The process is clear and fair. When the clock hits zero, the high bidder knows they’ve earned it—and the seller knows they’ve achieved market value.
In Closing
Pre-auction offers might make sense in a traditional listing environment, but in the auction world, they defeat the purpose. Our job is to protect the integrity of the sale, the fairness of the competition, and the seller’s interests—not to cut deals behind the scenes.
If you’re serious about buying, get approved, get comfortable with the terms, and show up to bid. That’s the only way to win—and it’s the only way we do business.
Can’t make it to our auction?
Download our mobile bidding app to your smartphone, and bid from wherever you need to be. Works for both Apple and Android.
