Bullying to bid… how about no!

Sunday afternoon saw us at auction again in an outer south eastern suburb of Melbourne. It was an interesting auction right off the bat to be honest as there were no fewer than 8 Agents and representatives at the auction, which had to just about be the whole agency!

Sure the crowd was big enough too, with five separate bidders participating on the day. There was a disturbing tactic present that is creeping in to more and more auctions now days, being used by this agency, and they are not alone.

So the auction began and while standing there with my client I had the first agent approach and ask if we were bidding today. I responded politely that I would see how things progressed. To which she retorted loudly “did you just come here to watch?” I was a little taken aback by this and said we would bid when we saw it was appropriate. It took this lovely lady all of 5 minutes to circle back for a second shot loud enough for all to hear, “still watching?”  I then asked her if it was on the market just to unsettle her a little, and she jumped back with “why don’t you bid and find out?” I then suggested she could just tell us the reserve and everything would be great from there (sure, I was starting to get frustrated a little). “I can’t do that and you know that!” she shot over her shoulder whilst walking away. So if you know I’m a buyer’s agent, and you know I am also aware of real estate legislation AND I most probably have a strategy to bid, what makes you think that swinging past and shooting belittling comments at me in public will endear me to bidding? Are you attempting to provoke an ego response? I’m sorry Miss but this is business and it’s a big game, emotion doesn’t play a part irrespective of how you attempt to invoke it.

My clients had been through earlier in the week, the agency knew we were there to purchase. Probably a great idea to just back off and let it play out rather than upset us. But no, the boss now wanders over and then asks if we are going to bid. At least he was a little more polite when I advised him that we would hold at this point and to let me know when it was on the market. It didn’t stop him coming back for a second shot though in 3 minutes time suggesting the next bid would put it on the market. We still weren’t ready to bid though so I held.  The young agent P.A we had been dealing with during the auction finally came over and asked me if we were still looking to bid or if it had gone a bit far? Polite, courteous and a question placed to me, not to the public. That’s how you endear bidders people, don’t antagonise them. I told her we were here to buy it and she should hang on, we were not going anywhere at the moment. Politeness aside, that’s 5 separate times 3 separate agents encouraged me, A professional,  to abandon my strategy to simply throw fuel on to the auction fire. Little wonder prices are silly at auction at times.

The auctioneer had been in and out seeking instructions at $590,000 and I knew we were close. At $600,000 it stalled to a third call and still no declaration that it was on the market. Then the auctioneer looks to the boss and asks for confirmation. A loud response “we are selling it’s on the market”. Might I suggest you just tell us that when it happens rather than employ the theatre?

Anyway, 2 bids from us later and my client was signing the paperwork. Yes we won on the day. The thing I am a little worried about though is the almost bullying bid, bid, bid tactic of buyers by some agencies at auction. There are first home buyers and inexperienced people out there that don’t deserve to be bullied and harassed and pushed at auction in to rushing decisions or making mistakes. It’s little wonder at times the negative attitude that the public can have to sales agents and auctions. To the young P.A agent who shall remain nameless, you conducted yourself excellently and professionally during the entire campaign and auction. Let’s hope some of your other colleagues can learn from you.