How does remote bidding on property auctions work?

Why remote bidding has become the norm

Property auction used to mean attending in person, which included travelling to a saleroom, registering on the day, and bidding in a room full of competing buyers. That model still exists, but it no longer represents the majority of how auctions are conducted or how buyers participate.

The shift towards remote bidding accelerated significantly in recent years, driven by the growth of live-streamed auctions and the wider availability of online bidding platforms. Today, buyers across the UK and internationally can participate in property auctions anywhere in the country without leaving their desks. For sellers, that means a larger, more geographically diverse buyer pool competing for every lot.

At BTG Eddisons Property Auctions, our Live Stream Auction is conducted entirely online, with a live auctioneer conducting proceedings in real time and buyers participating remotely. Our Multi-Lot Timed Auction and Single-Lot Timed Auction formats are also conducted online, with bidding taking place through our platform throughout the auction window.

The three methods of remote bidding

Online bidding

Online bidding allows you to participate in a live auction in real time through our auction platform. You watch the auction as it happens, see the current bid, and place your own bids by clicking a button, in the same way you might bid on any online platform, but with a live auctioneer calling the bids and driving the process forward.

Online bidding is the most immediate and interactive form of remote participation. You can see exactly where bidding stands at any moment, respond to competing bids in real time, and make decisions as the auction unfolds. It is the closest equivalent to being in the room without being physically present.

To bid online, you need to register before the auction, complete identity verification, and ensure your deposit funds are available and ready to transfer if you are the successful bidder. Registration typically needs to be completed a day or two before the auction takes place.

Telephone bidding

Telephone bidding puts you in direct contact with a member of our team during the auction. You agree in advance to bid by phone, and a member of staff calls you when your lot is about to come up. They relay the current bid to you in real time, and you instruct them to bid on your behalf by confirming your bids verbally during the call.

This method is particularly useful for buyers who prefer a more personal, guided experience, or for those who are less comfortable navigating an online platform during the fast-paced environment of a live auction. Your telephone bidder knows the process well and will talk you through what is happening as it unfolds.

To bid by telephone, contact our team in advance of the auction to register your interest and confirm the lot you wish to bid on. You will need to have completed identity verification and have your deposit funds ready. Our team will confirm the arrangements and call you at the appropriate time on auction day.

Proxy bidding

Proxy bidding allows you to set a maximum bid in advance and have it executed automatically on your behalf during the auction. You instruct our team of the maximum figure you are prepared to pay, and a member of staff places bids on your behalf up to that limit as the auction progresses. If bidding does not reach your maximum, you may secure the property for less.

This method suits buyers who have done their research, know exactly what a property is worth to them, and want to participate without being available on auction day itself. It removes the pressure of real-time decision-making and ensures you cannot be drawn into bidding beyond your predetermined limit.

To register a proxy bid, contact our team before the auction, confirm the lot and your maximum bid, and complete the required identity verification and deposit arrangements. Our team will execute your bid transparently and contact you immediately after the auction to confirm the outcome.

How to prepare for remote bidding

Regardless of which remote bidding method you choose, the preparation is the same, and it is just as important as anything you do on auction day itself.

• Review the legal pack – Every property in our auctions has a legal pack available before bidding opens. Your solicitor should review it before you bid, not after.
• Arrange a viewing – Remote bidding does not mean remote preparation. Visit any property you are seriously considering and bring a surveyor or builder if the property requires work.
• Have your finances confirmed – Your funding must be in place before the auction, not arranged afterwards. Our partners at Together offer auction finance solutions for eligible purchases.
• Register in advance – Remote bidding requires advance registration; you cannot register on the day. Register to bid as early as possible and complete your identity verification.
• Set your maximum and commit to it – Before the auction opens, decide on the maximum figure you are prepared to bid to and stick to it. Factor in buyer's fees, legal costs, stamp duty, and any works required alongside the purchase price.

What happens after a successful remote bid?

If you are the successful bidder, the process from this point is identical to a purchase made in a physical saleroom. Contracts exchange immediately, and you are legally committed to the purchase. Your deposit, which is typically 10 per cent of the purchase price, subject to a minimum of £5,000, is due immediately after the auction closes. The balance is due 28 working days later, depending on the conditions of sale.

Our team will contact you promptly after the auction to confirm the outcome and provide details of the next steps. Your solicitor should be ready to act quickly from this point to ensure completion takes place within the agreed timeframe.

If you are not the successful bidder, any deposit funds held will be released back to you promptly.

Remote bidding on timed auctions

The guidance above applies primarily to our Live Stream Auction, where a live auctioneer conducts proceedings in real time. Our timed auction formats work differently.

In a Multi-Lot Timed Auction or Single-Lot Timed Auction, there is no live auctioneer and no single auction day. Instead, bidding takes place online through our platform throughout a set bidding window. You can place and update your bids at any point during the window, and the highest bid when the window closes is the winning bid.

Timed auctions are entirely remote by design. Registration, identity verification, and deposit arrangements work in the same way, but there is no need to be available at a specific time. Instead, you can bid at a point that suits you within the auction window. Read more about how our auction formats compare.

Browse our upcoming auctions

If you're ready to bid remotely on your next property, browse our current listings and register to bid ahead of any upcoming auction. For any questions about remote bidding or the registration process, call us on 0345 646 2288 or use the form below.

Sellers can book a free appraisal to find out what auction could achieve for their property.