Should Real Estate Agencies Offer Online Bidding at Onsite Auctions?
Why Should Real Estate Agencies Offer Online Bidding at Onsite Auctions?
Explore the business case for combining traditional onsite auctions with approved online participation, including buyer accessibility, practical benefits, operating costs, technology requirements and the circumstances where it makes sense.
Key Takeaways
- Broader participation options. Approved buyers can participate without having to be physically present.
- The onsite auction remains central. The auctioneer conducts one live event and controls accepted bids.
- Access does not guarantee activity. Offering online bidding does not automatically produce more bidders, stronger competition or a higher price.
- Operational readiness determines suitability. Reliable connections, clear staffing, bidder preparation and contingency procedures must be considered.
- Agencies should make a commercial decision. Evaluate genuine buyer needs against the additional operating requirements.
What Are the Business Benefits of Offering Online Bidding?
The strongest argument for online bidding is not that it replaces the traditional onsite auction. It is that the agency can provide an additional participation method for buyers who are genuinely interested but cannot attend.
Accommodate Buyers Who Cannot Attend
Interstate or overseas buyers, people with conflicting commitments and those unable to travel to the property may prefer an approved remote bidding option.
Online bidding provides a participation pathway without requiring the agency to abandon the onsite auction.
Offer More Than One Way to Participate
Different buyers have different preferences and circumstances. Some want to attend in person, while others may be comfortable bidding through a supported online platform.
Offering both approaches allows eligible buyers to select the method that suits them.
Maintain the Onsite Auction Experience
Agencies can retain the auctioneer, physical audience and established onsite procedures while allowing remote participants to take part in the same event.
This may suit agencies that want to retain their existing auction model rather than move the entire event online.
Support a More Structured Remote Process
Electronic registration, bidder approval, bid recording and defined auction controls can help agencies manage remote participation systematically.
This offers an alternative to relying entirely on informal communication arrangements during bidding.
The commercial distinction: Online bidding makes a participation method available. Whether anyone chooses to use it, submits an accepted bid or purchases the property depends on genuine buyer interest, preparation, market conditions and the auction itself.
When Is Online Bidding Worth Offering at an Onsite Auction?
Not every auction requires the same participation arrangements. Agencies should evaluate the likely operational benefit before committing additional resources to online bidding.
When Online Bidding May Add Value
- Genuine prospective buyers have indicated they cannot attend.
- The property attracts interest from buyers in different locations.
- Eligible participants are comfortable with the required digital bidding process.
- The agency has suitable connectivity, trained staff and available auction controls.
- The expected participation benefit reasonably justifies the additional operating cost.
When Online Bidding May Not Be Appropriate
- No genuine buyer has indicated a need for remote bidding.
- Venue connectivity is unreliable and no workable alternative exists.
- The team cannot adequately manage both physical and online bidding activity.
- Participant access or required approvals cannot be confirmed.
- The additional cost and complexity are disproportionate to the expected benefit.
A useful question for sales managers is: Are we solving a genuine buyer participation problem, or adding technology without a clear purpose?
An agency may reasonably choose not to offer online bidding at a particular auction. That decision should reflect the available buyers, venue conditions, auction requirements and operational capacity.
How Does Online Bidding Compare with Other Onsite Auction Options?
There are several ways to accommodate people who cannot attend a property auction. They involve different levels of participation, staffing and technology.
| Approach | What It Provides | Operational Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Onsite Bidding Only | Eligible buyers attend the property and bid in person. | Simpler participation arrangements, but buyers unable to attend cannot bid through this method. |
| Onsite + Online Bidding | Approved remote buyers submit bids through the supported online bidding platform. | Requires bidder approvals, connected auction controls, technical preparation and an agreed response to interruptions. |
| Onsite + Telephone Representative | An authorised representative communicates with the buyer and places bids on their behalf. | Requires appropriate authority, representative availability and dependable communication. |
| Stream Only | Remote audiences can watch the onsite auction. | Does not provide online bidding or electronic bidder registration through the Stream Only configuration. |
These approaches are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Where supported, agencies may offer more than one bidding method. However, adding multiple participation methods increases the need for clear coordination and sufficient staff.
Terminology: An onsite auction incorporating approved remote bidding is often described as a hybrid auction. Hybrid is descriptive, not a separate Auctions Live auction type. Virtual, Timed and Stream Only are distinct auction configurations.
What Additional Costs and Responsibilities Should Agencies Consider?
Online bidding is not simply an additional button on the agency's website. Delivering the service responsibly can involve extra operating requirements before, during and after the auction.
| Consideration | Potential Benefit | Additional Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Provides a supported digital bidding method. | Software costs, appropriate devices, internet connections and system testing. |
| Staffing | Allows the team to coordinate physical and remote participants. | Additional monitoring, training, communication and incident handling. |
| Buyer Preparation | Gives remote buyers a defined route to participate. | Registration assistance, approval checks, instructions and technical guidance. |
| Livestreaming | Can provide remote viewing of proceedings where offered. | Camera, audio, broadcasting arrangements and management of stream latency. |
| Risk Management | Establishes a structured response to problems affecting participation. | Backup arrangements, escalation processes and documented auctioneer decisions. |
Agencies should consider the total operating requirements, not just the platform fee. This includes the time required to train staff and support buyers.
Where the business runs frequent onsite auctions, standardising the necessary procedures may make the service easier to deliver across different teams. However, the commercial value should still be assessed using the agency's actual circumstances.
How Should an Agency Introduce Online Bidding at Onsite Auctions?
A staged implementation is generally more manageable than enabling online bidding across every auction without first assessing buyer requirements and team readiness.
Establish Where Remote Bidding Is Needed
Review upcoming campaigns and ask agents whether interested buyers have genuine participation barriers.
Consider buyer location, availability, preferred participation method and whether the property is attracting interest beyond the local area.
Decision: Is there a practical reason to offer online bidding for this auction?Confirm Operating and Legal Requirements
Check the auction conditions, seller instructions, statutory registration requirements and available bidding methods.
Establish who will manage online bidding, record accepted bids and communicate with the auctioneer.
Decision: Can the agency deliver the additional bidding method compliantly and reliably?Prepare and Approve Remote Participants
Provide relevant bidder registration links, auction documents and clear participation instructions.
Review applications and complete applicable identity, eligibility and authority checks.
Where practical, encourage prospective remote bidders to familiarise themselves with the platform before the event begins.
Decision: Are the intended remote participants ready and approved?Test Bidding and Contingency Arrangements
Test the live bidding connection, auction controller, devices, internet connectivity and any livestream.
Confirm that the team understands how bids will be communicated to the auctioneer.
Agree on a response if an online participant disconnects or the venue loses connectivity.
Decision: Can the team confidently manage both participation methods and possible failures?Review the Outcome and Operating Experience
After the auction, record how many approved remote bidders participated, whether accepted bids were received online, and any issues encountered.
Assess the staffing and technology requirements alongside the participation benefit achieved.
Use the findings to determine whether online bidding should be offered more broadly, selectively or through a different approved arrangement.
Decision: Did offering online bidding provide enough practical value to justify the resources?What Technical Requirements Matter Most?
Online bidding relies on the ability to communicate live bidding activity and confirm the relevant auction status. Livestream video is a separate function and should not be treated as the source of bid confirmation.
Reliable Internet
Check the internet connection where the auction will take place, not only at the office. Consider backup connectivity where practical.
Accurate Bid Communication
The auction team must be able to identify relevant online activity, communicate with the auctioneer and record accepted bids correctly.
Understand Livestream Delay
Livestream video may be behind the current bidding position. Remote bidders should rely on the supported live bidding status and confirmation process.
Prepare for Interrupted Access
Agree on the escalation procedure if a bidder loses access or an important device fails. The auctioneer determines the appropriate response.
Important: Low-latency streaming can reduce video delay but does not eliminate it. Network conditions, equipment and third-party services can affect both video and bidding performance. No technology should be represented as guaranteeing uninterrupted operation.
What Does the Business Case Look Like in Practice?
Example: An Interstate Buyer Interested in an Onsite Auction
An agency is conducting an onsite auction for a residential property. A genuinely interested buyer is based interstate and cannot attend the property on auction day.
Rather than requiring the buyer to travel, the agency offers approved online bidding as an additional participation option.
The buyer completes the relevant preparations, satisfies the registration requirements and becomes approved to bid remotely.
The auctioneer continues conducting the onsite auction for those present, while the auction control team coordinates any accepted online bids.
The buyer may choose not to bid, may bid without purchasing, or may become the successful bidder.
In each case, the agency has provided an additional participation pathway. Whether this changes the sale outcome is a separate question that cannot be assumed in advance.
How Can Agencies Measure Whether Online Bidding Is Worthwhile?
Agencies should evaluate the performance of the participation method, not simply whether the property sold.
| Measure | What to Review | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Buyer Demand | Genuine enquiries requesting online participation. | Establishes whether the additional method addresses an actual need. |
| Approved Online Bidders | Eligible buyers approved for online bidding. | Shows the number prepared to use the participation method. |
| Active Online Bidders | Unique approved online bidders placing accepted bids. | Separates registration volume from actual bidding participation. |
| Technical Reliability | Connection issues, bidding interruptions and incident responses. | Identifies whether operational risks are being managed. |
| Operating Resources | Staff time, training, equipment and relevant service costs. | Helps management evaluate the total delivery cost. |
A campaign with no online bids may still reveal useful information about buyer preferences or registration procedures. However, agencies should not assume the service delivered additional commercial value without supporting evidence.
Assess multiple relevant events where practical. A single auction is rarely sufficient to establish the long-term value of a participation method.
What Rules Should Agencies Consider in Australia and New Zealand?
Adding online bidding does not change the agency's responsibility to comply with the relevant auction laws. Registration, authority, auction conduct and disclosure requirements vary by location.
- New South Wales: Auctions can be conducted in person or electronically. For relevant residential and rural property auctions, bidders must satisfy statutory registration and identification requirements and receive a bidder number. Someone bidding on another person's behalf requires appropriate authority. The statutory Bidders Record is confidential and cannot be used for marketing purposes. See NSW Government auction responsibilities .
- Victoria: Auction conduct rules continue to apply when online bidders participate. Under the property price transparency changes effective from October 2026, the seller's reserve price must be published at least seven days before relevant auctions held from 16 October 2026. The required publication period must be completed before the auction proceeds. See Consumer Affairs Victoria .
- Queensland: Property auction bidders must register and receive an identifying number or other approved identifier. The auctioneer must hold the appropriate licence and comply with applicable auction requirements. See Queensland Government auction guidance .
- Other Australian jurisdictions: Registration, auction conditions, vendor bidding, licensing and documentation requirements may differ between states and territories. Offices should apply the local rules rather than assuming a nationally uniform process.
- New Zealand: The Real Estate Authority recognises direct online bidding and telephone participation. Agencies should explain the bidding method, provide relevant documentation and help buyers understand the technology. When a licensee bids by telephone on behalf of a buyer, written permission should be obtained and supplied to the auctioneer. See New Zealand Real Estate Authority .
Frequently Asked Questions
Does offering online bidding guarantee more bidders at an onsite auction?
No. Online bidding provides another way for eligible buyers to participate, but buyers must still be genuinely interested, prepared and willing to bid. The availability of the technology does not guarantee additional bidding activity.
Does the auctioneer need to change how they conduct the onsite auction?
The auctioneer continues to control proceedings and accepted bids. However, the auction team must establish a clear process for communicating online bidding activity and resolving discrepancies.
Is online bidding worth offering if most buyers are local?
It depends on actual buyer requirements. A local buyer may still be unable to attend, but agencies should assess whether genuine demand justifies the additional operating resources for that auction.
Can an agency livestream an onsite auction without enabling online bidding?
Yes. Livestreaming and online bidding are separate functions. Auctions Live's Stream Only configuration supports broadcasting without enabling online bidder registration or electronic bid capture.
What happens if a remote bidder loses their internet connection?
The auction team should notify the appropriate operator and auctioneer, assess the effect on participation and follow the agreed contingency procedure. The response depends on the auction conditions, the circumstances and applicable law.
Should agencies offer online bidding at every onsite auction?
Not necessarily. Agencies should consider buyer demand, operational readiness, reliability, staffing and cost. Offering the service selectively may be more appropriate where the expected benefit is limited or technical conditions are unsuitable.
How Can Auctions Live Support Online Bidding at Onsite Auctions?
When an agency decides to offer online participation, it needs an organised process for registration, bidding, auction control and result management. Connected technology can support these responsibilities.
Professional Onsite Auctions with Optional Online Participation
Developed by RE Software, Auctions Live supports Onsite auctions with electronic bidder registration, approved online bidding, auction management, livestreaming and reporting.
Agencies can enable relevant registration methods for in-person, telephone or Auctions Live online bidding. Supported phone bidding through an agency representative is also available for eligible Onsite and Multi-Lot listings when configured.
The wider platform supports In-Room / Multi-Lot, Virtual, Timed and Stream Only auction workflows. Website widgets, supported CRM integrations, Prezo Studio presentations and Stream Studio broadcasting provide additional capabilities where available.
These tools can help agencies organise physical and remote participation, but do not guarantee additional bidders, improved selling prices, higher clearance rates or uninterrupted operation.
Explore Auctions Live Onsite Solutions →Related Auctions Live Knowledge Hub Guides
Explore these resources for practical instructions on registration, remote bidding methods and auction delivery.
Important information: This article provides general operational and business guidance for real estate professionals and does not constitute legal, regulatory or professional advice. Auction licensing, bidder registration, reserve-price, representative authority and privacy requirements vary by jurisdiction and circumstances. Agencies should verify current requirements with the relevant regulator and their professional advisers. Technical performance depends on network conditions, equipment, configuration and third-party services. Auctions Live features may depend on subscription, account settings and supported integrations. Information reviewed October 2026.
Posted 31st October, 2026