Facts for the seller

• Numerous media reports document an unprecedented number of properties on the market due to prior lending practices and inflationary prices for many years, creating a real estate "bubble" that burst in 2006.
• Two to three times as many sellers are competing for buyer interest in their properties.
• Conventional, traditional marketing is no longer effective due to the massive volume of property on the market.
• Lenders are overwhelmed and understaffed for the volume of inventory that they are trying to remove from their books. Service is suffering. Costs of carrying this still increasing inventory are unpredictable.
• Local buyers have taken a side-line approach, as their economy changes, often declining in value.
• Local Realtors are discouraged by the increased marketing time and costs of selling their listings. Homes languish on the market for months, sometimes even years.

Solutions for the seller

• Property listings generate the most excitement and interest during their first month on the market. Therefore, the biggest challenge for sellers is standing out during those important first weeks and attracting more than despondent local buyers and Realtors.
• Through the auction process, new life begins for each property. Intense advertising campaigns saturate the market and position each home in a global spotlight. The auction takes place at the end of the campaign, when interest has grown to its peak.
• Pricing is more critical than ever, and all resources should be utilized to determine initial value. BPO's, appraisals and comparable sales reports should be completed upfront to reassure the buyer that, in fact, the value range is realistic.
• Condition of the property is paramount. Great care should be taken to improve any property offered for sale to at least the point of structural integrity. If cosmetic improvements are needed, a significant discount must be offered to equate to the lesser value.
• Once value is assessed, photographs and video tours are helpful, as international buyers may not be able to travel to the property. The local REALTOR® on our network becomes the eyes and ears for the buyer, furnishing all the documents and details possible for the remote buyer, to assist in due diligence. These pieces of information are located in the detail section of our catalog as PDF attachments. Links to resources and local vendors are also available to expedite the process.
• An auction event is the culmination of extensive work by our team of trusted professionals to provide the best possible one stop experience for our buyers.
• Our research tells us how to prioritize our outreach to the most likely buyers for each property. We know, historically, who has invested most heavily in U.S. property. We also know the publications in which to place our advertising to notify them of our upcoming events. Investors are chosen carefully from our buyer databases to target the group whose needs best match the given property. Newcomers to our website are encouraged to engage in our matching notification of properties and upcoming events. The technology is there to assist both novices and seasoned investors.
• Successful auctions don't just happen. They are a culmination of efforts to educate and inform buyers so they feel comfortable in making a decision. Auctions, properly conducted, are a win/win for all concerned. We consistently provide service to sellers, buyers, investors and REALTORS®.   That is our platform for success.