Your property is now live and being marketed as part of the auction process. This window is where genuine buyer interest gets built, and where the legal pack either gives buyers confidence to bid or quietly holds them back.
What actually happens during this period?
Your property is promoted to potential buyers before the auction date or close of bidding. It's listed on the auctioneer's website and typically the major portals too. Viewings get arranged, the legal pack is made available for download, and prospective buyers are encouraged to register to bid. Because bidding happens online, buyers from anywhere in the country can take part without attending a physical event, which is a real widening of your potential market compared with a traditional room auction.
Why does this period matter so much?
It's the most important phase for generating genuinely competitive bidding. More registered bidders means a greater chance of activity that pushes the price above reserve. Buyers need real time to review the legal pack, arrange finance if they're using a mortgage, and carry out whatever due diligence they choose to do before committing to a bid. A well-prepared legal pack available early gives buyers confidence, and that confidence tends to show up directly in participation numbers.
What happens behind the scenes?
Your auctioneer manages the marketing campaign and handles buyer enquiries, coordinating viewings either directly or through the agent running the process. Your conveyancer is simultaneously finishing the legal pack, which typically needs to be ready and available online before or shortly after marketing launches, since buyers and their solicitors will want to download and review it before placing a bid.
What should you actually do at this stage?
Make sure the property stays ready and accessible for viewings throughout the whole marketing period, not just at the start. Chase your conveyancer if the legal pack hasn't been published yet, buyers genuinely can't bid with confidence without it. Stay in close contact with your auctioneer for updates on registered interest, viewings, and any questions coming in from prospective buyers. Don't accept private offers or negotiate outside the auction process during marketing. It undermines the whole point of the route you've chosen.
| During marketing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Legal pack published early | Drives buyer confidence and bidding activity directly |
| Property accessible for viewings | Buyers need to see it before committing to bid |
| No private offers accepted | Undermines the auction process itself |
| Regular contact with your auctioneer | Keeps you informed on genuine interest levels |
Frequently asked questions
- What happens during the auction marketing period?
- Listing, viewings, legal pack availability, and bidder registration, all before the auction closes.
- Why does the legal pack need to be ready so early?
- Buyers review it before bidding, so early availability drives confidence and participation.
- Can I accept a private offer during the marketing period?
- No, this undermines the auction process you've committed to.
- Does online bidding really widen the buyer pool?
- Yes, buyers anywhere in the country can register and bid without attending in person.
This guide is general information for home sellers in England and Wales. Auctioneer processes and marketing periods vary by provider.