Understanding Conditional Auctions

When it comes to selling properties, one size doesn’t fit all.

While Private Treaty remains the most common sales route, it isn’t always the best fit for every seller or situation. That’s where Conditional Auction, also known as The Modern Method of Auction (MMoA) can help. Offering a flexible, transparent, and secure alternative to Private Treaty, MMoA is growing in popularity with Estate Agents and consumers alike.

What is a Conditional Auction?

A Conditional Auction offers the speed and security of Traditional Auction and the flexibility of extended timescales to suit residential buyers and sellers.

With the average property sale now taking over 200 days to complete, speed is becoming an increasingly important factor, and the MMoA usually takes place online over a fixed timeframe, giving buyers full visibility and control. The highest bidder secures the property with a non-refundable Reservation Fee, committing them to the purchase and reducing fall-through risk from the outset.

What makes it ‘conditional’ is that the sale isn’t legally binding immediately- instead, the buyer has 56 days to exchange and complete. This provides enough time to secure a mortgage, carry out surveys, and resolve any legal queries – the conditions drive the sale forward, and help buyers and sellers to avoid frustrating wait times.

It’s a faster, more secure route to completion compared to Private Treaty, without locking buyers in too early. That flexibility opens your market to more motivated sellers and buyers, helping you drive more interest and faster results.

Why do sellers choose auction?

For sellers, the appeal is often speed, transparency, and a more secure process. Once the auction ends, they know the buyer is committed and the sale has a clear timeline to completion.

Auction is a great option for all kinds of properties, but it is a good option when:

• The seller wants a quicker sale than the 200-day national average
• A property has been on the market for a while without success
• The seller is motivated by security and committed buyers
• There’s strong demand that could lead to competitive bidding

Private Treaty is here to stay, but Conditional Auction gives sellers more choice and control based on their circumstances and moving priorities.

What’s in it for buyers?

A common misconception is that auction is only for cash buyers or investors, but with Conditional Auction, this is not the case.

*56-day completion timelines open the door to buyers who need a mortgage. The process is fully transparent too – everyone can see the bids coming in and know exactly what’s happening, which is a big plus, especially for first-time buyers.

For many, it takes the stress out of negotiations and helps avoid situations like gazumping. Once the auction ends, the purchase is secured with all parties committed to the sale.

More agents are adding auction to their services.

More Estate Agents now offer auction as part of their service to give sellers more choice and to keep pipelines moving.

Here’s why it works well for agents:

• Speed – Fixed timelines and upfront information help reduce delays and move sales through faster
• Security – Buyers commit early, which lowers fall-through rates
• Flexibility – It’s ideal for certain types of property or motivated sellers
• Additional revenue – MMoA creates a new stream of income, and an option that supports winning new instructions

But just as importantly, it gives agents more confidence when advising sellers. Having auction in your service offering means you can offer the right method of sale for the right client.

Opening more opportunities.

Auction is fast becoming a mainstream option for everyday movers who want clarity and control. Conditional Auction gives agents and consumers more choice, security and flexibility, at a time when all three are in high demand. By understanding when it’s the right fit, you can support your clients in making more informed decisions and help more sales cross the finish line.

*From receipt of draft contracts. Based on grade one standard properties.