The auction is open to the public, and no pre-registration is required.
Plan to arrive early to pass through security. You will be required to pass through metal detectors when entering the auction area and your bags and packages will be checked.
An information table with auction representatives will be located close to the entrance, should you have any questions on auction day.
Once inside, please take a seat. You do not need to sign in or complete any forms. This is an open, public auction.
On stage you will see a podium where the auctioneer stands. Staff from this agency will be seated at tables in front of the stage.
The auctioneer will start the auction with parcel #1. He will ask for bids from the floor at the minimum upset price. He cannot accept bids lower than that price. If you are interested in bidding, raise your hand and shout out your bid price to the auctioneer. Once you begin bidding, a member of the auctioneer's staff will come to assist you as you bid.
The auctioneer will let you know what increments of bid price he will accept. The bidding will continue as the auctioneer acknowledges higher and higher bids until there is only one bidder remaining. The auctioneer will then stop the bidding and declare that the property has been sold at the price of the last bid received. If you are the highest bidder, you will be immediately escorted to a table at the front of the room and asked to produce the cash requirement and identification. If you don't have the cash requirement in the required form immediately after the bid, your bid will be rejected and we will re-offer property. It is very important that you are prepared to provide the cash requirement at the auction immediately after the bid. To complete the transaction, you will need to pay 20% of the sales price and complete a contract of sale.
If you had bid on a parcel but were not the winning bidder, you should not leave the auction until we verify the high bidder has the necessary cash requirement to purchase the property. You will know the property has been verified when the auctioneer announces it. If the high bidder does not have the proper identification or the cash required, the parcel will be offered again and you will have another chance to bid.
Succesful bidders must have two forms of identification, at least one of which should have a photo I.D. Successful bidders must have the minimum cash deposit and any additional deposit due at the time of sale.
If you are the high bidder for one property and you wish to bid on another property, please let your usher know immediately. We have a procedure to assist you.
After we have verified the cash requirement at the table in front of the stage, you will be escorted by auction staff to an area near the stage where you will make your additional payment and sign your sales contract. The additional payment to be made is an additional deposit equal to the difference between 20% of your high bid price, and the cash requirement. This additional deposit can be in the form of official bank check, certified check, cash, travelers check, bank money order, postal money order or personal check. To view a sample cash requirement calculation please visit Cash Requirement.
After you have made these payments, you will sign a contract of sale - the Memorandum of Sale (in PDF format) - and be provided with a package of information and forms relating to the post-auction process. In addition, you will be required to pay an auctioneer fee. The fee schedule is detailed in the brochure.
If the City withdraws any property from the auction, it will be shown on parcel boards posted by the front entrance and near the stage. You may also call our offices before the auction to find out which parcels have been withdrawn or check the online Auction Updates.
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