What to Do When Bidding at Auction: A Sunshine Coast Buyer’s Guide

Thinking about bidding at auction but feeling out of your depth? You’re not alone. Auctions can be nerve-wracking, especially in fast-paced markets like the Sunshine Coast where strong demand means the pressure is on to act quickly and decisively.

But here's the good news: with a solid strategy and a clear head, you can walk into auction day feeling confident and in control.

As a buyer’s agent on the Sunshine Coast, I’ve helped many clients navigate auctions successfully and today I’m sharing the framework I recommend for anyone planning to raise their paddle.

Watch this short video for a quick overview:

Set Three Price Levels Before Auction Day

One of the most powerful things you can do is walk in with a clear pricing strategy. I suggest setting three levels before auction day:

1. Your Starting Bid – This is your first offer, ideally well below your maximum. It gets you in the game but still gives you room to move.

2. Your Value Buy Price – This is the price you’d be thrilled to secure the property at. It’s realistic but feels like a win.

3. Your Walk-Away Maximum – This is your absolute top dollar. The price that, if it goes one dollar over, you can confidently walk away knowing you gave it everything.

Knowing these three figures ahead of time helps you stay calm and measured during the auction. Emotions can run high, but a defined limit keeps you in control.

Don’t Let the Auctioneer Set the Pace

Auctioneers are skilled performers. They’ll often try to control the rhythm and push bidding in large increments to build urgency. But remember ...it’s your money, not theirs.

If the bidding opens at $800,000 and the auctioneer says, “We’re chasing $900,000 next,” that doesn’t mean you have to offer $900,000. You can offer $850,000, or even $820,000 if that’s your move.

In fact, you can offer whatever increment you like. Want to bid $5,000? That’s fine. Prefer $2,000? Go for it. Technically, you could even offer $5 ... though that’s cheeky and unlikely to be accepted, it proves the point: you control the pace.

Slow the Auction Down Strategically

One of the most underused tools in a bidder’s toolkit is controlling the tempo of the auction.

If other bidders are jumping in $50,000 or $25,000 at a time, you can slow the auction down by reducing your bids. Drop to $5,000 increments. Then to $2,000. And if needed, drop to $500.

This puts pressure on your competition. It gives you breathing room to think ... and it can even help bring the property closer to your maximum without leaping over it too quickly.

Final Tip: Don’t Bid Without Due Diligence

Before you bid, make sure you’ve done your homework. That includes getting your finances fully approved, reviewing the contract of sale, and organising building and pest inspections or strata reports. Auctions are unconditional. When that hammer falls, there’s no backing out.

Need Auction Support?

Bidding at auction can be exciting but it’s also a high-stakes environment that requires clarity, confidence, and strategy.

At Ocean Buyers Agency, we help our clients prepare for auctions with tailored strategies and professional representation. Sometimes we even bid on their behalf. If you’re relocating to the Sunshine Coast, buying property in Queensland, or simply want to avoid costly mistakes, I’d love to help.

I’m Keeta Gibson, the No. 1 buyer’s agent on the Sunshine Coast. Reach out anytime if you’d like guidance, auction support, or help finding your ideal home.