Community Centre

Auctions Live / Agency buying guide

The short version

Quick answer: how do you choose?

Check five things: auction formats, staff tasks, website setup, total cost and support. Ask each provider to show how its software handles your auctions. Get a written quote that lists what is included. Let your staff try the system. Choose it only when they can complete the tasks your agency needs and you understand the cost and terms.

01 / Set your requirements

What does your agency need the software to do?

Write a short list of what your agency needs. Include the auction formats you run, the people using the software and any problems you want to fix. Also list your website and CRM system. Send the same list to each provider.

• Auction formatsChoose the formats you need: Onsite, Multi-Lot/In-Room, Virtual or Timed.
• Buyer access Decide whether buyers need to watch, bid online or both.
• Staff roles List who sets up properties, approves registrations, runs the auction and helps buyers.
• Your systems Name your website, CRM and the phones or computers your team uses.
• Practical limits Check your venue’s internet connection, staff availability and budget.

Ask specific questions. If you run in-room events, ask: “Can our administrator change the order properties are auctioned without entering the listings again?” Watch the provider do it, then ask your administrator to try.

For more on the features to compare, read the guide to choosing a digital auction platform.

How do you compare the best real estate auction software?

Take this table to each demo. Ask the provider to show every task that matters to your agency. In your notes, mark each task “works for us”, “needs an answer” or “does not work for us”. Note any extra steps your staff would need to do.

On smaller screens, scroll across to view the full scorecard.

Start with the tasks your agency cannot do without. If staff cannot complete a task, ask the provider to show another way to do it. If that still does not work for your team, choose another system. Follow up unanswered questions before deciding. Then compare cost, support and the amount of work left for your staff. This is a suggested office checklist, not an industry rating.

03 / Make the demo count

What should a provider show in the demo?

Use one sample property for each demo. Ask the provider to take it through the steps below. Use test buyer details, not a real person’s information. Include the staff who will set up properties, run auctions and help buyers.

1. Set up: add a property and change a detail.
2. Publish: show where buyers find the property and registration link on your website.
3. Register: submit a test buyer registration and show how staff review it.
4. Run an auction: show how the auctioneer and buyers use your chosen auction format.
5. Get help: explain what staff should do if the internet drops or a buyer cannot log in.
6. Check the records: find the bidder list, bid log and auction result.

Ask your auctioneer to test the controls. For more detail, read What Auctioneers Need From Auction Software.

04 / CHECK THE BUYER EXPERIENCE

What should you check about livestreaming and recordings?

When comparing an online auction platform for property, test the stream on the devices buyers will use. Check whether they can hear the auctioneer clearly and see the picture without frequent pauses. Ask which video quality the setup supports and test it using the venue’s internet connection.

Latency means the delay between the auctioneer speaking and the viewer hearing or seeing it. Ask the provider to demonstrate that delay on the actual bidder stream. The public website stream may use a different delivery method. Check both, and ask how online bids and the auctioneer’s calls are shown to buyers. A sharp picture alone does not tell you whether the stream is suitable for bidding.

After the test, ask staff to open the recording and retrieve a copy. Confirm which account stores it, who can access it and the quality of the downloaded file. Also ask the provider to show the completed auction and its replay on your agency website. Check what stays visible, who can watch and whether staff need to publish the replay themselves.

If the recording is on your agency’s YouTube channel, YouTube explains how to download your own videos. The downloaded copy may have a lower resolution than the original. Check the file before relying on it for editing or marketing.

05 / CHECK THE ROOM EXPERIENCE

How should multi-lot and in-room presentations work?

At a multi-lot or in-room event, several properties are auctioned in a set order. The presentation shows the current property, its details and any live bid information supported by your setup on the venue screens. Staff need to move between properties and update the order when it changes.

Ask the provider to build a sample event using your branding. Have your staff change the property order, remove a withdrawn property and move between lots. Check the layout on the venue screens: are property details and any displayed bids easy to read from the back of the room? If the event is streamed, check how the presentation appears to online viewers too.

Auctions Live’s Multi-Lot/In-Room solution includes Prezo Studio, a web-based tool for creating and managing custom branded presentations. Teams can control templates, layouts and what appears on screen during the auction. Ask for a demo using your agency’s design, then check how staff update the presentation and run it during an event.

06 / CHECK COSTS AND SUPPORT

What will it cost, and what support is included?

Ask each provider to quote for the same number of auctions, staff accounts and services. Request a list of all charges, including setup, training and ongoing fees. Ask which features are included and which cost extra. Add any website work or equipment your agency needs. Compare the total cost over the same period, such as 12 months.

Read the contract terms. Check the minimum term, renewal date and notice needed to cancel. Ask how you can download your auction records if you stop using the service.

Check support hours and contact details. If you run Saturday auctions, ask what help is available on Saturdays. Confirm that the features you need are available now. A feature planned for a future release will not help with your next auction.

Common mistake: assuming a CRM connection transfers every detail. Ask which CRM systems are supported, what information transfers and what staff must still enter.

What should you check during a trial?

Start with a practice auction. Give each staff member a task and let them complete it. Test on the devices and internet connection you plan to use. Fix problems before involving real buyers. Once your team is ready, agree with the provider on a small live trial.

• CHECK 01Have your administrator add and update a property.
• CHECK 02Test buyer registration and, if needed, online bidding on a phone.
• CHECK 03If streaming, test the delay, picture and sound on a buyer’s device.
• CHECK 04Make sure staff know how to help buyers and contact support.
• CHECK 05Find the bid records. If recorded, retrieve a video copy and check the website replay.
• CHECK 06For in-room events, run the presentation and practise changing the property order.

After the trial, ask your team what worked and what caused problems. Could they complete the required tasks? Did buyers need help? Were the auction records easy to find? If an important problem remains, fix it and test again before using the system more widely. Judge the software by how it works; one sale price does not prove it is better.

08 / WHERE AUCTIONS LIVE FITS

Where Auctions Live fits

Auctions Live provides tools for real estate agencies. Its solution page for real estate offices and branches describes Electronic Bidder Registration, Online Bidding, auctioneer bid controls, website streaming and auction records. Ask the team to show the tools your agency would use.

The page also describes an Interactive Website Widget, which adds auction information and links to your website. Listings can be imported from supported CRM systems. When comparing auction management software, confirm whether your website and CRM can use these tools and what setup is needed.

When comparing auction software for real estate agents, use your own auction format in the demo. For an in-room event, test changing the order of sale. For an onsite auction, test buyer access and the venue’s internet connection. This shows whether the real estate auction system suits your day-to-day work.

Ask for a written quote showing the tools, setup and support included. Compare these with the other auction technology options you are considering.

Auctions Live describes a low-latency stream for registered bidders, recording to your YouTube Live channel by default, and website video-on-demand through YouTube. Ask the team to show how these work in your setup, including replay publishing and retrieving a copy of the footage.

A few useful answers

Frequently asked questions

Your next step

See Auctions Live in action.

Book a demo and tell the team how your agency runs auctions. Ask to see buyer registration, auction controls, stream quality and delay, recording access and website replays. If you run in-room events, include a Prezo Studio presentation in the demo.