Summary
An Australian expat can bid through an authorised representative or an electronic auction process where offered. In NSW, the bidder must register and a person bidding for someone else must provide a letter of authority. Because there is no cooling off period, the property, contract, finance and bidding limit should be resolved beforehand.
Decide who will bid for you
The first decision is not how the bidding will begin. It is who will have authority to act.
A local representative can attend, register and bid for you. Some auctions may also be conducted electronically. The selling agent should confirm the method and registration process.
If you want to remain on the telephone, decide whether you will observe or give further instructions as bidding progresses. A poor connection should not create uncertainty about your representative’s authority.
Complete bidder registration early
NSW requires bidders at residential property auctions to register with the selling agent and receive a bidder number.
When someone bids for another person, the NSW Government bidder guide requires a letter of authority containing the buyer’s name, address and proof of identity number. The requirement also applies when someone is bidding for another person on the telephone.
Confirm identification with the selling agent early. NSW guidance says documents may be provided electronically if the agent agrees, but showing them during a video call is not accepted.
The letter allowing someone to bid should not be confused with authority to sign a contract. Ask your property lawyer what signing arrangements are required if you are successful.
Finish your assessment before the auction
Auction day is the end of the decision process, not the beginning.
Have the property inspected locally and assess it against your brief. Review comparable sales and compromises that photographs may not show. Arrange appropriate building, pest or strata checks and have your lawyer review the contract.
Current NSW auction guidance states that the successful bidder must sign the contract and pay the deposit immediately. There is no cooling off period.
Your finance adviser should confirm what you can borrow and what approvals remain outstanding. Our key partners page explains the professional support that may sit around an overseas purchase.
Set the bidding authority in writing
Agree on the maximum bid before the auction. This should reflect your independent assessment of the property, not the advertised guide or the energy of the room.
Your instructions should cover bid increments, communication and what happens if the property is passed in. In NSW, the highest bidder generally receives the first opportunity to negotiate afterward.
Decide whether your representative can negotiate within the same limit or must pause and contact you. For a buyer in London, Singapore or New York, that answer should not depend on whether you are awake and available at the precise moment bidding stops.
Our Sydney buying service can include local assessment, preparation and auction representation within the wider purchase process.
The lesson from a Newtown auction purchase
We represented buyers based in Switzerland at the auction of a three bedroom Newtown terrace. Local preparation and auction representation allowed the purchase to proceed while they remained overseas.
The practical lesson is that remote bidding should feel like the execution of an agreed plan. The important work is completed before the first bid, when there is still time to assess value, resolve questions and set a clear limit.
Prepare for a Sydney auction with us
If you have found a Sydney property going to auction, chat with us about your purchase. We can discuss the local assessment, auction preparation and representation needed while you remain overseas.
Frequently asked questions
What must a letter of authority include in NSW?
For a person bidding on your behalf, NSW guidance requires your name, address and proof of identity number. Ask the selling agent whether they require a particular form or any additional information.
Does telephone bidding remove the need to register?
No. A person bidding for someone else on the telephone must still register and provide the required authority. Confirm the exact process with the selling agent before auction day.
What should we decide if the property is passed in?
Agree whether your representative may negotiate, the maximum price and which terms require further approval. This prevents a rushed decision when the auction changes into a private negotiation.
