Whenever I describe the auction method of marketing to a property owner or a real estate agent, new pathways of thinking about selling real estate begin to develop and invariably the excited comment is made: "The thought of voluntarily selling my home by auction never occurred to me. I always thought auction was for distressed properties or homes in foreclosure."

Despite the fact that few real estate training courses cover auction as a viable sales tool, a real estate auction is an innovative and effective method of selling real estate. It is an intense, accelerated and aggressive real estate marketing process that involves the public sale of any property -- most certainly including those that are NOT distressed -- through open, competitive bidding. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, under the right circumstances, auction can be the most effective way to accelerate property sales and establish a property's true market value.

When considering auction as a marketing method for selling your property, contact an auctioneer who is a licensed real estate professional and discuss your options. You have many, many choices to make because, as a seller at auction, you are in control of the selling process from the very beginning. Your input and decision as a seller are required for establishing the auction type, the dates of sale and closing, event location, terms & conditions of sale, marketing venues, and more.

Make the decision and stick to it.

I love this quote about the power of commitment:

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:

         Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.

         Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!

-- W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition (J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd., 1951)

Have you ever found yourself moving down a path in uncharted territory? Everything is new: exciting! And everything is new: scary! It takes courage and a sense of possibility to boldly go down the less trodden path. Once you've done your preliminary research about real estate auctions, make your decision and stay with it. As indicated in the quote above, all sorts of "genius, power and magic" within the creative process will begin to unfold because of your boldness. Go for it! The adventure awaits your decision.