Online Auctions
Your Valuable Property Sold Quickly And Affordably With Online Auctions
We’re passionate about preserving treasures for new adventures. Connecting your property with a worldwide network of high-paying buyers is simple when you work with Sunrise Estate Services. Not only do we appraise, categorize, and package your property for sale, we facilitate the entire process so you can enjoy a profitable sale with no effort.
Visit our Auction Site for current and upcoming sales!
Online auctions help to reduce the stress of an estate sale. After a lifetime of acquiring memories, we are here to facilitate a respectful and affordable sale that keeps you in control of what stays and what is sold.
As certified appraisers and licensed auctioneers, you can trust that we are experienced in securing the unique value of your estate assets. Online auctions connect you with a greater circle of buyers, with convenience and affordability at the forefront of your experience.
Auction FAQs
Click here to view past, current, and upcoming auctions.
An online auction is similar to a live auction, except it is conducted entirely online. In effect, the software system controls the bidding and closing of the lots being sold, replacing the auctioneer.
If an item receives a bid during the final minute of the count-down clock, there will be an automatic bidding extension, which means that the bidding clock will be extended by one minute for only that item. The time extensions continue until there is a two-minute period during which no bidding takes place on the lot.
The extended bidding on one lot does not affect the closing of other lots. All other lots in the sale will continue with their individual countdowns. Keep in mind that active bidding often pushes the countdown on an individual lot for an extended period.
Once you are in the auction's online bidding catalogue, look for the "Register to Bid" link. This link will allow you to set up your bidding account and participate in the auction.
If this is your first time registering, you will need to click “Create Account.” On the sign-up page, you will be asked to provide personal information and register a credit card. If you have previously registered, you can enter your username and password to register for the auction.
To protect everyone involved in the auction, we require either a Visa or Mastercard during registration. The process verifies proper addresses and is used for authorization only. A $1 CAD authorization, not a charge, is placed on the card to ensure its validity.
In auction terms, the buyer's premium refers to a percentage additional charge on the hammer price (winning bid at auction) of the lot that the winning bidder must pay. The auctioneer charges it to cover administrative expenses.
The average buyer's premium is 15%. This may vary from auction to auction or item to item, so be sure to check the auction details for more information. It's recommended that you plan out your maximum bid amount so you can calculate the additional fees before bidding.
Each lot in the auction has a clearly marked bidding window. Once registered for the auction, there are two ways to bid:
- You enter the maximum amount you wish to bid in the window where indicated and click on the “Place Bid” button. You will be taken to a confirmation screen asking you to either “Confirm Bid” or “Cancel Bid.” If you have not yet logged in, you will be asked to do so to confirm your bid. Please note that by confirming your bid, you are entering into a legally binding contract with the auction house to pay for your successful bids plus the applicable buyer’s premium and taxes.
- Bid in real-time as each lot is closing, just like live auctions. You will be required to bid and confirm your bid for each increment you are advancing. In effect, you are taking the same steps as in the method above but are not disclosing your maximum. You are doing the work instead of relying on the software.
It's entirely up to you. The simplest way is to always indicate your top bid—the amount to which you would bid if you were attending an auction in person. The bid submitted is similar to the live auction’s absentee bid. The software will hold your bid in confidence and bid on your behalf against competing bids, according to the published increments up to the amount you are prepared to bid.
YOUR BID IS A CONTRACT. Place a bid only if you are serious about buying the item. If you are the winning bidder, you have entered into a legally binding contract to purchase the property. Bids left online (even bids left in "error") are legally binding and non-retractable. The retraction of online bids causes confusion for all other bidders. It may cause a situation where someone who has received their 'outbid' notice has already allocated that part of their budget to another item. If the retraction of bids becomes onerous or irresponsible, you may be prohibited from participating in the current and future auctions.
Bidding increments are usually $3. As the bidding increases, so may the bidding increments. The details will be on each lot.
Of course! We welcome the participation of all our international friends and will do all we can to assist with post-auction arrangements. Note: All auctions are conducted in CAD, and all auction items are located in Alberta, Canada, and will be shipped from there.
The clock on a currently refreshed online auction page will be 00:00. You will also view a statement that says the auction bidding is now closed.
Congratulations! After the auction, we will email you a notification and an electronic invoice.
According to the terms and conditions of the auction, bids left online or through any other means of absentee bidding will be processed according to the credit card information provided at the time of bidding. If alternate payment arrangements are required, you must contact the auctioneer. Generally speaking, credit cards are charged for all winning bids once the auction has concluded.
The information for pickups will be listed in the auction details and important notices on the auction site. The pickup dates and times available will be listed. Please ensure you can pick up your items during the allotted dates and times.
Note: pick up dates are NON-NEGOTIABLE. If you cannot retrieve your item on the specified date, it is up to the buyer to make alternative arrangements. Items that are not retrieved within the allotted pickup dates and times are subject to a transportation and storage fee. Sunrise will hold the items for a maximum of 5 business days, and if they are still not picked up, the items are forfeited, and your payment will not be refunded. The address for pickups will be emailed to you and can be found on the details of your invoice for your winning bids.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 780-554-7218 or boxton@sunriseestateservices.ca
Have fun and Happy Bidding!!!
