Making an offer
Buying at auction in Western Australia
The WA auction rules from registration to the fall of the hammer: vendor bids, the reserve, the deposit, cooling-off and what happens if a property is passed in, each cited to Consumer Protection WA.
Key points
- Cooling-off: No automatic statutory cooling-off period for any residential purchase.
- At the hammer: Sign immediately; deposit about 10% at the close of the auction.
- Vendor bids: The seller or their agent may bid up to the reserve; the number of vendor bids must be in the conditions of sale.
- If passed in: Not sold; the auctioneer or agent may negotiate privately with bidders.
WA auction rules at a glance
Cooling-off: No automatic statutory cooling-off period for any residential purchase (Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety), verified 7 Aug 2026).
Rules as at the date on each citation, from Consumer Protection WA. Consumer Protection's auction page was last updated on 14 April 2025.
Registering to bid
Consumer Protection's auction page does not describe registering before you bid.
The contract and its conditions
Auction purchases cannot be conditional on financing approval, so Consumer Protection says to have pre-approved finance before you bid (Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety), verified 22 Oct 2026).
The auction is conducted by a licensed auctioneer (Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety), verified 22 Oct 2026).
The reserve price
The reserve price is the seller's minimum and is not disclosed to bidders (Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety), verified 22 Oct 2026).
Vendor (seller) bids
The seller or their agent can make bids up to the reserve price, and the intended number of vendor bids must be shown in the conditions of sale (Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety), verified 22 Oct 2026).
Dummy bidding
Consumer Protection's auction page does not mention dummy bidding.
When the hammer falls: signing and the deposit
The highest bidder must sign the contract of sale immediately, and the auctioneer signs it on the seller's behalf (Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety), verified 22 Oct 2026).
A deposit of about 10% of the price is due at the close of the auction, and the balance at settlement, which Consumer Protection says is usually 30 days after the auction (Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety), verified 22 Oct 2026).
Cooling-off
Western Australia has no automatic statutory cooling-off period for residential property purchases (Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety), verified 7 Aug 2026).
If the property is passed in
If the reserve price is not met, the property is passed in and does not sell; the auctioneer or agent may then negotiate privately with bidders (Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety), verified 22 Oct 2026).
Before you bid: with no cooling-off period, finance, the building inspection and a conveyancer's or solicitor's review of the contract all have to be done before the auction.
For how auctions run everywhere, and every state side by side, see buying at auction in Australia. For cooling-off, the contract, the deposit and settlement on a private sale too, see buying a home in Western Australia.
Common questions
Is there a cooling-off period at auction in Western Australia?
Western Australia has no automatic statutory cooling-off period for residential property purchases.
What do I sign and pay when I win an auction in Western Australia?
The highest bidder must sign the contract of sale immediately, and the auctioneer signs it on the seller's behalf.
How do vendor bids work in Western Australia?
The seller or their agent can make bids up to the reserve price, and the intended number of vendor bids must be shown in the conditions of sale.
Practical checklist
Before an auction in Western Australia
- Finance approved for this property and your limit, not just pre-approval in principle
- Building and pest inspection, and strata records for a unit, done before the day
- Contract and vendor disclosure read by your conveyancer or solicitor, with any changes asked for in writing before the auction
- Your walk-away limit written down, and the bidding plan for whoever bids
- Proof of identity for registration, and a letter of authority if bidding for someone else or a company
- The deposit ready in a form the agent accepts, confirmed with the agent beforehand
- Arrive early to read the rules or conditions on display and hear the auctioneer's opening statements
- If you win: get a copy of the signed contract, tell your lender, and arrange insurance from the date your contract says
Questions for a professional
- Is there anything in this contract or the conditions of sale I should ask to change before the auction?
- What happens to my deposit if my finance falls through after I win?
Official resources
Important limitations: General information about WA auction rules, not legal or financial advice and not a bidding strategy. Rules change; each citation shows when Delora last checked its source, and Consumer Protection WA is the authority. Have a conveyancer or solicitor review the contract before auction day.
Sources and methodology
- Buying property at auction | Consumer Protection, Western Australia — Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety) (retrieved 22 Oct 2026). Reuse terms: see the publisher's site
- Home buyers glossary | Consumer Protection, Western Australia — Consumer Protection WA (Dept of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety) (retrieved 7 Aug 2026). Reuse terms: see the publisher's site
Figures on this page are drawn from Delora's local knowledge graph, refreshed from these primary sources and checked for changes on a regular schedule. If a figure here looks out of date, the official source above is always the authority — please let us know.
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- Make an offer Step 6 of 7
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