Bluegrass Auction, Appraisal & Realty, LLC

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Three steps before you bid.

Most bidders only need to create an account once. After that, each auction has its own registration process, terms, buyer’s premium, and bidding format.

This page explains the basic flow, the difference between our virtual live and timed online auction events, and the bidding strategy that gives you the best chance to win the items you want.

Important: Always review the terms and conditions for the specific auction you are entering. Pickup, payment, buyer’s premium, convenience fees, shipping, and other terms can vary by event.

How to Participate

Create your account

Use Create Account in the site header or the button on this page. You will enter your name, contact information, and a credit card.

Bluegrass Auction does not charge your card for creating an account. Card information is used to help verify identity and prevent fraud before online bidding privileges are extended.

International bidders who need help setting up an account may email info@bluegrassauction.com.

Register to bid

To bid in a specific auction, open that auction’s catalog or detail page and select the auction registration button. If you are already registered, the site will show your bid number instead.

During registration, read and accept that auction’s terms and conditions, including any buyer’s premium, convenience fees, pickup requirements, shipping terms, and other event-specific rules.

After accepting the terms, you will receive a unique bid number for that auction and can begin bidding on items in that event.

Place your bids

Once registered, you can leave bids on items after the catalog is posted. Advance bids are commonly called absentee bids or maximum bids.

Depending on the auction format, you may also bid in real time during a live virtual live auction or bid while items are actively closing in a timed online auction.Use the auction detail page and catalog notices for the final event schedule, closing format, preview information, and pickup instructions.

Auction Event Formats

Virtual Online Auctions

Live live format

Virtual online auctions are real-time auction events with streaming audio and an auctioneer calling the items one at a time.

You can bid once the catalog is posted and continue leaving advance bids until the item is offered in the live event.
Advance bids are bid on your behalf up to your maximum, but may still be outbid by bidders participating in real time.
Shortly before the auction starts, links or buttons appear on the auction page to enter the live virtual auction.
Once an item is on the block in the live event, real-time bidding must be done from the live auction page.
There is no requirement to bid live, but monitoring the live event gives you the chance to respond if another bidder exceeds your advance bid.

Timed Online Auctions

Scheduled online closing

Timed online auctions close on a scheduled sequence. There is no auctioneer audio during the closing; each lot closes according to the online countdown.

You can bid once the catalog is posted and continue bidding until each item closes.
Lots usually close in catalog order, beginning with Lot 1 and continuing in sequence.
Our system generally uses a 30-second stagger between lots.
Timed auctions use a soft close: if a bid is placed near the end of the countdown, the item remains open long enough for other bidders to respond.
On closing day, the catalog page will show the current item closing, and you can bid from that page or from individual item detail pages before an item closes.

Ways to Win & Bidding Strategy

Leave a strong advance bid

Best protection against timing issues

Leaving a realistic maximum bid before auction day gives you a bid on file if you cannot be online when the item sells or closes.

Your maximum bid does not automatically become the current price.
The system or auction staff bids competitively for you against other bidders, following the bid increments.
If no one else bids close to your maximum, you may win the item for less than your full bid.
Bid based on what the item is worth to you, not only what you hope it will sell for.

Monitor the live or closing event

Best chance to respond

If an item is especially important to you, plan to follow the auction when that item is selling or closing.

In a virtual live auction, you can respond in real time if your advance bid is exceeded.
In a timed online auction, you can increase your bid while the item is actively closing.
Internet connections, timing, and distractions can cause missed bids, so an advance bid is still recommended.
For important lots, the strongest approach is usually to leave a maximum bid early and then monitor the live or closing activity if possible.

Know your maximum

Decide what you are truly willing to pay before the auction pressure starts.

Check the auction

Make sure you are bidding in the correct auction catalog when several events are active.

Watch lot order

Lot numbers and sale order may be assigned or adjusted as the gallery preview is organized.

Common Questions

Will my maximum bid be where the item starts?

No. Your maximum bid is used competitively against other bidders. For example, if you bid $500 and the next highest bid is $100, you would not automatically start at $500. You would be placed in the winning position at the next required bid increment.

This is why we encourage bidders to leave their real maximum bid. You may win for less, but once an item is sold there is no way to go back and add another bid.

I was watching an item, then it moved in the catalog. Is it gone?

Probably not. Many auctions are posted before final lot numbers are assigned. After the gallery preview is organized, we set the order of sale so the auction and pickup process can run more smoothly. That is when lot numbers may be added or adjusted.

I still do not see the item I wanted. What happened?

First, make sure you are viewing the correct auction. We often have more than one active auction, and it is easy to search in the wrong catalog.

On rare occasions, an item may also be pulled from an auction. This is unusual, but it can happen with estates and living estates when an issue is discovered after an item has been posted.

When will a specific lot sell or close?

After the order of sale is set, items sell or close in lot-number order. We can give general pace estimates, but virtual auctions are still live human auctions and the pace depends on bidder interest.

As a rough guide, virtual auctions may average 80–100 items per hour early in the sale and 60–70 items per hour later, though actual sales can move faster or slower. Timed auctions can close faster, sometimes around 100 items per hour, which is why advance bidding is strongly recommended.

If you plan to bid in real time, monitor the auction rather than relying only on an estimated sale time.

Before You Bid

Terms & Conditions

Every auction has its own terms and conditions. Before bidding, review the buyer’s premium, accepted payment methods, convenience fees, pickup requirements, shipping availability, deadlines, and any event-specific terms.

Registration for a specific auction means you have reviewed and agreed to that auction’s terms.

Read Terms & Conditions View Current Auctions

How to Bid & Ways to Win