One of the first decisions you’ll face when selling is how to actually sell, auction or private treaty. Both work well in the Inner West, but they suit different properties and different sellers.

Private treaty, in plain terms

With a private treaty sale, your property is listed with an asking price. Buyers make offers, which come to you through your agent, and you decide whether to accept, reject or negotiate further. It’s a quieter process, with no set date everything has to build toward.

Auction, in plain terms

An auction sets a firm date and puts registered bidders in the same room, competing openly for your property. Under NSW rules, the highest bid over your reserve price wins, and once the hammer falls, the sale is locked in. It works especially well when a property is likely to attract genuine competition between buyers.

What tends to favour private treaty

Properties that are a little unusual, or in a quieter part of the market, often do better with the flexibility of private treaty. It also suits sellers who’d rather negotiate privately than sell in front of a crowd.

What tends to favour auction

If your property is likely to draw strong interest, an auction can create real urgency and let competition do the work of pushing the price up. It also gives you a clear, unconditional result on the day, rather than an offer that might fall through later.

There’s no single right answer

The best method depends on your property, the current buyer interest in your suburb, and what you personally want out of the process. It’s worth talking it through properly before committing to either path.

Read more about both methods on our Selling page, or get in touch through our contact page for a chat about what’s likely to suit your property in Ashfield, Ashbury, Canterbury, Haberfield or Summer Hill.