1. Who manages Auctionrp.com and can I get on your mailing list?
The U.S. General Services Administration, Property Disposal Division manages Auctionrp.com to conduct online auctions for selected government surplus properties. All currently available properties, including properties to be sold by other sale methods, are listed at Property Disposal Home Page. Mailing lists are only maintained for an individual property sale. Interested parties are encouraged to go to http://www.propertydisposal.gsa.gov
for information concerning real property.
Back to Top
2. What is the Invitation for Bids (IFB)?
The IFB is a publication that contains the information you need in order to make a bid for a property. It gives the location of the property, property description, maps, pictures, general terms of the sale, and any special terms of the sale. The IFB also contains official bid forms for purchase of the property. Any additional questions you have regarding the property or how to bid can be answered by calling the Realty Officer
listed in the Invitation for Bids.
Back to Top
3. How can I find out what properties are currently
for sale?
The very best place to find our current properties for sale is online at the Property Disposal Home Page.
Public sales are generally advertised in local and national
newspapers, in trade publications, and on radio. You
can find out more information by linking to the Property Disposal Home Page.
Back to Top
4. Do you also have automobiles for sale, and
other personal property for sale?
GSA sells surplus personal property including automobiles through the Federal
Supply Service Property Management Division where they sell all other Surplus
Government property other than Real Estate. Information on Government Sales
and Auctions of Personal property including automobiles can be found at https://www.gsaauctions.gov/
Back to Top
5. Where is the property located and when can
I look at it?
Surplus Government Real Estate is located just about anywhere in the United
States and U.S. Territories. GSA sales include every type of real estate you
can think of in both rural and urban areas including homes, vacant land, office
buildings, entire Air Force Bases, whole subdivisions and even a Space Shuttle
Launch Facility. GSA specializes in real estate that was once used for Federal
Government missions and is therefore usually commercial type properties. An
Invitation for Bids (IFB) is prepared for each property that is sold in a public
sale. The IFB contains information on how to get to the property and when and
how the property can be inspected. The IFB also tells you the name of the Realty
Officer who is handling the property and his/her phone number where they can
be reached for any questions not answered in that IFB.
Back to Top
6. How much are you asking for this property?
Law and regulation requires GSA to obtain the Fair Market Value (FMV) for each
of the real estate parcels it sells. Each property is different so there is
no set price for all of our properties. Only the high bidders are considered
for award in GSA sales and each high bid is compared to FMV. If the bid is at
or higher than GSA's FMV the property is generally awarded to that high bidder.
GSA's FMV is proprietary information and is never made available to the public
to prevent influencing bidders. Bidders must perform their own due diligence
and are encouraged to contact local real estate professionals to help them make
a bid that they are comfortable with.
Back to Top
7. What is the appraised value of the property?
As a matter of policy, GSA does not release any information regarding the appraisal
of the property being sold. This information is considered proprietary and for
GSA internal uses only. In addition, neither the appraised value nor the appraisal
reports are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The prospective
buyer is encouraged to seek out the opinions of local real estate professionals
when considering purchase of a property
Back to Top
8. Are GSA properties sold at discount prices?
No, GSA is required to obtain Fair Market Value for property sold to the public.
Sales are competitive and only High Bidders are given consideration for award
of sale.
Back to Top
9. Is there a minimum bid?
Usually there is no minimum bid on property GSA sells. However, if a minimum
bid is appropriate, one will be stated in the Invitation for Bids. GSA always
reserves the right to refuse any and all bids. Realizing that it is often difficult
to know "where to start," a minimum acceptable bid price is occasionally suggested
for certain properties; however, this may or may not correspond with appraised
Fair Market Value. For additional assistance on this issue, the caller may consult
with the appropriate GSA sales or appraisal contact.
Back to Top
10. Is a registration deposit required?
Yes, a registration deposit is required to allow you to place a bid online. The Registration Deposit is specified in the Invitation for Bids for each sale. You will always need to provide the required registration deposit with your bid or to register
as a bidder. Some sales allow you to provide the registration deposit by credit card. All sales allow you to provide the registration deposit by cahier's or certified check. Written instructions are in the IFB about how to make your bid and where to send the bid form and registration deposit.
Back to Top
11. If mine is a low bid, how can I find out
who the high bidder was and when do I get my money back?
If you were not the high bidder, we make every effort to send your money back
to you as soon as possible after the date of the bid opening. Since the bid deposit is placed in a US Treasury account, refunds typically take 3-4 weeks to return by check or 1-2 weeks by electronic transfer upon receipt of all required information. GSA sales are public and the
name and address of the highest bidder, once the bid has been accepted, can be obtained by calling the Real Property
Disposal sales office.
Back to Top
12. How do I find out if I am the highest bidder?
If your bid was the highest bid received and if the bid has met all the criteria
required and will be accepted the Realty Officer will call you to let you know.
This will happen either on the day of bid opening or shortly thereafter.
Back to Top
13. Do you offer financing?
You will need to make arrangements to get your own financing for the purchase.
After the date of acceptance, there will be a 30 to 60-day, or other appropriate
period, in which to send in your final payment to close the sale. More information
regarding the closing of the sale will be found in the Invitation for Bids.
You may contact the Realty Officer handling the sale for any further information
or arrangements.
Back to Top
14. Is the highest bid always accepted?
Not necessarily. GSA reserves the right to refuse any and all bids and/or to
accept an offer in the Government's best interest and sometimes-other factors
are considered. Price, fair market value and other factors are considered.
Back to Top
15. If I am the successful bidder, do I receive
a deed?
Yes. After accepting a high bid GSA issues a Quitclaim Deed to the high bidder
when he/she provides full and final payment for the purchase price of a property
sold.
Back to Top
16. What is the process involved in acquiring
missile silos for private individuals or public agencies?
GSA disposes of abandoned missile sites for The Air Force pursuant to Public
Law 100-180, as amended by Public Law 103-160. During the 1960s and early 1970s,
silos were disposed of intact and were available for purchase in their original
structural condition. However, the current missile site decommission process
is vastly different. Decommissioned silos are now destroyed by implosion. The
land, along with any easements, is made available for purchase by qualified
adjacent landowners. The law, referenced above, requires that a negotiated sale
or competitive sealed bid sale with adjacent landowners occur prior to any other
sale. If the property is not sold in this way, then we proceed to disposal in
accordance with the provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services
Act of 1949 (49 Act), as amended.
