Do your due diligence. In most cases, you only have 2 days to evaluate a bid, obtain an O&E report, do a property visit, conduct market analysis, establish your remodeling budget, etc. Get started on this as soon as possible!

Obtain a title commitment. Don’t skip this step! An O&E report is not an adequate substitute for a title commitment. Develop a relationship with your title rep to help make this an easy ask that can be turned around in a timely manner.

Secure your funds. You will need cash-equivalent funds to purchase a property at auction. Auctions occur as early as 10 AM, so make sure you’ve allowed proper time to visit the bank and aren’t feeling rushed

Arrive at the auction. You may need to complete paperwork ahead of the auction in order to bid on a property. Arrive at least 30-minutes ahead of the auction so that you can complete any check-in requirements, grab a seat, and mingle. This is a great place to connect with other investors.

I won! Now what? Some counties require a non-refundable cash deposit as soon as you win and will give you a small window of time to return with the remaining funds. Verify that you were the highest bidder, make sure you’re paid in full, and then wait for the redemption period to expire.