Lien auctions: listing a unit for sale and handling the winner
Turn an open lien case into an auction, upload proof of compliance, run the sale and record the result.
Lien auctions is an add-on module. When it's on, Money → Auctions appears in your menu.
1. Start from a lien case
An auction always comes from an open case in Liens. Choose the case and click Create auction: the unit, size and city are filled in. You are the seller and set every term: online timed auction or in-person sale, start and end dates, location and viewing details, opening bid, optional reserve, bid increment, buyer premium %, cleanout deposit, cleanout and payment deadlines, accepted payment methods and a sales-tax note. Add photos taken from the door and a short description.
2. Prove compliance
You can only publish when every notice and waiting period your state's lien plan requires before the sale is recorded complete in the lien case and the sale date is on or after the earliest allowed date. Upload proof (notices, certified-mail receipts, the advertisement, the military-status check) and tick the confirmation. A snapshot of the checklist is saved in the audit trail.
3. Review and bidding
Published auctions go to our team for a quick review before they appear on the auction site and your website's Auctions page. Only approved bidders can bid: they need an account, a verified phone, ID verification and to accept the auction terms. Online auctions use proxy bidding and a soft close (a late bid extends the end time). Your staff and the occupant can't bid.
4. Redemption
If the occupant pays in full at any time before the sale is final, click Redeemed / cancel: the auction ends with no sale and the lien case is marked redeemed.
5. After the close
The high bidder wins if the reserve is met, and the next-highest bidder is saved as the backup. A winner invoice shows the bid, buyer premium, deposit and due date. Payments through the platform are not active: collect payment yourself, then mark the invoice Paid (the lien case becomes *sold*). If the winner doesn't pay in time, mark it Defaulted and offer the unit to the backup bidder. For an in-person sale, record the winner and amount afterwards.