Planning to buy a house at a price lower than the market rate? Buying a “house at auction” could be an attractive option. The advantage is that you can acquire a property at a competitive starting price in desirable locations.

One of the auction houses that offers property auctions is IBID. The auction process is conducted online, making it easy and convenient to search for properties and place bids.

Although there’s a chance to get a property at an attractive price, buying a home at auction still requires careful consideration. Don’t be lured in by the starting price alone. Here are three important things you must do before buying a home at auction.

1. Visit the Location in Person

The first step you should take is to visit the property in person. Photos and descriptions do help provide an initial overview, but it’s still important to check the actual conditions on-site.

By visiting in person, you can assess the condition of the building, access to the location, the surrounding neighborhood, and the amenities available in the area.

Also pay attention to details that might not be visible in photos, such as road conditions, flood risk, neighborhood safety, and the distance to public facilities.

If possible, also verify the property’s occupancy status—whether it’s vacant, still occupied, or has other conditions worth noting. This information is crucial because it can impact the process after the auction concludes.

An on-site inspection also helps you identify which parts of the house need repairs. From there, you can estimate renovation costs before setting your bid limit.

2. Compare with Market Prices

Don’t automatically assume the starting bid price is the absolute lowest price you can get. Before placing a bid, first research home prices in the area.

Compare the property up for auction with other homes that have relatively similar locations, lot and building sizes, and specifications.

You can find comparable properties through real estate listing websites or by asking a real estate agent who knows the area well.

This step is important because the final price of an auctioned home is determined through the bidding process. By knowing the market price, you can set a maximum bid limit so you don’t bid too aggressively.

3. Check the Completeness and Status of Documents

The last—but no less important—step is to check the documents and the property’s legal status. Ensure that the information on the certificate and ownership documents is clearly stated.

For single-family homes, for example, check the SHM certificate and ensure the available data matches the property being offered. For apartments, ownership documents may take the form of an SHGB, depending on the property type and applicable regulations.

In addition to certificates, it’s also important to understand the property’s legal status. Ask if there are any records regarding disputes, ownership status, or other conditions that could potentially affect the process after the auction.

So don’t hesitate to review all the information about the auctioned property before placing a bid. The more complete the information you understand, the easier it will be to make a well-informed decision.

Recommended Auction Homes on IBID

Residential Home - Tebet Timur, South Jakarta

Starting Price: Rp 1,600,000,000. Bid on this unit

Our first recommendation is a 3-story, fully furnished house strategically located in the Tebet area of South Jakarta. The deposit required to participate in the auction for this house is Rp320,000,000.

Specifications:

• Certificate Type: SHM
• Building Area: ± 78 m²
• Land Area: 40 m²
• Number of Floors: 3
• Electrical Capacity: 3,500 VA
• Water Source: PDAM
• Condition: Fully Furnished

Furniture:

• Kitchen Set
• Pantry
• Staircase Storage
• Bed Storage
• TV
• AC
• Refrigerator
• Water Dispenser
• Washing Machine
• Sofa

Facilities:

• 3 Bedrooms
• 2 Bathrooms
• Living Room
• Kitchen
• Carport

Nearby Locations:

• 3 minutes to Tebet Station
• 8 minutes to Eka Hospital
• 9 minutes to Kota Kasablanka Mall
• 12 minutes to Bakrie University

Residential Home - Setu, Bekasi Regency

Base Price: 400,000,000 IDR. Bid on the unit

Next up is a 2-story home in the Setu area of Bekasi Regency, West Java. The auction fee to participate in the bidding for this home is quite affordable, at just 80,000,000 IDR.

Specifications:

• Certificate Type: HGB
• Land Area | Floor Area | Number of Floors: 60 m²; | 120 m²; | 2 floors
• Electrical Capacity: 1,300 VA

Facilities:

• 3 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms, kitchen
• Carport

Furniture:

• None (unfurnished)

Nearby Locations:

• 14 minutes to Unimedika Setu Hospital
• 16 minutes to Living World Grand Wisata Bekasi
• 18 minutes to Setu Utara Toll Gate
• 18 minutes to the MM2100 Industrial Area

Rental House - Kembangan, West Jakarta

Base Price: Rp 1,300,000,000. Negotiable

Lastly, there’s a 3-story rental house suitable for investment. It’s located in Kembangan, West Jakarta. The deposit required to participate in the auction for this house is Rp 260,000,000.

Specifications:

• Certificate Type: SHM
• Land Area | Floor Area | Number of Floors: 76 m² | 100 m² | 2
• Electrical Capacity | Water Source: 1,300 VA/room | Drilled Well

Facilities:

• Total of 8 rooms, each measuring 4 x 4 x 2.5 m
• 1st Floor: 4 bedrooms + en suite bathrooms
• 2nd Floor: 4 bedrooms and 2 shared bathrooms
• 3rd Floor: Laundry area and water tank

Nearby Locations:

• 9 minutes to Hypermart Puri Indah
• 10 minutes to Puri Indah Mall 1
• 10 minutes to Lippo Mall Puri
• 14 minutes to Kembangan Regional General Hospital

How to Participate in a Property Auction on IBID

Once you’ve found a suitable auction property, you can place a bid directly through the IBID website or app. Here are the steps to follow.

• Open the IBID app, register, or log in to your personal or corporate account.
• On the home screen, click the “Properties” icon or “Upcoming Auctions.”
• Select the desired property lot.
• Review the unit’s information and description. Details regarding the unit’s location and contact person are provided.
• Purchase an NPL deposit by following these steps.
  • Select the property auction item, then click “NPL Timed.”
  • Select the location, auction date, and the number of NPLs you wish to purchase. Remember, 1 NPL is valid for only 1 auction lot.
  • Review the NPL purchase details before making a payment via virtual account.
  • If the payment is successful, you are officially registered as a property auction participant.
• During the auction, bid on the property using the NPLs you’ve purchased, corresponding to the lot number.
• Submit bids in increments of Rp1 million. Enable the Auto Bid feature to place bids automatically.
• If you win the auction, your deposit will be deducted from the price of the winning unit.
• If you lose the auction, your deposit will be fully refunded to your registered bank account no later than 3 business days after the auction.

IBID is a business unit of PT Serasi Autoraya (SERA) operating in the auction industry for automotive, electronics, scrap, heavy equipment, gadgets, and lifestyle items.

To experience the ease of buying and selling used cars on IBID, try the process directly via the website www.ibid.astra.co.id or the app available on the Play Store and App Store.

Currently, the range of auction items on IBID is becoming increasingly diverse, including real estate. So, whether you’re a seller or a buyer, you can feel safer and more at ease.

Don’t forget to follow IBID’s official social media account on Instagram @ibid_balailelangserasi to get the latest auction updates and other helpful tips.