Below are some steps you can take prior to participating in an auction. You can also contact us and we can guide you through the entire process as well.

Please remember that all CWS auctions are free to attend, and open to the public.  Make sure to join our free email list to receive notices of upcoming auctions.

Prior to Auction
  • Attend the auction Preview or Open House.
  • You are buying property/merchandise “as is, with all faults.” It is important to inspect property/merchandise in person and to perform all due diligence prior to the auction.
  • Check the website for photos, property/merchandise description, terms of sale, property tax & assessment information, maps, plans, and other pertinent documents and information specific to each sale.
  • Read and understand the Terms of Sale. There are specific deposit requirements, final payment dates, and removal dates for each sale.
  • For Real Estate Auctions:
    • You may bring a home inspector with you to the Open House.
    • Obtain your own financing (if needed). Real estate auctions for the U.S. Department of Treasury are cash sales, payable within 30 days of contract execution.
Online Auctions
  • Online bidding is available for some of our auctions.  To see a list of current and upcoming online sales click here: View Current Online Auctions.
  • In order to participate in any Online Auction you must first register on the CWS website creating a username and password.  You only need to do this one time. To register please click here: Register here.
  • As each online auction may have different deposit requirements, be sure to familiarize yourself with the specific deposit requirements for the online auction you are interested in bidding on.  This information can be found on the homepage for each particular sale under “Deposit”.
Live Auctions
  • Live Auctions take place on-site at a sale center or the real property location.  Check the live sale you are interested in for the auction location.
  • Register to bid by filling out a registration form at the live auction location during registration times. You will need to bring a Picture I.D.
  • See your specific auctions Terms to determine what the acceptable forms of payment are.
  • For Real Estate Auctions:
    • You will need to show a cashier’s check in the amount of the bid deposit during registration.
    • The deposit is only collected if you are the successful bidder or back-up bidder for a property.
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