Off-Market or Auction: Which Suits Your Apartment Block?

If you own an apartment block in Victoria, understanding the best sale method is crucial. Simon Abbott, a state-wide specialist, has run both off-market and auction sales for high-value blocks. Here are the key factors and his real scenarios from 2026:

Advantages of Off-Market Sales

• Zero upfront marketing cost: Ideal if your building is tenanted or you’re privacy-conscious.
• Targeted buyer-matching: Simon leverages his database of investors and buyer’s agents across Victoria—deals are created by knowledge of active buyers, not passive ad listings.
• Low disruption for tenants: No open homes, minimal photos.

When Auctions Win

• Unusual sites or broad buyer pools: If there is likely to be strong public competition, an auction can push price ceiling higher via transparent bidding.
• Need for unconditional contracts: Auctions produce unconditional sales, reducing fall-over risk.
• Simon switched a failed auction to deadline sale for a development site in 2025—because pre-qualified buyers couldn’t go unconditional, the switch brought a deal on the same day.

Simon’s Recommendation

Simon’s 2026 experience: most tenant-heavy, yield-focused, or tightly held blocks achieve best results off-market, especially when seller discretion is paramount or marketing fatigue is present. But high-profile or truly unique assets can justify the risk/cost of auction.

Want scenario-based advice? Talk to Simon Abbott through the Collings Property Platform for a practical review of your property.