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   Welcome to Unique Bid Homes, the home auction website with a difference. Register Now

Frequently Asked Questions

General information about Unique Bid Homes Auctions

  1. What is Unique Bid Homes Auctions?
  2. How does it Work?

Registering to bid

  1. How can I bid?
  2. Are there any restrictions on who may register?
  3. Are there any terms and conditions for participating in the auction?
  4. What are the costs involved?
  5. Can I use the credit in my Bid Bank to bid on goods and services offered for auction on www.lowestuniquebid.com.au?

The bidding process

  1. How do I make a bid?
  2. Are there restrictions on the number of bids I can make?
  3. How will I know the status of my bid?
  4. What if the status of my bid changes?
  5. My status message says "The current winning Bid is Higher than your bid" What does this mean?
  6. My status message says "The current winning Bid is Lower than your bid" What does this mean?
  7. How do I know when an Auction starts or closes?
  8. What is the Bid Range and where do I find it?

The winning bid

  1. Who is the winning bidder?
  2. What if none of the bids are unique?
  3. What if I win but am not an Australian resident?
  4. If I am the winning bidder, am I legally bound to purchase the property?
  5. What if I win the bid?

Tips and techniques in bidding

  1. How much should I bid?
  2. Are there any tools I can use to determine the whereabouts of the lowest unique bid?
  3. Shouldn't I just wait until as late as possible before I bid?

Technical issues

  1. What is my username? Can I change my Username?
  2. What is my password? Can I change my password?
  3. I have opened an account and received my password but can't Login. What's wrong?
  4. How do I make changes to my account?
  5. What if I have made a bid but haven't received my result via email?
  6. How are payments made?
  7. Can I rely on the website to be secure?

Tell A Friend Feature

  1. What is the "Tell A Friend" Feature?
  2. How do I use the Tell A Friend Feature?

Voucher Redemption

  1. I have received a free Bid from a business. How do I redeem it?
  2. What if I would like to increase my chances and place more bids?

Random Unique Bid Generator

  1. What is the Random Unique Bid Generator?
  2. Where can I find the Random Unique Generator?
  3. How does the Random Unique Generator work?

Contacting us

  1. Can I deregister or unsubscribe from Unique Bid Homes Auctions?
  2. Further information?

 

General information about Unique Bid Homes Auctions

  1. What is Unique Bid Homes Auctions?

Unique Bid Homes Auctions is a website which offers properties for sale by a reverse auction process. Rather than the bidder with the highest bid winning (as is the case in traditional property auctions), the winner is the person who has the "Lowest Unique Bid".

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  1. How does it Work?

Bids may be any amount between $0.01 and $10,000, allowing people to buy a property at an incredibly low price. The cost of the property is covered by the $10 administration fee you pay to make a bid.

For more information please refer to the "How It Works"Page.

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Registering to bid

  1. How can I bid?

You may bid after you register. This is an easy 4-step process as follows:

  1. Register - complete the registration form. Your password will then be emailed to the email address you provide us. It is vital you keep your username and password confidential, otherwise you may allow others to access your Bid Bank and place bids from your account.
    You are fully responsible for all activities that occur through your subscription and under your password and account.
  2. Login - once you receive your password via email, login using your email address as your username and your password. You can change your password once you have logged in by typing a new one in the password field on the Edit Profile page.
  3. Purchase Credit - deposit money into your Bid Bank.
    There are 3 ways to deposit funds into your Bid Bank:
    • PayPal - Enter the amount you would like to deposit on the Purchase Credit page, click on "PayPal Click Here To Pay". You will then be taken to the PayPal website. Complete the transaction by entering your credit card details, or using your PayPal account if you have one. Once complete click on "Return to Unique Bid Homes".
    • Credit Card by Phone - Call during business hours - 8am to 5pm Mon-Fri(AEST).
      Australia: Ph: 1300 550 108
      International: Ph: + 61 7 5585 1930
    • Direct Deposit - Click here for details, funds will be credited to your Bid Bank once cleared in our account (you should allow for up to 5 days).
      It is important you use your reference number to assist with allocating the funds to your Bid Bank, if this is not clear on the transfer, delays in fund allocation will occur.
      All funds must be in Australian Dollars.
  4. Place A Bid - Click on "Bid Now" below the Account Details panel, you will be taken to the bidding page. Enter the amount you wish to bid, being a dollar amount in the left box and cents in the right box.
    Then click "Submit Your Bid".
    You will be shown the status of your bid and an email will also be sent to you with the status, If you want to place another bid, click on "Place Another Bid" and repeat step 4.
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  1. Are there any restrictions on who may register?

To register, you must be over the age of 18 and have legal capacity to enter into a contract. Bidding is open to all people (including Foreign Persons) over the age of 18 except Disqualified Persons.

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  1. Are there any terms and conditions for participating in the auction?

Yes. Our Terms and Conditions are available by clicking here. By bidding in an auction, you are agreeing to be bound by our Terms and Conditions. Our Terms and Conditions include our privacy policy, which details how your personal data will be used.

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  1. What are the costs involved?

Whilst there are no set-up fees, there is a non-refundable administrative fee for every bid placed. The fee is debited from your Bid Bank immediately upon the submission of a bid. Your Bid Bank must have sufficient funds to cover the Administration Fee or your bid will be void.
The Administration Fee for the Pandanus Pocket Property Auction is $10 per Bid.

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  1. Can I use the credit in my Bid Bank to bid on goods and services offered for auction on www.lowestuniquebid.com.au?

Yes, you can. Lowest Unique Bid Auctions is an extension of Unique Bid Homes where in addition to property auctions, a number of individual products and services are auctioned.
Please note that you can not use bonus credits obtained through Unique Bid Homes or the funds deposited in order to gain bonus credits at www.lowestuniquebid.com.au.

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The bidding process

  1. How do I make a bid?

To make a bid, click on "Bid Now" below the Account Details panel and you will be taken to the bidding page. Enter the amount you wish to bid, with the dollar amount in the left box and cents in the right box.

Then click "Submit Your Bid".

You will be shown the status of your bid and an email will also be sent to you with the status. If you want to place another bid, click on "Place Another Bid" and repeat step.
Please Note: Once you place a bid, it cannot be cancelled or refunded.

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  1. Are there restrictions on the number of bids I can make?

There is no limit to the number of bids you can make.

Each time you bid, you will be charged the $10 Administration Fee, unless you are using bonus bids

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  1. How will I know the status of my bid?

As soon as you place a bid, the status of your bid will be shown on the screen and sent to your email. The status will indicate whether your bid is the Lowest Unique Bid, if your bid is unique but not the lowest bid, or if it is not unique.
You will also be told if the current winning bid is higher or lower than your bid
(see questions 12 & 13).
This information is current at the time of placing the bid.

You can also see the current status of your bids on the Bid History page.

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  1. What if the status of my bid changes?

While the Auction is open, you will be notified by email of any change to the status of your bid. You will be updated if:

  • Your bid becomes the Lowest Unique Bid; or
  • Your bid is no longer the lowest; or
  • Your bid is no longer unique.

You can also see the current status of your bids on the Bid History page.

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  1. My status message says "The current winning Bid is Higher than your bid" What does this mean?

This means the current successful bid amount (the current Lowest Unique Bid) is Higher than the bid amount you placed.

This message also means your bid is not unique.

Using status messages you may be able to determine the current Lowest Unique Bid.

However remember if you place a bid for the same amount as the current Lowest Unique Bid, then that amount will no longer be unique and there will be a new Lowest Unique Bid(see the example on the "How It Works" page).

The Lowest Unique Bid is the lowest bid which has not been offered by anyone else.

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  1. My status message says "The current winning Bid is Lower than your bid" What does this mean?

This means the current successful bid amount (the current Lowest Unique Bid) is Lower than the bid amount you placed.

Using status messages you may be able to determine the current Lowest Unique Bid.

Remember if you place a bid for the same amount as the current Lowest Unique Bid, then that amount will no longer be unique, and there will be a new Lowest Unique Bid (see the example on the "How It Works" page).

The Lowest Unique Bid is the lowest bid which has not been offered by anyone else.

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  1. How do I know when an Auction starts or closes?

As a member of Unique Bid Homes, you will receive an email when a new Auction is starting and when an Auction has ended.
Auction opening and closing times are also available on our website.
The Pandanus Pocket Sea Change Auction (Auction ID#120) closes at 5pm AEST (QLD time) on 31/07/2008 or as outlined in our Terms and Conditions 33(c) through (f).

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  1. What is the Bid Range and where do I find it?

The Bid Range shows a range where the current Lowest Unique Bid is. You can find this range on the Bidding Page. (see image below example only see Bidding Page for current range)

Bid Range

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The winning bid

  1. Who is the winning bidder?

The winning bidder is the person who has the Lowest Unique Bid at the close of the auction subject to the winning bid being validated. The Lowest Unique Bid is the lowest bid which has not been offered by any other Bidder.

The table below provides examples of how this is worked out:

Bid
$0.01
Not Unique
Bid
$0.01
Not Unique
Bid
$0.03
Lowest Unique Bid
Bid
$0.04
Unique, but not the lowest
Bid
$0.05
Unique, but not the lowest
Bid
$0.07
Unique, but not the lowest
Bid
$0.10
Unique, but not the lowest

The results and the winning bid will be displayed on the Results Page immediately following the close of an Auction. The name of the successful Bidder will be displayed once the validity of the bid has been confirmed.

During the Auction the Lowest Unique Bid is constantly changing. If in the example above, someone else was to bid $0.03, then $0.03 would no longer be a "Unique" bid, meaning it would no longer be the Lowest Unique Bid and $0.04 would become the Lowest Unique Bid. However if someone Bid $0.02, because this has not been bid previously by anyone else, it would become the Lowest Unique Bid.

For more information please refer to "How is the Lowest Unique Bid Determined?" on the the "How it Works" page.

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  1. What if none of the bids are unique?

In the event that there is not one single Lowest Unique Bid at the close of the auction, the winning bid will be the earlier of the lowest bid amount with two bidders. If this still does not produce a winner, it will go to the lowest bid with three bidders, and the process continues until a winner is produced. See also Question 23.

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  1. What if I win but am not an Australian resident?

If you are not an Australian resident and do not comply with the requirements necessary to acquire an interest in a property under the Foreign Acquisition and Takeovers Act 1975, you would have been bidding to buy the cash amount equal to 80% of the value of the property as advertised on the website.

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  1. If I am the winning bidder, am I legally bound to purchase the property?

By placing a bid in the auction, the bidder is offering to buy the property auctioned during that auction period. If this offer is accepted by Unique Bid Homes, this automatically creates a legally binding contract for the successful bidder to purchase the property. The successfully bidder cannot withdraw from the buying process once the auction has closed. The only exception to this is in relation to bids from foreign bidders where the contract is for the purchase of 80% of the cash value of the property.

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  1. What if I win the bid?

The winning bidder will be notified by telephone and/or email when the auction closes and the results will be uploaded on to our results page on the website. The winning bidder will then be required to pay for the Property, at their Lowest Unique Bid, rounded up to the nearest whole cent, within 20 business days of being notified of their Lowest Unique Bid.

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Tips and techniques in bidding

  1. How much should I bid?

Your bid amount must be between $0.01 and $10,000 and should be an amount that you believe will be the lowest unique bid.

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  1. Are there any tools I can use to determine the whereabouts of the lowest unique bid?

We have recently added a 'Bid Range' feature to our website which shows a range in which the current lowest unique bid is (See Question 15). You may also be able to determine what the current Lowest Unique Bid is by analysing the status messages we send through to you if your bid's status changes.

You can also see the current status of your bids on the Bid History page.

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  1. Shouldn't I just wait until as late as possible before I bid?

Not necessarily. For example, the winner of the Savannah Property auction placed his successful bid long before the auction closed. On placing the bid he was notified that his bid was unique but not the lowest however, as the auction played out his unique bid became the lowest in the closing stages of the auction and held that status at the close.

Also in the event that there is not one single Lowest Unique Bid at the close of the auction, the winning bid will be the earlier of the lowest bid amount with two bidders. If this still does not produce a winner, it will go to the lowest bid with three bidders, and the process continues until a winner is produced. In this scenario, it is important to place bids early, as waiting to bid may not necessarily be the most successful strategy.

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Technical issues

  1. What is my username? Can I change my Username?

Your username is the email address you used to register.

You can change your username by emailing us with your new and old email addresses, an email will be sent to both addresses once the change has been made, and a new password will be issued to the new email address.

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  1. What is my password? Can I change my password?

You were sent your password via email when you registered. You may change it at any time when you login. Simply click on Edit Profile in the Members Menu bar, and enter a new password in the field provided.

If you have forgotten your password, click on the Forgotten your Password? link and it will bring you to a page where you can enter in your email address and we will send your password by email. Please remember to always ensure that your password is secure.

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  1. I have opened an account, received my password but can't Login. What's wrong?

Usually this is caused by your security settings in Internet Explorer. We suggest trying the following:

  • Check your cookie settings if you are using Internet Explorer. Go to the Tools Menu, select Internet Options, select the Privacy tab, pull the leaver down to Medium. If it is already on medium, try low.
  • Try clearing/deleting your cache and cookie files (Temporary Internet Files) and restarting your browser.
  • Confirm that the date and time on your computer is correct.
  • Also check to ensure you have the latest version of your internet browser. Go to the Tools Menu, select Internet Options, select the General Tab and the Browser History Settings button.
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  1. How do I make changes to my account?

When you are logged in, you can change your details(except your username) by clicking Edit Profile on the Members Menu. You can change your username by emailing us with your new and old email addresses, an email will be sent to both addresses once the change has been made, and a new password will be issued to the new email address.

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  1. What if I have made a bid but haven't received my result via email?

The time it takes for emails to be delivered to you can vary depending on your ISP and the traffic on the internet at the time. We suggest you make sure you are able to receive email from outside companies before bidding. You should also check your spam filter and your junk mail box to ensure you are able to receive emails from Unique Bid Homes.

Please ensure you add info@uniquebidhomes.com, admin@uniquebidhomes.com and newsletter@uniquebidhomes.com to your to your email address book or trusted-sender list.

You can also see the current status of your bids on the Bid History page.

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  1. How are payments made?
  1. PayPal - Enter the amount you would like to deposit on the Purchase Credit page, click on "PayPal Click Here To Pay". You will then be taken to the PayPal website. Complete the transaction by entering your credit card details, or using your PayPal account if you have one. Once complete click on "Return to Unique Bid Homes".
  2. Credit Card by Phone - Call during business hours - 8am to 5pm Mon-Fri(AEST).
    Australia: Ph: 1300 550 108
    International: Ph: + 61 7 5585 1930
  3. Direct Deposit - Click here for details, funds will be credited to your Bid Bank once cleared in our account (you should allow for up to 5 days).
    It is important you use your reference number to assist with allocating the funds to your Bid Bank, if this is not clear on the transfer, delays in fund allocation will occur.
    All funds must be in Australian Dollars.
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  1. Can I rely on the website to be secure?

To ensure a high level of security we choose to use PayPal for the processing of all online monetary transactions. We do not store your credit card details on our servers.

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Tell A Friend Feature

  1. What is the "Tell A Friend" Feature?

This is a way of letting your friends know about Unique Bid Homes.

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  1. How do I use the "Tell A Friend" Feature?

Once logged in simply click on the "Tell A Friend" link in the members menu. You will be taken to a page where you can enter the name and email address of your friend. Once you submit the details(click on "Send"), an email will be sent to your friend.

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Voucher Redemption

  1. I have received a free Bid from a business. How do I redeem it.

You need to be a member to redeem a free Bid. If you are not yet a member please see question 3 for details on registering. If you are already a member please sign-in and Click on Purchase Credit. Here you will find a section to enter the details of the voucher.

Enter your voucher number and select the business you received the voucher from. Once complete Click on "Process and Validate Voucher" If the details are valid, you will be credited the amount on the voucher. See question 8 for details on how to bid.

Please Note: If you enter the incorrect combination 3 times you will be locked out of the redemption facility. If this happens please email info@uniquebidhomes.com with the details of your voucher.

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  1. What if I would like to increase my chances and place more bids?

As your voucher has a fixed value, and it can only be redeemed once, you can purchase additional bids by depositing funds into your Bid Bank, Click here to make a deposit.

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Random Unique Bid Generator (Try it NOW)

  1. What is the Random Unique Bid Generator?

This is a fantastic new feature, for those of you who have trouble finding a "Unique" bid.
This takes the guess work out of finding a Unique Bid. You will be given 5 options to choose from you just need to use your skill to pick the one you think will be or become the Lowest Unique Bid at the close of the auction.

The Bid is Unique at the time the numbers are generated.

Bonus Bids can not be used for Unique Random Bids. If you do not have enough funds in your account excluding Bonus Bids, the button will not display.

Remember: Even though this number is Unique at the time it is generated, throughout the course of the auction it may become "Non-Unique" meaning someone else has bid this amount. It may also become the Lowest Unique.

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  1. Where can I find the Random Unique Generator?

The Random Unique Generator is on the "Bid Now" page.

Random Bid Generator

Simply click on this button to place a "Random Unique Bid".

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  1. How does the Random Unique Generator work?

Go to the "Bid Now" page, click on "Random Bid Generator" button (see image).

You will then be shown a popup window confirming you want to proceed, Click "OK" if you are happy to proceed, at this time your Bid Bank will be debited the bid fee and you will be shown 5 Random Unique Numbers.

Simply select the number of your choice and press "Submit Your Bid". You will then be shown the status of your bid, this will confirm you have a Unique Bid.

It is possible the bid you choose is no longer unique, so once you hit "Submit Your Bid", your chosen bid is checked again for "uniqueness" if it is no longer Unique you will be returned and given 5 New choices, and asked to choose again.

Remember: Even though this number is Unique at the time it is generated, throughout the course of the auction it may become "Non-Unique" meaning someone else has bid this amount. It may also become the Lowest Unique.

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Contacting us

  1. Can I deregister or unsubscribe from Unique Bid Homes Auctions?

You can leave the service at any time by calling or emailing us – refer to our contact details below. If you choose to leave the service, and you still have active bids(bids that are unique) you may still receive bid status updates.

You can unsubscribe from member newsletters on the Edit Profile page.

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  1. Further information?

If you have any questions which are not answered here, or you require further information about Unique Bid Homes, please email or phone us on the below details:

Email:info@uniquebidhomes.com

Australia: Ph: 1300 550 108 Fax: (07) 5585 1935

International: Ph: + 61 7 5585 1930 Fax: + 61 7 5585 1935

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