The main difference between vendor, dummy and co-owner bids is that dummy bidding in Australia is illegal.

A vendor bid is where the auctioneer will place a bid on behalf of the seller with a view to assisting the property reach its reserve price.

Vendor bidding can only be done by the auctioneer or another legally permitted person and should be declared as part of this auction's process before the auction begins.

Alternatively, dummy bidding is just false bids made by non-genuine crowd members.

They have no intention of buying the property and are there purely to inflate the price.

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous agents still partake in this illegal act so don't bid until the house is placed on the market as dummy bidding is generally only used until the reserve price is met.

A co-owner is a person who has a financial share in the house, such as a divorced spouse, who wishes to buy out the other owners.

Co-owner bids cannot be made through the auctioneer and are not announced during the auction. However co-owner bids are declared in the rules set out before the auction starts.

Auctions are a recognised and widely used form of selling.

Not just property but livestock, household goods and cars are auctioned, just to name a few.

Each state and territory in Australia has their own set of regulations governing auctions, designed to protect both the vendor and vendee.

The Real Estate Institute in each state and territory sets down guidelines detailing their code of practice for the industry.

By ensuring your chosen agent is a member of the Institute, you can guarantee a high standard and an auctioneer who will adhere to each and every regulation.

Not many complaints are made about auctions in Australia, however if you do have any problems, contact the Real Estate Institute in your state who will be able to refer you to the relevant authority.