Top Benefits of Selling Land at Auction vs. Traditional Listings
When it’s time to sell farmland, pasture ground, or rural property, one of the biggest choices you’ll face is how to market your land. Should you take the traditional route with a private listing and wait for offers to trickle in? Or should you choose a land auction and let competitive bidding drive your property’s true market value?
At BigIron and Sullivan Auctioneers, we’ve seen firsthand how the online auction method continues to deliver strong results for landowners across the Midwest and beyond. Here are the top benefits of selling farmland, acreages, and rural real estate at auction versus traditional listings.
Why Choose an Online Real Estate Auction to Sell Land?
Selling land through a real estate auction provides certainty, competitive bidding, and a defined timeline. Unlike traditional listings, where properties can sit on the market for months, auctions deliver results fast.
Case Study: 15,533.51± Acres Sold in Dundy County, Nebraska
One of the best examples of auction success comes from the Krutsinger Ranches, LLC sale in Dundy County, Nebraska. This large offering totaled 15,533.51± acres and sold in four tracts on our unreserved online auction:
· Tract 4: 720± Acres — 95 bids — Sold for $5,405/acre = $3,891,600
· Tract 3: 11,404.77± Acres — 74 bids — Sold for $1,295/acre = $14,769,177
· Tract 2: 2,822.74± Acres — 86 bids — Sold for $1,410/acre = $3,980,063
· Tract 1: 586± Acres — 65 bids — Sold for $2,145/acre = $1,256,970
Totaling more than $23.8 million, this sale showcased the power of online farmland auctions to bring together a competitive buyer base and deliver strong results.
The seller, Carol Krutsinger, shared her experience:
“When people ask me who should sell their land, I recommend BigIron Realty because they have a vast reach and they handle everything for you.” — Carol Krutsinger, Krutsinger Ranches, LLC
1. Faster Sales with Set Auction Dates
Traditional real estate listings can drag on for months. With an online land auction, sellers know exactly when their property will sell. The auction date is firm, buyers compete in real time, and when the bidding closes, the property is sold.
BigIron and Sullivan Auctioneers Advantage: Our platform reaches qualified buyers worldwide, creating urgency and delivering sales in weeks — not months.
2. Competitive, Market-Driven Pricing Through Land Auctions
With a private listing, sellers list an asking price and often face downward negotiations. At an unreserved farmland auction, there’s no ceiling — bidders compete in real time, driving the value up to meet true market demand. If a seller prefers a reserved sale, we can accommodate that as well, ensuring you have the flexibility to choose the approach that works best for your land.
The Krutsinger Ranches auction highlights the impact of competitive bidding: four tracts received between 65–95 bids each, ensuring the final price reflected true market competition.
3. Global Reach with Local Support for Rural Real Estate Auctions
A sign in the ground may catch local eyes, but it can’t match the worldwide exposure of an online land auction. Sellers gain access to farmers, investors, and buyers from around the globe — while still engaging the local community.
BigIron and Sullivan Auctioneers Advantage: We combine worldwide marketing reach with local representatives who know your area and understand the land, giving you the best of both worlds.
4. Transparent and Fair Farm Real Estate Auctions
Private listings often involve lengthy negotiations, financing contingencies, and delays. With online farm real estate auctions, the process is transparent — everyone sees bids in real time, and the highest bidder wins.
BigIron and Sullivan Auctioneers Advantage: With more than 40 years of experience for BigIron and more than 45 years for Sullivan Auctioneers, we ensure a fair, professional, and efficient process from start to finish.
5. Auction Settlement: Prompt Proceeds and Peace of Mind
Traditional real estate sales can stall due to financing or drawn-out closing schedules. With an online auction, sales contracts are executed immediately, and sellers can expect proceeds quickly.
BigIron and Sullivan Advantage: We handle every detail of auction settlement, ensuring secure transactions and fast payment to sellers.
Why More Sellers Choose to Sell Farmland at Auction
Selling farmland is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make. While traditional real estate listings still have their place, more landowners are choosing farm real estate auctions for their speed, transparency, and competitive results.
The Krutsinger Ranches auction in Dundy County is proof of the strength of the auction method: thousands of acres sold, millions in proceeds realized, and a satisfied seller who recommends BigIron to others.
When you work with BigIron and Sullivan Auctioneers, you’re partnering with two of the most trusted names in online land auctions. Together, we deliver the marketing power, trusted buyer network, and local expertise to help you sell with confidence. Ready to sell your land online? View our current real estate auctions or connect with a local representative today.
