Tender and deadline sale

A tender is a sale method where buyers submit confidential written offers by a specified date, and the vendor chooses which — if any — to accept. A deadline sale (or deadline private treaty) works similarly but offers are usually made on the standard sale and purchase agreement and can be conditional.

How they differ from auction

The key advantage: offers can be conditional. You can include finance, builder's report or due diligence conditions, which removes the main risk of auction.

The key disadvantage: you are bidding blind. You do not know what others have offered, so pricing is guesswork.

Practical points

• Offers are usually confidential until the deadline
• The vendor is generally not obliged to accept any offer
• Many tenders and deadline sales sell prior if a strong offer comes in early, so the advertised date is not a guarantee
• A cleaner offer (fewer conditions, shorter dates) can beat a higher price with more conditions

Common misunderstanding

"Deadline sale" is frequently used because the vendor has no firm price expectation. It can indicate uncertainty rather than demand. Do your own valuation work rather than anchoring to whatever the agent implies.

Ask whether the property can sell prior. If it can and you are still waiting on a report, you may miss it entirely.

Related terms

Last reviewed: 1 August 2026 · ---

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