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Contact CLHbidWhy does a low starting bid maximize my final sale price?
Last updated on July 17, 2026
The Starting Bid is the number allocated to each Parcel being tendered by CLHbid.com. It represents the lowest value that bids can commence at for that Parcel. The first bid for that specific Parcel will be the Starting Bid number. No bids can be placed below the Starting Bid number for that Parcel. If the Starting Bid is not obtained, the Parcel does not sell.
Starting Bid values are set below what the Parcel is expected to sell for on sale day. At CLHbid.com, we like to say if you are afraid of finding out what your land is worth, we are the wrong platform for you; however, if you want to sell in the next year and get maximum value using world-class marketing and price discovery, we are 100% the right platform. With CLHbid.com, the Owner agrees to allow the market to determine the price on sale day. We know that works best for an Owner in the end.
By allowing bidders to establish the value independently of the Owner, bidders become 100% confident in the process, knowing for certainty the value is there when outbid by another party. When outbid, they don't know who has outbid them, just that they have been outbid, and if they don't bid back, the land will likely not be coming up for sale again for generations. Instilling confidence in bidders in the value (which a list price does not) is key to maximizing value for your land. Bidders know if they are high, they will just be one click beyond what someone else was willing to pay.
We know from selling hundreds of farms and ranches over the past decade that a soft start is never a drag on the final price. We have sold land where the final price is as much as three times the Starting Bid number. We find a softer start means more parties are interested right off the bat, and they tend to get financing all hoping for a deal. A softer start also rules out collusion, resulting in the scenario of every man for himself on sale day.
Given the ‘en bloc’ bidding option offered at CLHbid.com, the Starting Bid is also the value to be used for that Parcel in the unlikely event a specific Parcel doesn't receive a bid in the first round.
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Contact CLHbidQuestions Similar To "Why does a low starting bid maximize my final sale price?"
Will CLHbid.com accept offers prior to a sale?
If a buyer wants to make an offer in advance that is acceptable to our Seller, we are fine selling by Private Treaty.
My farm is owned by my corporation. How can CLHbid.com’s tax expert’s help me to maximize my sale price?
Individuals holding shares of a family farm corporation may utilize their lifetime capital gains exemption with proper tax planning. CLHbid.com works extensively with tax lawyers specializing in this area and works with the Seller’s trusted advisors to minimize taxes upon sale of the land. At CLHbid.com, we respect owners’ long-term relationships with local advisors and work with them.
How does CLHbid.com's unique 'En Bloc' feature maximize value?
On certain multi-parcel sales on CLHbid.com, once all bids are in, our ‘en bloc’ process offers only those bidders who have bid the highest on a set number of parcels to then bid against other multiple high bidders for the entire ‘en bloc’ land up for sale. To be fair to prior individual bidders, the ‘en bloc’ bidding starts at a premium amount that is in excess of the aggregate of all prior individual bids and bidders must meet requirements in order to participate in the 'en bloc' round of bidding. Buyers know it is almost impossible to be high on all parcels when selling on choice, and appreciate the ‘en bloc’ option.
What is your commission?
It is difficult to compare commission rates with others that sell farm land unless you are comparing what is all included in that commission. Choosing the cheapest service over the most comprehensive platform can result in a lower net sale price, costing sellers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some situations are more complex than others and there may be obstacles along the way. With the legal, accounting, agricultural, and marketing expertise on our team, we have proven to take what was complicated or difficult for a client and provide a solution that works for everyone. Whether it be dealing with Surface Lease Rentals, tax questions, access, subdivisions, caveats, aggregate potential, and any other matter that may affect the final outcome, that is just part of what we do. We can also handle all the legal aspects for the Seller. If you talk to prior Sellers that have used CLHbid.com, most don’t view our platform as a cost but rather a function of how much more we brought them in net value.