Bid with confidence.

Gary Phelps heads up the Icon Auction Group division. He brings more than two decades of experience in the South African property market - across residential, commercial, estate, and investor sales - now applied to the auction floor.

Icon Auction Group operates as the auction division of Icon Property Group (established 2008), with the wider group's branch network, buyer database, and back-office support behind every auction we run.

Your property sells within 30 days of signing the mandate - that's the auction-day date. The full marketing strategy spans 90 days from sign-up to settlement, which includes pre-launch prep, the 25-day public campaign, auction day, and the transfer process.

Transfer itself typically takes 4 to 12 weeks after the gavel, depending on what's linked to the property (bond cancellations, rates clearance, levy clearances, compliance certificates).

The winning bidder pays a 10% deposit on the fall of the hammer, plus the auctioneer's commission and VAT (calculated as a percentage of the hammer price). The balance is paid via the seller's conveyancer in the normal way at transfer - typically 4 to 12 weeks later.

There are no hidden fees. The full cost breakdown is in every property pack before the auction.

Yes - but you need pre-approval before auction day. Auction contracts are unconditional, meaning they are not "subject to bond approval". If you intend to finance the purchase, get a finance pre-approval letter from your bank or bond originator before you bid.

If the bidding doesn't reach the reserve, the property is "passed in" - not sold. We then negotiate with the highest bidder immediately after auction, and quite often the property sells within days of the auction at or near the reserve.

You're not penalised for a pass-in. The marketing has still flushed out every qualified buyer in the market - most of whom go on to negotiate with us privately.

No. The reserve is strictly confidential between the seller and Icon Auction Group. Bidders see only the guide price, which is published as a marketing reference. The reserve protects you - if bidding doesn't reach it, the property doesn't sell.

There are typically two cost components: a marketing fee paid upfront to fund the public exposure campaign (photography, listings, drone work, advertising), and a commission paid on successful sale.

Gary will walk you through the full quote during your complimentary strategy meeting - there are no surprises, and you sign nothing until you're comfortable with the numbers.

Yes. Every Icon auction has scheduled show days during the marketing window - typically two to three weekend viewings plus by-appointment visits during the week. Private inspections can also be arranged.

You can also commission your own building inspection or surveyor before auction day. This is strongly encouraged - auction properties are sold "voetstoots".

The auction pack includes the title deed, zoning information, rates clearance status, compliance certificates (electrical, beetle, gas, plumbing where applicable), the standard sale agreement, and the rules of auction. You receive this well ahead of auction day.

Frequently, yes. Auction gives executors a defensible, transparent, time-bound sale process that's easy to justify to beneficiaries and the Master's Office. The Master often prefers auction for higher-value estates for exactly these reasons.

We work directly with estate attorneys, conveyancers, insolvency trustees, and Master's representatives on dozens of estate and insolvency sales every year.

Yes. Once the hammer falls and the auctioneer announces "sold", the buyer signs the sale agreement on the spot and pays the 10% deposit. The contract is unconditional and legally binding from that moment - it is not subject to finance, sale of own home, or further inspection.

Most Icon Auction Group auctions are held on-site at the property itself, or at our auction venue in Cape Town. Some lots are auctioned live online with simultaneous in-room and remote bidding. The location is confirmed in the property pack and on the auction listing.