An agent spends significant time prior to an auction talking to a young couple about their desire to buy a home which is to be auctioned. The agent arranges to speak to each of the young people separately and gives them slightly different information. The agent tells each one that the other is deeply committed to the purchase, even though this is not strictly true. This encourages each member of the couple to enter the auction with a different understanding of what the other wants to do. Ultimately the couple end up encouraging each other to bid higher than they otherwise would have, thus increasing the eventual sale price of the property.

Another agent is auctioning a home which is part of a deceased estate and is now co-owned by the two adult children who have inherited it. The agent knows a family will be bidding at the auction and that they desperately want to move into the area quickly. The family have said they do not want to bid over an amount which the agent also knows is below the reserve set for the home. The agent arranges for two people to attend the auction who will make bids before the reserve is reached and who will then drop out of the bidding once it is close to the reserve. The agent hopes that this will build excitement and expectation at the auction and will encourage the family to bid higher than they had planned, thus achieved at least the reserve price.

1. Regarding the code of conduct/ethics and illegal practices for Victoria, contrast the two approaches.