News National World a.m. If agents won't tell you the value of your property go to your local council, which will have records of comparable property sales. Get two or three valuations from agents, but beware that some might value it significantly higher just to secure the listing.
Auctions can work well for the seller in a rising market.
But don't auction in a soft market. Don't be afraid to let your property pass in at auction if it has not reached your price expectation. And most agents don't tell you that you can make a vendor's bid. This lets buyers know your price expectation and they are likely to make a further offer after the auction. When you talk about an advertising budget, be careful that it promotes the sale of your property rather than promoting the agent.