Should I sell bundled properties at auction?

[Mark Wheeler]

I have 3 properties that I need to sell together.  Since a 1031 exchange is time sensitive I can't risk not selling all three together.  

My realtor has suggested selling at auction, all three on the same auction date.

She said I can set a minimum price which will not be posted on the auction site.

Any thoughts from someone who has gone this route to sell their properties?

[Alex Olson]

If the properties are decent I would find a realtor that specializes in investment sales and properly marekets them. A 1031 exchange is time sensitive but if you know what you would actually buy as your worse case scenario, you should be ok. Look to cash flowing areas like the midwest if you are not a fan of current return you are getting. 

[Bill B.]

How is this a win if you put all 3 up for auction and only 1 or 2 meet your minimum sales price? Then you’ve sold 1 or 2 that day. 

If you list all 3 for sale you’ll probably know 30-60 days before the first one sells and have 45-180 days to sell the other 2. As a bonus you’ll sell for more. Worst case you sell 2 to regular buyers and the last one on auction or to a wholesaler. Or you sell the first one to someone with leeway on closing date. 

I really don’t see any upside to the auction plan, only downside.