# First Auction Purchase Checklist

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## Pre-Bid (Do This Before You Raise a Finger)

- [ ] **Set your max bid** — write it down. Emotion kills budgets.
- [ ] **Check NADA / KBB / MMR** wholesale value for the exact year, make, model, trim, and miles.
- [ ] **Review the condition report (CR)** — use the Autowalk Condition Report Cheat Sheet to decode abbreviations.
- [ ] **Watch the run video** — not just the photos. Look for smoke, leaks, odd sounds, and lazy shifts.
- [ ] **Verify title type** — clean, salvage, rebuilt, certificate of destruction, non-repairable. Know what your state allows.
- [ ] **Confirm auction fees** — buyer fee, virtual bid fee, gate fee, title processing. Add them to your max bid math.
- [ ] **Check transport cost** — get a quote or know your per-mile rate. A $900 car with $700 transport is a $1,600 car.
- [ ] **Set recon budget** — paint, body, mechanical, detail, tires, glass. If you don't know, call your guy first.
- [ ] **Confirm floor plan or cash ready** — don't bid on money you hope to have.
- [ ] **Check state requirements** — emissions, inspection, salvage inspection, rebuilt title process. Some states eat 3 weeks.

## Bidding (Keep Your Head Straight)

- [ ] **Stick to your max** — if it goes $50 over, let it walk. There is always another car.
- [ ] **Watch the lane, not just the screen** — delays happen. Bidding on a frozen frame is how you buy a different car.
- [ ] **Confirm VIN matches** — before you click "buy," verify the last 6 of the VIN on screen match your notes.
- [ ] **Screenshot the final price and fees** — disputes happen. Proof wins.
- [ ] **Note the pickup deadline** — some auctions charge storage after 48 hours. Others after 5 days. Know the rule.

## Post-Win (First 24 Hours)

- [ ] **Pay immediately** — unpaid cars go back to auction and you get banned from the lane.
- [ ] **Download the invoice and bill of sale** — store them in your deal folder (physical or cloud).
- [ ] **Request the title** — some auctions mail it, some hold it at the gate. Ask.
- [ ] **Book transport** — the sooner it moves, the less storage you pay. Get a confirmed pickup window.
- [ ] **Notify your recon shop** — send the CR, photos, and your punch list so they can prep the bay.
- [ ] **Add the vehicle to your profit tracker** — log VIN, total cost basis, target list price, and target days to sale.

## Transport & Receiving

- [ ] **Inspect at pickup** — photo any new damage before the truck leaves. Compare to auction photos.
- [ ] **Check fluids and battery** — transport drains batteries. A dead battery at delivery is common, not a scam.
- [ ] **Inventory loose parts** — keys, fobs, manuals, spare tires, floor mats. Missing items = missing value.
- [ ] **Run a fresh VIN check** — Carfax / AutoCheck to confirm history matches the CR. Surprises show up late sometimes.

## Recon (Get It Ready to Sell)

- [ ] **Wash and inspect under the dirt** — auction grime hides bodywork, scratches, and panel gaps.
- [ ] **Mechanical safety check** — brakes, tires, lights, wipers, horn, airbags. Fix what fails state inspection.
- [ ] **Address the obvious damage** — dents, scrapes, torn seats, cracked glass. Buyers notice in 2 seconds.
- [ ] **Send photos to Autowalk** — upload your raw auction and recon photos. Get back clean, professional listing images.
- [ ] **Detail interior and exterior** — a $150 detail can add $500 to perceived value. Dealer math.

## Listing (Turn It Into Money)

- [ ] **Write the description** — use the Autowalk Listing Description Formulas. Honest sells faster than hype.
- [ ] **Set the price** — check comps, factor in your cost basis, and leave 5-10% negotiation room.
- [ ] **Post to your top 3 platforms** — Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, dealer website. More eyes = faster turn.
- [ ] **Schedule test drives** — confirm insurance covers test drives. One accident wipes out 3 deals of profit.
- [ ] **Log the list date** — track days to sale. If it hits your max days-on-lot, reprice or wholesale it.

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**Remember:** One missed step in recon or paperwork can cost you more than the profit on the deal. Use this checklist every time.

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