What is a soft close & auto-extend?
A soft close is an online-auction rule that automatically extends a lot’s end time when a bid arrives at the last second — so the lot stays open until bidding truly stops, not until an arbitrary clock runs out.
In a timed online auction, every lot has a scheduled end time. A hard close ends it the instant that clock hits zero. The problem is sniping: a bidder waits until the final second, places a bid no one can answer, and walks away with the lot below its real value. A soft close — also called auto-extend — fixes this by adding more time whenever a bid lands inside a defined closing window.
The mechanic is simple. The auctioneer sets a trigger window (for example, the last two minutes) and an extension amount. Any qualifying bid in that window pushes the end time forward by the extension. If another late bid follows, the clock resets again — and again — until a full window passes with no new bids. Only then does the lot close.
Worked example: a loader is set to close at 7:00 PM with a two-minute soft close. At 6:59 PM a buyer bids; the end time jumps to 7:01 PM. The underbidder responds at 7:00 PM, extending to 7:02 PM. They trade bids twice more, then go quiet. With no bids for two full minutes, the loader finally hammers at 7:06 PM — at a price both bidders had a fair chance to set. That is the live-ring rhythm recreated online.
The mechanics of an auto-extending close.
Triggered by a late bid
If a bid lands inside the closing window — say the final two minutes — the lot’s end time pushes back automatically. No bid means no extension.
Repeats until bidding stops
Each qualifying late bid resets the clock again, so the lot only closes once a full quiet window passes with no further activity.
Configurable window and increment
Auctioneers set how late a bid counts (the trigger window) and how much time each extension adds, tuned to the asset and audience.
Applies per lot, not per sale
Extensions are scoped to the individual lot. A sniped tractor can stay open while the rest of the catalog stages and closes on schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is a soft close in an online auction?+
A soft close is a closing rule that automatically extends a lot’s end time whenever a bid arrives in the final moments. Instead of a hard cutoff, the clock keeps resetting until bidding goes quiet, so the lot only ends when no one is still competing.
How is soft close different from a hard close?+
A hard close ends the lot at a fixed time no matter what — a bid placed one second before can win uncontested. A soft close (auto-extend) reopens the window for everyone, giving underbidders a fair chance to respond and pushing the lot toward its true market price.
Why do auctioneers use auto-extend?+
It defeats sniping, where a bidder waits until the last second to bid and denies others the chance to react. Auto-extend mirrors the back-and-forth of a live ring, which builds buyer trust, reduces disputes, and typically lifts final hammer prices.
Can I set how long each extension lasts?+
Yes. On Unovance you control the trigger window and the extension length per lot or catalog — for example, any bid in the last two minutes adds two more minutes. You can tune both to match the asset value and how aggressive your bidders are.
Run auctions that close on the market’s terms, not the clock’s.
Unovance gives you per-lot soft close and auto-extend controls on a branded platform you own — so your bidders get a fair last second and you get a stronger hammer.