It could be easy to get disheartened and just not bother to make any offer. That would be a mistake. Never assume what the circumstances of the sale are. For example, for a deceased estate, the inheritors may simply want to sell the property as fast as they can. An early, motivated buyer who comes in early and offers say 5-10% over the asking price may just be surprised with a positive response. If you have ever been waiting for an auction only to see a notice saying ‘sold prior to auction’ this is very likely what might have happened.
Source: https://www.pestbuildlegals.com.au/insights/news/what-to-consider-when-making-a-pre-auction-offer