A land sale, week by week

1. The first conversation

   What the land is, who has authority to sell it, and what the timeline needs to be. For trusts and estates this usually includes the attorney or trust officer from the start.

2. A written proposal

   Method, tract concept, marketing plan, timeline, and costs, in writing — a document a trustee can put in front of counsel or beneficiaries before committing to anything.

3. Contract and tract design

   The listing contract runs through Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company, Inc. Survey work where needed, and the land is laid out in tracts so neighbors, farmers, and investors can each bid on the piece that fits — alone or in combination.

4. Records and groundwork

   Deeds, FSA records, leases and tenancy, drainage, and anything a buyer will ask about. Gaps surface now, not at closing.

5. The marketing window

   Four to six weeks of advertised exposure: signs, direct mail to area landowners and operators, print and digital advertising, and the auction brochure. Every piece is archived, so the estate file shows exactly how the market was informed.

6. Auction day

   Competitive bidding, in public, with tract combinations played against each other until the market has said its full number. The bid record is kept.

7. Contracts, same day

   High bidders sign purchase agreements and post earnest money before leaving. No open-ended negotiation period.

8. Closing and the file

   Closings typically run 30 to 45 days. The seller's file ends with the marketing record, the bid history, and the settlement statements — documentation of a sale conducted at fair market value, in the open.

“During the marketing period, Kevin communicated consistently and addressed any questions or concerns I had. He explained how the auction would proceed and what I could expect.”