Buyer FAQ

This article contains useful information for all Openn users but is primarily intended for buyers, sellers and observers.

How do I create an Openn account

Openn accounts are free. You can sign up to create a new account here. You will be logged into the platform at the end of the sign up process and immediately be able to view properties on the platform, observe negotiations that allow observers, and make offers.

The platform will send you a Welcome email with useful information when you create a new account. If you do not receive this email then please refer to the section "What to do if you are not receiving emails from Openn" on this page.

How do I login to Openn

You will login automatically when you create a new account and remain logged in if you are using the same browser or the mobile app. If you need to login because you are using a new device, or because you have not logged in for some time, then you will need to enter your email address and password on the login screen. The login screen for the web app is here.

If you cannot access the login screen then please check that you have an internet connection. One way to quickly check that you are online with an active connection is to try to open a popular website such as the google search page here.

How do I change my Openn password

If you are already logged into Openn and wish to change your password then you can do so using the change password screen here. You will need to enter your current password, and then your new password twice for confirmation.

How do I change my Openn password if I've forgotten it

If you have forgotten your password and are unable to login then you can set a new password using the steps below:

1. Open the Forgot Password screen in a web browser by clicking here.
2. Enter the email address for your account and click the "Send instructions" button.
3. Locate the "Reset your Openn password" email in your inbox.
   • The reset password email will normally arrive very quickly, however it may take a couple of minutes so please be patient.
   • If the reset password email does not arrive after a couple of minutes then please start again from step 1. Make sure you enter your correct email address!
   • If you still do not have not received the reset password email after a couple of minutes and are confident that you have entered the correct email address, then please refer to the section "What to do if you are not receiving emails from Openn" on this page.
4. Click the link in the email to open the "Reset password" screen in your browser.
   • If you see an error "sorry this page is not accessible" then you are already logged into Openn in your browser! If this occurs and you still want to reset your password then you should logout by clicking your user icon in the top right corner of the app and selecting "Log out" from the drop down menu, and then continue from step 3.
5. Enter your "New password" and "Confirm new password" fields, then click the "Reset password" button. You will now be logged into Openn with your new password.
   • It is recommended that you record your Openn password in your password manager.

What to do if you are not receiving emails from Openn

If you are not receiving emails from Openn then you should:

1. Check your spam folders. If emails from Openn are going to spam then you should whitelist emails from Openn to avoid missing important notifications. The process to whitelist an email address will vary depending on your email client, but will normally be achieved by right clicking on the blocked email and selecting an option like "Never block sender".
2. Check your email address. The email address for your account is show on your account page here. If there is a typo in your email address then you can fix that by clicking on your email address to show the Change Email popup and then typing your your correct email address and password.
3. Check that your email address is verified. If your email address is not verified then there will be a banner at the top of the screen in Openn informing you of this. Please click the link in the banner to send a verification email, and then click the link in that email to complete the verification process.
4. Check that email notifications are enabled. You can configure which messages you want to receive from Openn on the account notifications screen here. Ensure that the option to receive email notifications is ticked.
5. Contact your email service provider or ISP. Some systems may incorrectly identify emails as spam and block them before they reach your inbox. If you're certain that you have not received emails and have the correct email address, then please contact your email service provider or ISP and let them know that you should have received emails from openn.com and ask them to investigate whether their systems have blocked these.

How do I observe a negotiation

The Openn platform allows users to observe a negotiation if the listing agent has enabled observers for the negotiation. If you view the property and can see an "Observer" button on the right side of the screen then observers are allowed! To join as an observer you must:

1. View the property in Openn.
2. Click the "Observe" button on the property screen.
3. Provide some information about yourself including your name, email address and phone number. This information is provided to the listing agent who may contact you regarding your interest in the listing.
4. Click the "Submit" button.

Observers will be able to watch a negotiation. The information available to observers will vary depending on the transparency settings enabled by the agent in accordance with the sales method, regulations, and preferences of the seller and listing agent. This information may include:

• A timeline showing offers made by each buyer (buyers are represented by a paddle number to preserve their privacy).
• Offer values.
• Offer rank (from highest offer value to lowest).
• Which offers are conditional.

Observers may also receive email notifications when new buyers join the negotiation, buyers improve their offer, important settings related to the negotiation change, or the negotiation changes status. The notifications received will vary depending on the transparency settings for the negotiation and your notification preferences (which may be configured for your account here).

How do I make an offer

The Openn platform allows users to make an offer on active listings on the platform. If you view the property and can see a "Make an offer" or "Place a bid" button (depending on the sales method) on the right side of the screen then you may make an offer! To join as a buyer you must:

1. View the property in Openn.
2. Click the "Make an offer" or "Place a bid" button on the property screen.
3. Enter your offer value.
   • If the property is being sold under auction (also known as Openn Negotiation) then the offer value must be equal to or higher than the current leading offer plus the bid increment set by the listing agent. For example, if the leading offer is $500,000 and the bid increment is $10,000 then your offer value must be $510,000 or higher.
   • If the property is being sold under private treaty or tender (also known as Openn Offers and Openn Tenders respectively) then your offer value may be any dollar amount above $0.
   • If you wish to change your offer value then you may withdraw your offer (by clicking the "Withdraw" button on the property screen) and then submit a new offer by starting again with step 1 above. Any terms and conditions that you may have already entered will be kept with your new offer (though you may also change these before submitting your offer if you wish)
4. The terms and conditions that you may stipulate for your offer will vary depending on the sales method and state/territory in which the property is located. Some terms and conditions may be marked as mandatory by the listing agent, meaning you must provide that information with your offer. For example, listing agents may require some form of identification to verify your offer. Terms and conditions may include such information as:
   • Buyer details. Make sure you provide information about all buyers making the offer. For example if you are making an offer on behalf of yourself and your partner then include information about yourself and your partner.
   • Information to confirm your identity.
   • Finance and settlement details.
   • Any conditions that may apply to your offer.
5. Proceed through all of the terms and conditions steps and then click "Submit" on the final step to submit your offer.
   • If you do not complete your terms and conditions then you may do so later by viewing the property in Openn and clicking the "Review terms" button at the top of the screen.
   • Your offer will be visible to the listing agent as soon as your submit your offer value. They may contact you in regard to your offer.
6. Your offer will show as a "Pending offer" to the listing agent. They will review your offer, and may contact you for additional information if required. Once they are satisfied that the offer is valid and meets their requirements, they may process your offers so that it becomes "progressed". You will be informed by email and app message when your offer is progressed.
7. Once your offer is progressed you will now be able to participate in the negotiation! This may allow you to view additional information about other offers on the property (depending on the transparency settings set by the listing agent) and improve your offer should you wish to do so.
   • If you wish to change your terms and conditions after the offer is progressed then please contact the listing agent and ask them to make those changes. The phone number and link to email the listing agent are provided on the property page in Openn.

How do I improve my offer

If you have made an offer on a property and your offer has been progressed, and the property is still live on the platform, then you will see an offer increment and offer value field near the top of the screen when you view the property.

• The increment field is called "Offer increment" for private treaty and tender sales methods, and "Bid increment" for auctions. We'll refer to these collectively as the "Increment".
• The offer value field is called "Offer value" for private treaty and tender sales methods, and "Bid value" for auctions. We'll refer to these collectively as the "Offer value".

The amount by which you may increase your offer will vary depending on the sales method:

• For private treaty and tenders, your new offer amount must be equal to or higher than your previous offer value plus the minimum bid increment set by the listing agent. The current highest offer may be shown in the "Current bid" section at the top left of the property screen, depending on the transparency settings for the negotiation set by the listing agent.
• For auctions, your new offer amount must be equal to or higher than the current highest offer plus the minimum bid increment set by the listing agent. The current highest bid will be shown in the "Current bid" section at the top left of the property screen.

To increase your offer:

1. Either:
   1. Enter a new value in the increment field. This value must be greater than or equal to the minimum increment (which will be displayed under the increment field). Your new offer value will be calculated based on the increment and displayed in the offer value field.
   2. Enter a new value in the offer value field.
2. Click the "Place offer" button (or "Place bid" button for auctions) under the increment and offer value fields.
3. Click the "Confirm offer" button (or "Confirm bid" button for auctions) under the increment and offer value fields.
   • Check your offer value before confirming it! If you have entered an incorrect amount then click the Cancel button under the increment and offer value fields, and then enter the correct offer value before continuing from step 2 above.
4. Your new offer will appear immediately in the timeline.