Under what circumstance can an auctioneer withdraw property at an absolute auction?

In an absolute auction, the auctioneer is typically obligated to sell the property to the highest bidder without any reserve price. This means that the property must be sold, regardless of the final bid amount. However, if no bids have been received within a reasonable time, the auctioneer may withdraw the property from the auction. This is because an absolute auction generally implies a commitment to sell, but if there is insufficient interest (evidenced by a lack of bids), it would be reasonable for the auctioneer to decide not to proceed with selling an item that is not drawing any interest.

Other circumstances, such as high bids exceeding the reserve price or claims from previous bidders, do not apply in an absolute auction scenario as they would typically be relevant in a reserve auction format. In absolute auctions, the focus is on the bidding process itself and ensuring that at least some level of engagement occurs to justify moving forward with the sale.