The Scottish system should reduce the chance of a bidding war but I think it’s possible. In theory the advertised price (known as the upset) is the minimum acceptable price the seller will take. So if you have made the highest bid over that price the seller would probably accept it. They are not obliged to accept any offer but the bidder is obliged to honour their bid if it is accepted. I don’t think there is anything to stop a seller rejecting all bids and readvertising at a higher price or extending the date for bids but I suspect it’s seen as bad form.
It’s many years since I bought and sold in Scotland but in those days estate agents were rare and Solicitors were in control. They would have been unlikely to risk their reputation by seeking to raise the price. It may be different nowadays as estate agents are now in the market and are probably going more wheeling and dealing.
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