BKM Real Estate

What BKM Real Estate does

BKM Real Estate (also operating as BKM Auctions) is a family-owned, privately held auction and real estate services firm that originated in 1977 and has served Northeast Indiana under the BKM Real Estate brand since 1991. The company runs a dual-channel model combining traditional real estate brokerage (listings, showings, transactions) with an event-driven auction business covering residential and commercial real estate, estate liquidations, truck and equipment, personal property, toys/collectibles, consignments, sheriff sales, and specialized lines such as Federal Firearms License, receiverships, senior relocation, cash buy-outs, and business liquidation.

Its underlying technology stack is integration-led rather than proprietary: BKM books online-only auctions through three third-party bidding platforms (Proxibid, Bidspotter, HiBid) and lists real estate via Indiana Regional MLS, with no first-party auction software, app, or API of its own. Distribution spans four Indiana offices (Ossian headquarters with an adjacent Auction Complex, Decatur affiliated with Krueckeberg Auction & Realty, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis) plus active auction scheduling in Ohio. Marketing relies on the company website, email newsletters, and SMS text alerts.

Revenue is purely transactional. BKM earns traditional real estate sales commissions, auction commissions charged to sellers, tiered buyer's premiums (5–12% depending on lot value, or 10–15% on per-item personal property auctions), a $35 title processing fee per titled item, and a 3% credit card convenience fee. The customer base is a long tail of individual estate sellers, downsizing households, equipment sellers, business liquidators, and property owners across Northeast Indiana and adjacent Ohio markets, with documented testimonial usage by individual clients such as Ron & Sara Nelson.

Name

BKM Real Estate

Legal name

BKM Real Estate

Website

https://bkmrealestate.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BKM Real Estate is a family-owned Indiana firm (since 1977, operating as BKM since 1991) that runs real estate brokerage and a multi-category auction business—estates, equipment, personal property, consignment, and firearms—serving Northeast Indiana and adjacent Ohio markets via four offices and online bidding platforms Proxibid, Bidspotter, and HiBid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Auction and Brokerage Services

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Real Estate Property Managers (53131), Title Abstract and Settlement Offices (541191)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAJAEAB

Commercial Real Estate Auctions

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Auction Services

SECONDARYBPAJAEAA

Residential Real Estate Auctions

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Auction Services

SECONDARYBPAJAEAG

Bankruptcy, Probate & Estate Property Auctions

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Auction Services

Keywords

• Real estate auctions
• Estate liquidation services
• Property management
• Equipment auction services
• Real estate brokerage

Headquarters

HQ city

Bluffton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Auction Commission Revenue: BKM Real Estate earns revenue through auction commissions, charging sellers a fee for conducting auctions of real estate, personal property, equipment, and estates. The company also earns buyer's premiums as a percentage of final sale prices.
2. Buyer's Premium: Buyers pay a premium on top of the hammer price: 12% up to $5,000, 9% for $5,001-$15,000, 7% for $15,001-$40,000, and 5% for $40,001+. For personal property auctions, buyer's premiums range from 10-15% per item.
3. Real Estate Sales Commission: Traditional real estate sales commissions for listing and selling residential and commercial properties in Northeast Indiana.
4. Title and Documentation Fees: $35 title processing fee per titled item sold at auction. Additional fees for documentation processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BKM Real Estate is a full-service auction and real estate firm that conducts traditional real estate sales and listings alongside multiple auction formats including real estate auctions, estate auctions, truck and equipment auctions, consignment auctions, sheriff sales, and business liquidation. The company also provides property management, appraisal, receivership, senior relocation, and cash buy-out services for Northeast Indiana and surrounding markets.

Product overview

BKM Real Estate operates as a full-service auction and real estate firm serving Northeast Indiana since 1991. The company offers a dual-channel approach combining traditional real estate sales with auction-based transactions. The core offerings consist of Real Estate Sales and Real Estate Auctions as primary services, supplemented by multiple specialized auction categories including Estate Auctions, Online Auction Services, Truck & Equipment Auctions, and Consignment Services. The company also provides ancillary services such as Appraisal Services, Business Liquidation, Asset Recovery & Storage, Senior Relocation, Cash Buy-Outs, Receiverships, Property Management, and Federal Firearms License services. The Online Auction Services module integrates with third-party bidding platforms (Proxibid, Bidspotter, HiBid) to enable remote online bidding across all auction categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Real Estate Sales Traditional real estate sales services for residential and commercial properties in Northeast Indiana, including property listings, showings, and transactions for individual homeowners and property investors.
• Real Estate Auctions Auction-based real estate sales where properties are sold to the highest bidder, offering faster transactions with competitive bidding for homeowners, land owners, and property investors seeking quick liquidation.
• Estate Auctions Specialized auction services for estate liquidations, including household items, antiques, and personal property from estates, serving families and individuals settling estates who need professional liquidation services.
• Online Auction Services Digital auction platform enabling remote bidding on various items through integration with third-party bidding platforms (Proxibid, Bidspotter, HiBid), reaching nationwide buyers for personal property, equipment, and specialty items.
• Truck & Equipment Auctions Auctions specializing in commercial vehicles, construction equipment, trailers, and related assets with online bidding capabilities, serving businesses needing to liquidate equipment and reach wide buyer base.
• Consignment Services Services allowing individuals to consign items for auction sale, turning personal property, collectibles, vehicles, and equipment into cash through the auction marketplace.
• Sheriff Sales Auction services for properties being sold through sheriff sales, including distressed properties and bank-owned real estate.
• Appraisal Services Professional property valuation services to determine fair market value of real estate and personal property for sellers, estate executors, and businesses.
• Business Liquidation Comprehensive liquidation services for businesses closing operations, including inventory, equipment, and assets, serving business owners and operators.
• Asset Recovery & Storage Services for locating, recovering, and storing assets prior to auction sale for individuals and businesses needing pre-sale logistics support.
• Senior Relocation Specialized services helping seniors downsize by managing property sales and estate liquidations, addressing the emotional and logistical needs of older adults transitioning from their homes.
• Cash Buy-Outs Immediate cash offers for properties, providing sellers with quick liquidity without traditional listing timelines, for homeowners needing fast property disposal.
• Receiverships Court-appointed receivership services for managing and liquidating properties under legal supervision, serving courts, lenders, and parties in legal proceedings.
• Property Management Ongoing management services for real estate properties including tenant relations and maintenance, serving property owners needing day-to-day management.
• Federal Firearms License Services Specialized auction services for firearms and related items under federal firearms license, addressing the regulatory and compliance requirements for selling firearms at auction.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ProxibidcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party online auction bidding platform used by BKM Real Estate for online-only auctions. Allows bidders to view catalogs and place bids remotely.
• BidspottercoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party online auction bidding platform used by BKM Real Estate. Enables online auction participation for buyers nationwide.
• HibidcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party online auction bidding platform hosting BKM auctions. Provides catalog viewing and online bidding capabilities.
• Key AuctioneersminorOthersRelated auction company shown in footer logo, appears to be affiliated company or brand partner.
• Krueckeberg Auction & RealtycoreOthersRelated auction company; Decatur office is associated with Krueckeberg Auction & Realty. Auctioneers include Josh Krueckeberg and Trevor Gray with licenses under this entity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mecum Auctions: Largest collector-vehicle auction house in the U.S., running live and online auctions across many asset categories. Adjacent incumbent in the broader auction-services space.
• Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers: Global heavy equipment and truck auction house operating IronPlanet and other online platforms. Overlaps with BKM's Truck & Equipment Auctions line at vastly greater scale.
• Williams & Williams (Xome): National real estate auction firm running live and online auctions for residential, bank-owned, and foreclosure properties. Comparable real estate auction service but at national scale.
• Auction.com: Largest online residential real estate auction marketplace in the U.S., operated by Auction.com (Altisource). Overlaps with BKM's real estate auction offering at far greater scale and reach.

Direct peers

• Kurtz Auction & Realty: Midwest-based auction and realty firm running real estate, estate, equipment, and consignment auctions. Directly comparable service mix and target customer profile to BKM.
• Schrader Real Estate & Auction Company: Columbia City, Indiana-based real estate and auction firm offering residential, commercial, farm, and estate auctions plus traditional brokerage. Highly comparable in service mix and regional Midwest focus.
• United Country Real Estate / United Country Auction Services: National franchise network specializing in rural, farm, estate, and residential real estate auctions alongside traditional brokerage. Closely comparable business model with similar auction + realty dual-channel offering.
• Hall's Auction & Real Estate: Regional auction and real estate firm specializing in estates, personal property, equipment, and residential real estate auctions. Highly comparable in service breadth and family-owned Midwestern profile.
• McCurdy Auction, LLC: Midwest auction firm running real estate, farm, estate, and equipment auctions via online and live formats. Comparable service portfolio and rural/suburban target market.

Others

• HiBid (Auction Flex): Auction technology platform hosting catalogs and online bidding for auctioneers including BKM. Functions as a key infrastructure provider for BKM's online auctions rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BKM Real Estate