_________ is the minimum bid that a seller will accept on the sale of property at an auction.

The term "reserve amount" refers to the minimum bid that a seller is willing to accept when selling a property at auction. This concept is crucial in auction settings where the seller does not wish to part with their property unless certain financial expectations are met. By establishing a reserve amount, the seller sets a threshold, ensuring that bids below this amount will not result in a sale. This practice provides a safety net for the seller and can encourage higher bids from potential buyers, knowing that their offer must meet or exceed the reserve to finalize the deal.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the minimum acceptable bid in an auction context. An absolute bid would imply that the property must be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of the bid amount, while a bottom line bid typically refers to the lowest price a seller will accept in general negotiations, not specifically in an auction format. The term sealed amount is usually related to sealed bids, where bidders submit their proposals privately; this does not directly represent a minimum threshold set by the seller for auction sales. These distinctions highlight why the reserve amount is the most appropriate choice for describing the minimum bid accepted during an auction.