How to sell your home at auction

There are several good reasons for selling a property at auction. If you’re looking for a speedy sale and certainty that a buyer won’t pull out of your purchase then selling at auction could be a great option for you. Once the online auction ends, the buyer with the winning bid exchanges contracts and is legally bound to place a 10% deposit, with completion then taking place four to six weeks later – so it’s an efficient process.

To help you decide whether selling at auction is right for your property and, if so, how to go about it, we have put together this step-by-step guide of things to consider.

Is your property suitable for sale by auction?

Most properties can be sold at auction, so long as a realistic reserve price has been agreed. That said, some types of property are naturally more suitable than others.

For example, builders and property developers often frequent auctions, looking for properties in need of modernisation or refurbishment. If the property you’re trying to sell falls within this category then you may well achieve a higher price at auction than you would via private treaty, due to its highly competitive atmosphere.

Auctions are also an ideal environment in which to sell properties difficult to value. By agreeing a realistic reserve price, the auction process allows bidders to compete with one another until they meet the value they deem your property to be worth. This competitive bidding generally results in the property achieving its true market price.

Receive advice from an experienced auctioneer

We offer property advice online, at your home or over the telephone, so arranging a property valuation is simple. If you’re not sure whether to sell your home via private treaty or auction, our expert First for Auctions team can offer you advice on what’s best for your property and personal circumstances.

Our expert team will confirm the expected value of your home, plus further details about how we’re able to market your property in the run-up to the auction.

Marketing is key

In order to achieve the highest possible price for your property, we know that the right buyer needs to be in the online auction room when it’s sold! Therefore, we work hard on your behalf to ensure that the widest range of buyers are targeted in the run-up to your property’s auction date.

We are able to compound interest prior to the auction through a comprehensive range of national advertising which includes exposure on our website and property portals including Rightmove and Zoopla, exposure in our auctions catalogue and property newsletters - sent to buyers we think are a great match to your property, plus online exposure across our key social media channels.

Consider your reserve price carefully

A ‘reserve price’ is the lowest price you will be willing to agree a sale upon. This figure is kept private between you and our auctions team, so if all the offers on the auction day are lower than you wish to achieve, our auctioneer will withdraw the property from the sale and we can discuss alternative ways of achieving you the price you need.

However, once a buyer offers your reserve price or more, you will be committed to seeing the sale through, so make sure you are comfortable with your agreed reserve price.

First for Auctions will help you establish the right reserve price for your home – this can depend on the urgency of your sale, the condition of your property and whether there are any similar properties available on the same auction date.

The auction day itself

Once bidding has ended on your online property auction, a binding contract is effected.

After this point, there can be no change or negotiation. The purchaser will be asked to produce identification and a deposit for 10% of the purchase price. Completion will usually take place between four and six weeks after the auction, at which time the remaining balance must be paid.

So, if you’re considering selling your property by auction and would like to find out more about the process and how we can help you achieve the best price, get in touch here.