10 Reasons to Purchase Property at Auctions

Tips when buying at property auctions

I visited many property auctions going back around 15 years ago. There was a time that every month through the post I would regularly receive property auction catalogues and I was always excited to see the listings close to where I lived and be tempted in by the low guide prices! Most times the guide price, though a good % below the average price for the property, would sell for more.

Property auctions were really trending thanks to television shows such as Homes Under the Hammer, Grand Designs and Location, Location, Location. During the 2,000’s and on to 2010’s these shows pulled in millions of viewers and will have helped countless people purchase homes via auction. Many an afternoon, I’m sure many of our readers too, will have been spent with a cup of tea and biscuits whilst watching a couple on television purchase their dream home at auction and tackle the renovation – It was always all about how much they paid in full and what it was worth in the end, right!?

What type of property are sold at auctions?

It was very much regarded that property at auction were those to do up or those with problems, the stock that could not sell at the estate agency and instead needed motivated cash buyers / specialists. Also, those property which were repossession thus in control of banks looking to sell quickly to release capital would regularly be seen as lots in auction catalogues.

To be honest you can find any and all property at auctions. This means from homes that are ready to move in to, maybe the vendor wants a quick sale, through to land with planning permission.

Why purchase at a property auction?

  1. You are likely to make a purchase below market value.
  2. You can still carry out our own surveys / viewing / checks prior to bidding at auction.
  3. You can find all property types from renovations to new builds including building plots, agricultural land, commercial property and more.
  4. You will acquire ownership faster (usually within 30 to 60 days).
  5. You will find property that might not be listed with estate agencies / property portal websites.
  6. Legal paperwork is mostly done upfront for the potential buyer, prior to bidding, to view saving time.
  7. The price you get the property for is the price you will pay (commissions depending to auction agent). No chance to be gazumped.
  8. You don’t have to be a cash buyer only as lenders will also provide finance for auction purchases.
  9. Property auctions are frequent and over most parts of the UK and there are many property sold this way so you have plenty of choice.
  10. You can also make pre-auction offers and purchase prior to the auction running.

 

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

to let sign 2025
Breaking News

Thames Valley Rents Surge to £1,448 – 6% Above UK Average

Average rents in Thames Valley reach £1,448 pcm, nearly 6% above the UK average, new report reveals Rents in Thames Valley reach £1,448 pcm, nearly 6% above the UK average of £1,369 Wokingham and Reading highlighted as key areas of interest for renters and investors Renters in Thames Valley are more likely to be older than anywhere else in…
Read More
Breaking News

July’s HMRC Property Transactions Report

Headline statistics Headline statistics from the latest transactions data include: the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in July 2026 is 96,710, 1% lower than July 2025 and 2% lower than June 2026 the provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in July 2026 is 106,620, 5% higher than July…
Read More
Breaking News

Almost half of homesellers hit by broken chains

The latest research from House Buyer Bureau has revealed that almost half of home sellers who form part of a property chain have seen that chain break during the sales process, with buyers changing their minds and pulling out by far the most common reason why.   House Buyer Bureau commissioned an independent survey of 1,072…
Read More
Social Housing 2019
Breaking News

Only 1 in 10 new-build homebuyers happy

Just 1 in 10 new-build buyers got the home they wanted before moving in   The latest research from UK Property Development (UKPD) has found that just 11% of people who purchased a new-build home in the past two years were able to personalise their property exactly as they wanted before moving in. As a…
Read More
Breaking News

One-third of tenant income in the UK goes on rent

Lomond’s Summer 2026 Quarterly Insights report reveals tenants now spend an average of 32.7% of their yearly income on rent UK average rents rise to £1,369pcm, increasing by +4.3% in the same period last year Average rent in London reaches £2,418pcm, 76% higher than the UK average The average age of renters across the UK is now 31.5   Lomond, the UK’s leading network of lettings and sales agents, has…
Read More
Finance

Six in 10 UK businesses look to adapt operations in response to extreme heat

37 per cent have increased heat-related investment, with 23 per cent considering it Cooling equipment, including air conditioning and ventilation, is the most common investment priority (28 per cent) Barclays anonymised client data shows that air conditioning suppliers saw cash inflows increase by 4.3 per cent year-on-year into Barclays accounts Consumers claim 25.1°C is their…
Read More