Auction Buyers Guide

Every bidder must first create an account. This is very simple and we only ask for your email address to do so. To register, simply visit our auctions page, click the link in the top right hand corner of the page and complete the online form. Once you have registered, you will be able to search, download legal documents, arrange site viewings and contact the agent and the solicitors if you have queries on the property. 

We are committed to carrying out identity checks on all bidders so you will need to be authorised before you can bid. Don’t worry, the process is quick and easy, you’ll need to complete a short form, as well as provide either a passport MRZ number or driving licence number. Verification is carried out online and results are immediate. This check will leave a soft footprint on your credit report (but it should not affect your credit rating). Click on Dashboard after login in - it will be on the upper right-hand side of the screen. This will take you to your profile. On the left-hand side, you will see the 'Identify Verification' tab. Click on that and complete the form - you will need either your driving license or passport to hand.

Once you have been fully authorised you will be free to place a bid.

To place a bid, you will have to follow a few steps, which we have designed to be as user-friendly as possible

Traditional Auction Bid

Insert details of your solicitor/conveyancer – we need this information so that we can ensure a smooth exchange/completion process if you win the bid. We will only contact your solicitor/conveyancer if you are the successful bidder.

 Insert payment details – If you are the successful bidder, we will charge you a ‘Buyer Fee’. This amount is split between a buyer fee and part payment of the purchase price. Check the “Buyer Information - Fees” document in the documents section of each property for details of the buyer fee. We will only charge you if you are the successful bidder.

 You will then have by 12pm UK time the next business day to transfer the remainder of deposit (being 10% of the purchase price less the amount part paid towards the purchase price - you will be contacted by the agent as to how to do this) and submit all signed documents.

We encourage responsible bidding. Remember that if you are the successful bidder, you will be legally obliged to pay the full amount of the purchase price. With that in mind, we strongly recommend that you have funds in place before placing your bid and only bid up to your limit.

Conditional Auction Bid

Insert payment details – If you are the successful bidder, we will charge you a Reservation Fee which is usually a percentage of the purchase price subject to a minimum. All fees are listed on the property listing, if you are unsure about any fees, please contact us directly.

Where applicable, you may be required to pay any outstanding amounts of the reservation fee immediately at the end of the auction, if your bid is successful. You should check the Reservation Contract document contained as part of the legal documents for each property.

We will only charge you if you are the successful bidder. You then have 20 working days to exchange on the property (unless otherwise agreed with the seller).

You will then be required to confirm the terms and submit your bid!

We encourage responsible bidding. Remember that if you do not exchange on or before the expiry of the 20 working day period, you will forfeit the entirety of any fees applicable and will be liable for the full amount of the reservation fee.

The seller has the freedom to choose how long their auction period lasts. A countdown timer is attached to each property, so bidders can see how long is left of the auction. Whenever a bid is placed in the final 5 minutes, the auction timer will reset to 5 minutes. This is to allow other parties a fair chance to place another bid. The auction will end when the countdown hits zero.

Of course! You are free to bid as many times as you feel comfortable. You will have to go through the bidding steps, so make sure you place that bid in time! We will notify you by email if you've been outbid.

Yes. When a bid is placed, we will automatically snap the next bid to the minimum increment. Please note that the auctioneer may vary the minimum increment depending on the property, so not every property will have the same minimum increment

There is an automatic proxy bidding system in place. You can place your maximum highest bid at any point during the auction, the system will then automatically bid incrementally until that maximum bid has been reached. We have a time extension mechanism in place to give you time to put another bid in - whenever a bid is placed in the final 5 minutes, the auction timer will reset to 5 minutes. This is to allow other parties a fair chance to place another bid

If your maximum bid is immediately outbid, it means that another bidder has a higher maximum bid set up. Please increase your maximum bid if you wish to win the auction.

In the case where two or more people have placed their bids for the same amount, the earliest bidder will be listed as the highest bidder.

Yes, you are free to download and print the legal documents. We recommend you use a solicitor or conveyancer to review the legal documents, but that is entirely your decision.

The legal pack should include an official copy from the Land Registry. This document will specify who owns the property and whether there are any charges or mortgages that need to be cleared. Your solicitor can assist you with this information.

Please contact our office. Unless we specify, please don’t just turn up at the property - you might not get a chance to view it and could be left disappointed!

Fees are specified on the individual property listing and are charged immediately at the end of the auction period. If you are unsure of any fees, please contact us before bidding.

Firstly, congratulations! Secondly the process is slightly different depending on whether you are successful in a traditional online auction or conditional online auction:

Traditional Online Auction

Exchange has now occurred.

We will contact you if you are the successful bidder and will charge you any fees and deposit that is applicable.   

This is held in a secure client account as agent for the seller as a holding deposit.

You should check the “Buyer Information - Fees” document contained as part of the legal documents for each property.

You then have by 12pm UK time the next business day to: pay the remainder of 10% of the purchase price (the deposit amount due on exchange) and submit all signed sale documentation and provide supporting documents (ID document and proof of funds) for the agent to do a full AML check.

You should contact your solicitor immediately after winning the bid (we will also contact you and your solicitor with next steps and further information).

If you do not carry out these steps by 12pm UK time the next business day, you may lose the entire amount of the holding deposit. You will still need to pay the full purchase price.

Conditional Online Auction

If you are the successful bidder we will automatically charge you the reservation fee (using the payment details provided). Please check the reservation fees on the individual property listing.  We will only charge you if you are the successful bidder

You should check the Reservation Contract document contained as part of the legal documents for each property. A reservation agreement is produced at the end of the auction and the auctioneer is authorised to sign this on behalf of both the successful buyer and the seller to evidence that an exclusivity agreement is in place between both parties.

You then have 20 working days to exchange on the property (unless otherwise agreed with the seller).

You will also need to submit all signed sale documentation and provide supporting documents (ID document and proof of funds) for the agent to carry out the full AML check.

We encourage responsible bidding. Remember that if you do not exchange on or before the expiry of the 20 working day period, you will forfeit the entirety of the reservation fee.