INCREASING POPULARITY OF HOUSE AUCTIONS AS AN EFFECTIVE SELLING OPTION

Selling at auction is becoming an increasingly popular avenue and is fast catching up with the more conventional ‘for sale’ route for home owners. In the recent past the houses under the hammer environment was an area of the property market that was often reserved for run down and unglamorous properties that people wanted to get off their hands with a quick sale. Dawsons senior director Chris Hope believes that attitudes have changed dramatically when it comes to utilising auctions. “In the current market auctions are now a specific method of selling you house – a change from 20 or 30 years ago when it was a dumping ground if you could not be sold by private treaty,” he said. “It’s nowadays a successful way of selling properties and getting the full price the market will pay. It is now not about a property which is battered and bruised, which no-one wants to buy.” In highlighting the change in attitude Dawsons have one particular property coming up for auction at The Marriott on November 25th which clearly demonstrates the shift in attitudes. The lot comprises of a semi-detached property located in the Gower village of Penmaen. It is situated on the cliff top with uninterrupted views over Three Cliffs, Tor and Oxwich Bays. The three-bedroom property has a guide price of £250,000. “We are expecting to have a lot of interest especially because of the spectacular views it offers and this is a prime example of what goes to auction in the current climate,” added Chris. Dawsons Auction manager Julie Lawry adds, “To get the right market level, auction is the best way to gauge market prices. So basically, with an auction you get true market value and it is simple process. Added to that, auction is by far the most successful way to sell houses within a fixed time frame which clients may need. “And with regards the Penmaen property, these types of quality property and position, tend to sell for more at auction than if sellers just deal with buyers on a ‘one-to-one’ basis.”