| **You are free to reprint this article free of | | | | people, most likely in a hotel or conference centre. |
| charge as long as you include the resource box at | | | | It's similar to a large composite, only on a smaller |
| the end. | | | | scale. |
| Did you know that every year thousands of UK | | | | Small composite - Offer between 2 to 5 lots and |
| properties are sold atsignificantly below market | | | | will attract upto 5bidders. The likely venue is likely |
| value? The majority of these properties | | | | to be somewhere like a pub,restaurant, church or |
| arereleased through property auctions where | | | | small hotel. Small auctions will generally followa |
| regular savings of between 10%to 40% are | | | | theme - for example the properties involved may |
| available to market value. Even so, property | | | | have been part of abigger group (such as a |
| auctionscontinue to be used only by the elite and | | | | portfolio of properties owned by one |
| for the astute buyer/investorthis generates a | | | | company)who believe the best returns will be |
| fantastic opportunity to secure a dream home | | | | obtained by offering the propertiesfor sale |
| goodinvestment at bargain basement prices. | | | | individually. |
| For example, at a recent auction a studio flat was | | | | Single lot - usually for a property that is in great |
| sold in London for amere £9,000. In another, | | | | demand. |
| a 2 bed flat right on the south coast with | | | | IDENTIFYING AUCTIONS |
| amarket value of upto £100,000 sold for | | | | Auctions aren't as easy to find as you might |
| just £14,000 at auction. Andthose are just a | | | | expect. Traditionallyauctioneers get more than |
| couple of examples of the bargains that people do | | | | enough interest from in-the-know regulars sothey |
| findat property auctions. However it's also | | | | don't need to spend much money on costly |
| important to know the potentialissues and | | | | advertising to the public. |
| problems when dealing with auctions and to | | | | Here's where the list of auction houses that |
| understand exactlywhere the best deals are | | | | comes with this guidebecomes invaluable. There |
| available. If you're interested in getting intothe | | | | are details on each auction house includingwhich |
| world of property auctions the below tips & tricks | | | | area the auction house covers. Go through the list |
| of the tradeshould be very helpful. | | | | and identifyones, which cover the areas you are |
| TYPES OF PROPERTIES FOUND AT AUCTIONS | | | | interested in. Then: |
| My Online Powerpack Newsletter Subscriber Site | | | | Phone the auction house and ask them when their |
| UK Property Auctions Home Contact | | | | next auction is likelyto be held. |
| The following is a guide to help anyone unlock the | | | | Ask them to put you on a mailing list, which |
| value availablethrough UK Property Auctions. | | | | details forthcomingauctions. Some may charge a |
| Thousands of homes are available at anygiven | | | | small fee for this, others offer the servicefor |
| time with property auctions, most of which are | | | | free. |
| sold at prices farbelow market value. However it's | | | | Prepare a list of questions for each auction house |
| important to know the potential issuesand | | | | you contact. Theseshould include: |
| problems when dealing with auctions and to | | | | Do you have a mailing list? |
| understand where thebiggest bargains are | | | | How long do you keep people on your mailing lists |
| available. Details of thousands of | | | | and can you let meknow if I am about to be |
| cheap,repossessed & auction properties are also | | | | removed? |
| available at Property Auction | | | | What type of properties do you auction? |
| Bargains. | | | | It may also be worth subscribing to certain |
| Its perfectly reasonable to expect to pay | | | | pedigree property magazines. |
| between 15% to 40% less for aproperty at | | | | These include Property Auction News, Under The |
| auction than you would for the same property | | | | Hammer and Property Week. |
| through anestate agent. For example, at a recent | | | | Local newsagents usually carry these. |
| auction a studio flat was sold in | | | | THE INFORMATION AN AUCTIONEER WILL |
| London for a mere £9,000. In another, a 2 | | | | PROVIDE |
| bed flat right on the southcoast with a market | | | | Obviously they will provide the details of the |
| value of upto £100,000 sold for just | | | | properties going underthe hammer at their |
| £14,000 atauction. And those are just a | | | | auctions. These tend to be more detailed than |
| couple of examples of the many bargainsthat | | | | thesnippets given by estate agents (there are |
| people find at property auctions each and every | | | | laws such as the Property |
| week. | | | | Misdescriptions Act 1991 which make it illegal for |
| TYPES OF PROPERTIES FOUND AT AUCTIONS | | | | auctioneers to givefalse information about a |
| Repossessions - Sadly for the previous owners, | | | | property). On the whole, for any given lotthey will |
| repossessions can oftenbe picked up at bargain | | | | provide: |
| prices through auctions. | | | | Location |
| Investment properties - Properties, which are | | | | Construction details |
| valued due to the returnon investment that they | | | | Tenure (e.g. freehold) |
| provide. Includes everything from individualoffice | | | | Accommodation details (e.g. 3 bedrooms etc) |
| shop investments to blocks of flats. | | | | Notes (e.g. refurbishment required) |
| Rundown properties - Auctions are great places | | | | Viewing details |
| to pickup properties thatare unsaleable in their | | | | Solicitor details |
| current state. The attraction here is if you canget | | | | Auctioneers usually publish a catalogue with the lot |
| such a property in a good location at a cheap | | | | details - this is abook detailing the various |
| price it's perfectlypossible to refurbish and resell | | | | properties available at auction. These willusually be |
| on at handsome profits. Indeed thereare | | | | available a month or less prior to the auction date. |
| individuals and organisations that make their living | | | | IDENTIFYING REPOSSESSIONS |
| doing this. | | | | Some banks/building societies can be sheepish |
| Unsaleable properties come under the following | | | | about revealing that theyare selling repossessed |
| categories: | | | | properties so you need to be alert in theauction |
| Derelict or in derelict areas. | | | | for clues. Auction adverts may reveal that a bank |
| Subject to severe disrepair. | | | | may be theseller of a number of properties, or |
| Subject to local authority notices. | | | | the auction catalogue may state aphrase such as |
| Subject to closing orders. | | | | 'on instruction of a liquidator' or something similar |
| Offered with ambiguous legal titles. | | | | -this should tell you that the property being sold is |
| Sold without access. | | | | a repossession. Ifyou are unsure, ask the |
| Sold with major fencing, paving, drainage or other | | | | auctioneer directly if the lot being offered isa |
| similarresponsibilities. | | | | repossession. |
| Sold subject to covenants or restrictions, which | | | | FINDING PROPERTY AUCTIONS NEAR YOU |
| prevent normal use. | | | | There are several thousands of properties |
| Exceptional properties - Include ones that have | | | | available for auction at anygiven time all over the |
| historical meaning andplots which 'get in the way' | | | | UK. It's important to understand how |
| of major development projects. | | | | auctionswork before purchasing a property from |
| TYPES OF AUCTION | | | | one. To find out where you canget hold of a list |
| Large composite - Tend to have over 100 lots. | | | | of UK property auction venues and websites of |
| Expect well over 300people to attend and the | | | | auctionproperties for sale take a look at my |
| venue to be held in a large hotel or | | | | resource box below. I wish youevery success in |
| conferencecentre. Large composite auctions are | | | | finding your dream bargain home at auction |
| likely to be run by a singleauction house. The type | | | | *************************** |
| of property may be restricted to just one | | | | Find 30,000 Dirt Cheap UK Properties At Auction |
| (e.g.vacant possession houses, factories, | | | | Immediately: |
| warehouses etc) or may be a mixtureof different | | | | Subscribe to the Online Powerpack newsletter & |
| types. | | | | discover the biggestdiscounts available anywhere |
| Medium composite - Have between 5 to 100 lots | | | | for just about everything! |
| and will typically attractbetween 200 to 500 | | | | |