Selling property at auction in the UK

We are the impartial guide for people selling at auction. We do not run the sales and we are not tied to one auction house. We explain how it works, then point you to the right house for your property.

How selling at auction works

Your property is entered into a catalogue with a guide price, marketed to buyers, and sold on a set date to the highest bidder above your reserve. When the hammer falls the sale is binding, so the buyer cannot renegotiate or pull out, and completion usually follows within about a month.

Is auction right for your property?

Auction tends to earn its place with property the open market finds hard: an inherited or probate home, a tenanted flat, something unmodernised, or any sale that needs a certain date. If a straightforward home would do better with an estate agent, we will tell you that too.

National, regional or local auction houses

National houses reach the widest pool of buyers and market heavily. Local houses know their area closely and are often the right home for tenanted, probate or unmodernised property. Regional houses sit between the two. The right choice depends on your property, not on which house is largest.

Common questions

Is selling at auction right for my property?

Auction suits property the open market finds hard: inherited or probate homes, tenanted flats, unmodernised houses, or any sale that needs a date you can rely on. It will not suit every property, and a straightforward home may do better with an estate agent. We will give you an honest view.

What is the difference between the guide price and the reserve?

The guide price is a marketing figure, set to attract bidders and usually below the reserve. The reserve is the confidential figure below which your property will not sell. They are not the same thing, and the difference matters.

How long does an auction sale take?

The sale is binding when the hammer falls, and completion usually follows within about a month. That fixed timetable is one of the main reasons sellers choose auction.

What does it cost to sell at auction?

Costs vary by auction house and typically include an entry fee and a commission on the sale. Some houses run modern-method auctions where the buyer pays the fee instead. We explain the options so you can compare fairly.