Property auctions

Buying at property auctions is not just for the experienced investor but is also now a preferred route for those looking for their ideal property, due to the accessibility and benefits that the process offers. Using the Modern Method of Auction to buy your property you can enjoy all of the following benefits:

Virtual Viewing

Quick and easy bidding

Bid online from the comfort of your home, 24 hours a day.
Mortgages

Buy With A Mortgage

It is possible to buy at auction with a mortgage having between 28 to 56 days to complete.
Covid Secure

Security

Gazumping or re-negotiation is no longer a possibility.

YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

Your initial mortgage appointment is without obligation. Embrace Financial Services normally charge a fee for their services; however, it is payable only on the submission of your mortgage application. The fee will depend on your circumstances but the standard fee is £549. Complex cases usually attract a higher fee. Embrace Financial Services will discuss and agree the fee with you prior to submitting any mortgage application.

A step by step guide to how it works

Buying your property through auction has never been easier or quicker thanks to the Modern Method of Auction.

Traditionally a market limited to cash ready investors, the Modern Method has evolved auctions to be inclusive to a wider variety of buyers and sellers. Namely, it offers fixed yet realistic timescales (an average 28-56 days) to accommodate the typical residential buyer looking to arrange a mortgage. With the Modern Method, the successful buyer can reserve their property until exchange of contracts. This allows buyers and sellers alike the time to arrange their finances and carry out due diligence.

Search

Search through all of our properties up for auction using our property auction search bar at the top of the page.

View

Once you’ve found and viewed your property of choice, our auction team will be in touch to discuss your feedback and potential interest in bidding for the property.

Register

When you are ready to place a bid, you will need to register by creating an account online or by speaking with one of our Auction Specialists. An active account allows you access to further important information, watch lists and the ability to bid.

Buy Information Pack/ Due Diligence

Once registered, you need to do your due diligence before proceeding. To help you, each property has a Buyers Information Pack and we highly recommend that, as well as viewing the property, you also review the information contained within this pack fully, before bidding. It’s also advisable to review the Buyers Information Pack with your solicitor.

Bidding

You can bid online, in-branch, over the phone or at one of our public events. Our online system allows you to view the current bid, the amount of bidders and a live countdown to the end of the auction. You can enter your bids manually or allow our ‘Maximum Bidding’ function to do this for you. Set the minimum and maximum price you’re willing to spend and we will bid on your behalf.

End of auction - reservation process

Through the Modern Method, as the successful buyer, you will be required to pay either a Reservation Fee or Reservation Deposit. The property is then reserved exclusively to you. You are then required to unconditionally exchange contracts and complete the transaction within 56 days.

Through the Traditional Method contracts are exchanged immediately, with completion taking place within 28 days. Complete security is provided but this method is more suited to the property professional. We will require a 10% deposit paid on a non refundable basis and in some cases a reservation fee as well.

Once you have reserved your property, we will go through an identification and verification process with you and you will need to instruct a solicitor to act on your behalf. The sales file will then be passed to our Sales Progression Team, who will provide updates throughout the process. You will have 28 to 56 days in which to complete the purchase.

Property auction FAQs

The most frequently asked questions when it comes to buying a property through auction.

What is the Reservation Fee / Deposit?

A Reservation Fee or Reservation Deposit is paid by the buyer to give their commitment to purchase from the seller. It also reserves the property exclusively to them during the reservation period.

The Reservation Fee is non-refundable and paid in addition to the agreed purchase price. The payment is later used to cover the seller’s fees and the buyer should take into consideration the Reservation Fee when deciding the total amount they wish to pay for the property. The Reservation Fee paid is typically 4.5% (of the purchase price) including VAT and is subject to a minimum of £6,600 including VAT. The Reservation fee does not form part of the purchase price.

The Reservation Deposit is paid in the instances that the seller agrees to pay the fees. It is non-refundable and forms part of the agreed purchase price. The Reservation Deposit paid is typically 4.2% (of the purchase price), and is subject to a minimum of £6,000. The Reservation Deposit forms part of the final purchase price.

How quickly do I have to buy the property?

Depending on which auction option that has been selected, you will have between 28 – 56 days to complete on the property. If you are buying through the Modern Method of Auction, there is enough time to buy with residential auction finance.

How do I place bids?

Bids can be placed through the website 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, or if you would prefer to speak to someone you can make a bid over the telephone to a member of The Auction Department.

Can I place bids outside of the auction process?

If you would like to place a bid on a property before the auction has finished it will be dealt with on an individual basis. By law we must put all offers to our clients. It is then up to the seller if they want to consider an early bid. In this scenario a non refundable Reservation Fee/Deposit is still payable and the relevant Terms & Conditions of the auction still apply.

What happens if the reserve price is not met?

If the reserve price is not met during the auction, we will communicate with the seller and any interested parties to see if a sale can still be achieved. If you are interested in an unsold lot please contact a member of The Auction Department.

Will paying a Reservation Fee increase my Stamp Duty liability?

Current HMRC policy is that the chargeable consideration (monies or monies worth) for a land transaction is what has been given (either directly or indirectly) in order to acquire the subject - matter of the transaction, by the purchaser or a person connected with them. This includes fees which have to be paid in order to acquire the property. This means that whatever the buyer pays, it will form part of the purchase price for the property and it will be included in their liability for stamp duty.

Can Reservation Fees be included in my mortgage application?

You should seek advice from your proposed mortgage provider but it is unlikely that it will be considered as part of the value of the property for the mortgage calculation.

Do the fees go to the auction house or the seller?

The Reservation Fee paid is used to cover the Auction House and Estate Agent fees.

If I do not agree to pay the fee can I still make an offer?

Yes and we are under an obligation to pass on all offers, unless the seller has instructed the agent in writing that offers of a particular type are not to be advised to them. It will be for the agent to arrange payment of the fee with the seller.

What is a Buyer Information Pack?

A Buyers Information Pack is a range of documents prepared before the property is sold via auction to allow the interested party to do the required due-diligence before purchasing. This pack typically consists of the Legal Title Documents, Local Authority Search, Water and Drainage Search and the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). EPCs contain information on the properties energy use and typical energy costs. They also recommend how to reduce energy use and save money. Once the property is sold, the pack is forwarded to the acting solicitors.

The successful Buyer is required to pay £200 including VAT for the preparation of the Buyer Information Pack where provided.