Top tips on what to do before bidding at Auction
It is so important to do your due diligence before you take the plunge and bid at an auction, so here are some top tips from our Auction Company EIG:
When considering purchasing a particular property at auction it is essential that you prepare by doing your due diligence research in advance. It is your responsibility to be completely satisfied with the property before the auction so you can make an educated decision whether to bid for the property or not and what your maximum bid would be.
Doing your due diligence includes:
- Viewing the property
- Ascertaining the likely sale price
- Reading the legal pack
Then, if it is a property you wish to pursue it is prudent to:
- Instruct a property survey
- Ask your solicitor to review the legal pack
- Viewing a property
It is important to view every property you are interested in prior to the auction. Contact the auctioneer to arrange the viewing which may be arranged as fixed time slots for group viewings (open house viewings) or individually arranged.
It may be useful at this point to bring an experienced builder or knowledgeable friend with you to the property who can spot any potential problems that would need to be included in your financial calculations or may mean the property is no longer of interest to you.
When looking at buying any property it is advisable to view it at least twice, during the daytime and at night which may be just a ‘drive by’ viewing. The plans and photographs published in the catalogue are there to aid identification of the property only, the plans may not be to scale so you need to verify them.
What to take to a property viewing:
- Camera
- Tape measure (preferably a laser as much quicker especially if viewing is busy)
- Notepad or iPad
- Torch
- Binoculars (to check roof, gutter and chimney)
- Portable ladder (to access loft space)
- Suitable footwear (you may need to climb!)
- Contact details of the auctioneer and research notes for further investigation in the area e.g. an unidentified building(Important #: Don’t forget to follow up and ask questions that arise from the viewing)
Points to evaluate:
- Leasehold or freehold property, any additional ground rent or service charges?
- Parking, garden, access and property boundaries?
- Neighbours, traffic and noise?
- Nearest shops and public transport?
- Heating, insulation, plumbing, electrics?
- Council tax band, energy efficiency rating?
- Any structural issues or recent extensions?
- Vacant or tenanted and history of the property?
Viewing in an unfamiliar area?
If an area is new to you, speak to the auctioneer and ask as many questions as you can. It is also advisable to look online at crime sites, google the address and street, using some of the best online platforms, for example:
- www.checkmystreet.co.uk – average rentals
- www.streetcheck.co.uk – nearest schools
- www.checkmyarea.com – area profile
- www.police.uk – crime rate
- www.rightmove.co.uk – for rental and sales prices
- www.gov.uk/find-government-property - find government owned property
- www.gov.uk/private-renting - private renting
Still interested?
If you decide that you are still interested in the property after viewing it, then now is the time to contact your solicitor and arrange a property survey in advance of the auction.
