Buying at a UK property auction, explained
Short, plain-English guides with diagrams. Each one links to live lots it applies to.
Guide price vs reserve price: what's the difference?
The guide price is a published estimate; the reserve is the seller's private minimum. How the two are linked, and why guides can change.
2 min readAll guides
Traditional vs conditional auctions explained
When are you legally committed? How exchange on the fall of the hammer differs from a reservation agreement, and why reservation fees are rarely refunded.
2 min read
How to read an auction legal pack
What is inside an auction legal pack, which special conditions to watch for, and the questions to ask a solicitor before you bid.
2 min read
Financing an auction purchase in 28 days
Cash, bridging loans and mortgages: how buyers fund an auction purchase within a short completion period, and what to arrange before bidding.
2 min read
Every fee you pay when you win at auction
Deposit, buyer's premium, reservation fees, search costs, legal fees and VAT: what you may pay on top of the hammer price when you win.
2 min read
Stamp duty, LBTT and LTT for auction buyers
Stamp duty rates for auction buyers in England and Northern Ireland, plus LBTT in Scotland and LTT in Wales, as of October 2026.
2 min read
Viewings, surveys and checks before auction day
How to check an auction property before you bid: viewings, surveys, sold-price comparisons, planning, flood risk and questions for the auctioneer.
2 min read
How to bid at a property auction
In the room, online, timed, proxy or telephone: how each bidding method works, and the registration and ID checks you need to pass first.
2 min read
What happens if you can't complete
Failing to complete an auction purchase can cost you your deposit and more. What standard auction conditions allow, and how to reduce the risk.
2 min read
Unsold lots, withdrawals and buying before auction
Why lots go unsold or are withdrawn, and how offers before or after auction day work, usually on the same terms as the auction itself.
2 min readVideos
Our "Bought at Auction" video series is on the way.
General information, not financial or legal advice.