Going, going… Rachel Brown from Wilsons Auctions explains how the popularity of property auctions continues to grow It’s rare to talk to someone who has a genuine passion for their role and the company they work for. The few that do – such as Rachel Brown, the Property Department Manager for Wilsons Auctions – can’t hide how much they enjoy their job and exude an energy which is infectious. She looks after all aspects of property auctions between the company’s Belfast and Dalry – in Scotland – sites in what she describes as a “particularly hectic but hugely enjoyable” role. That’s because she could be selling property from anywhere in the world; perhaps a house in rural Northern Ireland one minute and then a luxury apartment in Spain the next. It’s no wonder she has won the moniker of “The Phileas Fogg of Property” and the “International Woman of Property” from her colleagues. But while the to-do list might be long, it’s the variety in her job that Rachel enjoys. “We tend to focus on a broad spectrum of property sales,” she said. “We don’t just have private clients but have long-standing relationships with asset managers, estate agents and the government. That means we handle everything from residential to commercial property, development land and even churches.” The latter comes up in conversation because Wilsons Auctions are currently selling a monastery situated 10 miles from Glasgow in its own two acres of land. “We could have property through auction at anything from £1,000 to £1m from a diverse database of vendors. That was the specific reason the vendors of the monastery came to us, as we could offer a varied range of buyers.” It also helps that the auctions are held every three weeks, the most regular of any auction house across the UK and Ireland. “That gives our clients access to more property,” Rachel said. So, how does the process of buying and selling at auction actually work? “It’s exceptionally simple. If you’re selling then all we need to do is go out and appraise the property, agree a guide price with you, engage a solicitor to produce a legal pack to allow us to transact
Lorren Mullen, Rachel Brown, Dave Pennick, Cheryl McAulay and Charlotte Ritchie of WIlsons Auctions
the sale and have sight of some photographic ID. The vendor can then relax and let us do the hard work.
“That is why selling property at auction has become much more popular over the last few years and will continue to do so in the future.”
“If you’re a buyer then we’ll happily take you through the process from start to finish; from initial enquiries, registering to bid and even helping to bid at the auction.”
Rachel has also big plans to continue growing the property business in the future. “I’m really proud to work under the Wilsons Auctions brand and see the business expanding across the rest of the UK.”
And there are a number of ways to bid, from being there in person to commission bidding – where the auctioneer has your highest bid – to online bidding where you can log on and bid from the comfort of your own home. If you are successful in your bid then you leave a deposit – of at least £3,000 - and then pay the rest normally before 28 days. For Rachel, the buzz of the auction room is hard to beat. “It’s really exciting on auction night and I’d really say to people to come and see the facilities so they can get a feel for the place. We have the luxury of having our own bespoke auction rooms, which competitors may not.” A look at recent auction results, would also quickly snuff out any thoughts that only distressed property is sold at auction. “That is a myth that we can easily dispel. If you look at the results we’ve had we have exceeded valuations under a competitive bidding environment and created value for sellers.
Ideally she’d like to see a property department in Newcastle upon Tyne, Maidstone and Dublin, a move which would give the business complete coverage across the UK and Ireland. Having experienced Rachel’s passion and energy, there’s little doubt that expansion will happen, and fast.