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User Guide

Title

Estate Agents, Auctioneers and Surveyors

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User Guide

Title

Guide to Selling

  • paragraph

    Why Symonds & Sampson? When advising on sales, Symonds & Sampson will always consider whether a property is more suitable for sale by auction, by private treaty or by tender. All methods of sale are available with Symonds & Sampson. Our auction and private treaty/tender departments effectively work as one team, ensuring that advice is always impartial, professional and carefully considered.

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    Symonds & Sampson auctions offer:

     - Advertising in national, trade, regional and local press with seven newspapers covered every week.

    - A full colour catalogue that can also be downloaded from our website 

    - On-line access to eight websites 

    - An average success rate approaching 95%, i.e. the strong likelihood of a sale on sale day or just after.

    - The peace of mind that the property will be offered in a professional manner from an auctioneer with years of rostrum experience unrivalled in the South of England. 

    - Auctioneers who are available to talk to prospective buyers. 

    - Every lot receives the same care, attention and thoroughness.

    -  The knowledge that with a realistic reserve price the property will achieve the best possible price on sale day. 

    - Symonds & Sampson are market leaders in property auctions in the South of England and can provide far greater exposure to the market with sales covering five counties; Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Devon with two or threes sales per month often taking place.

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User Guide

Title

Buying at Auction

  • paragraph

    Why Buy At Auction?

    Buying at auction is a fast and efficient way to secure your next property. You will be able to access the legal documents prior to the auction, contracts exchange on the fall of the hammer and completion follows 28 days later.

    An increasingly popular method of sale, our dedicated auction team will be on hand to guide you at every step.

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    The advantages of buying at AuctionThere are many advantages of buying property at auction and we have created this guide to highlight the key benefits of this method and help you decide if it is the right route for you.
    SpeedMany people choose to buy at auction because of the speed offered by this method. Buying via the private treaty route can be laborious, which is not ideal for those who are ready to move quickly. By contrast, purchasing a property at auction results in a much faster completion time - usually within four weeks of the auction.

    StraightforwardBuying property at auction is straightforward but here are some things you must remember if you are thinking of bidding on a property:
    • Make sure you have downloaded and read the legal pack and passed it to your solicitor to inspect. The legal pack contains important information about the property, the contract, and the Special Conditions of Sale. The legal pack for each lot can be downloaded by clicking here
    • Familiarise yourself with the Common Auction Conditions
    • Register to bid ahead of the auction. You will need to provide proof of ID and address and pre-authorise a £10,000 hold on a payment card. You can register to bid by clicking here
    • Make sure you have got your solicitor's details to hand
    • Be prepared to pay a 10% deposit and the Buyer's Administration Fee should your bid be successful
    Transparency & Equal OpportunityOne of the main advantages of auctions is that they create a level playing field, whereby everyone is bidding openly, transparently, and competitively at the same time.

    ReliableWhen purchasers use the Private Treaty method, the buying process often gets delayed, and deals can simply fall through due to miscommunication and changes to the circumstances of those involved in the transaction. That is not the case with auctions. If your bid has been successful, all you need to do is provide the 10% deposit on your desired property on the day of the auction and pay the rest of the balance within, usually, 20 working days.

    A Wide Range of PropertiesThere is a range of properties for sale by auction, ranging from country houses, properties for renovation, building plots, commercial investments, and agricultural land. You can see all the available lots on our website.

    Competitive PricingAnother common reason people choose to buy at auction is the wealth of keenly priced properties on offer which could be difficult to find elsewhere. Auctions are an excellent place for those interested in value-add and change-of-use opportunities, which often result in attractive returns.

    Things to Consider When Buying at AuctionBuying at auction is exciting and rewarding but there are a few things to keep in mind before you start.
    • Have your finances in place. Since you'll have to pay the 10% deposit straight away and the remainder not too long after, it's best to make any financial arrangements before auction day so that you know you can make payments on time. There will be penalties if you fail to complete and you will likely lose the 10% deposit.
    • Set yourself a budget. Auctions can be exciting, but you don't want to get carried away and find yourself in a bidding war spending more than you can afford. Instead, set yourself a budget for the day and stick to it.
    • You might not be the highest bidder. Do not be downhearted if you are not successful. It is important to be realistic and enter the auction knowing that you might not be the winning bidder.
    • If you are successful, the property is yours. If you are successful on auction day, contracts are exchanged between the seller and buyer immediately. This means that you are both locked into the transaction, and neither party can change their mind without risking penalties. So, it is important that you are certain you want to buy the property you are bidding on.
    • Be prepared with surveyors and solicitors. Buying at auction is much more fast-paced compared to the Private Treaty method. Typically, the auction catalogue will be available online six weeks before auction day, so in this time you will need to arrange a viewing, a survey and have your solicitor check the Auction Legal Packs for properties you're interested in.
    Why Should I Buy Property at Auction with Symonds & Sampson?Symonds & Sampson is the West Country's market leader in residential, agricultural, and commercial property auctions, known for its high-quality service and integrity.
    • Experienced auctioneers - We've been selling property for over 160 years meaning we know how to conduct a successful auction, with both our auction team having an average sales success rate of over 90%
    • In-room auctions - We give you the opportunity to choose how you wish to bid and offer four options: online, by telephone, by proxy or in the room
    • Trusted by sellers - Being the West Country's leading property auctioneer, our auction catalogues include properties across six counties meaning you have the greatest opportunity of finding the right property for you
    If you have any questions about how the auction works, we will be very pleased to talk to you otherwise we look forward to seeing you on auction day and wish you the very best of luck!
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User Guide

Title

Professional Services

  • service

    We dont just sell houses...

    Lettings

    Our experienced and qualified Letting and Managing Agents assist clients with the successful letting of property of all sizes throughout Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. If you are considering letting a property, be it one you already own or a buy to let investment, it's important to find an agent you can trust. Our experienced team of dedicated letting and managing agents act for private clients, landowners, investment clients and property companies throughout the region, building trust and maintaining close communication whilst providing a professional service to our clients. We listen to and understand our client's objectives and motives, our staff are frequently commended for using their experience to deal quickly and efficiently with even the most challenging situations.

    Rural & Agricultural

    Since 1858, we have been providing advice and professional services to our clients. As times have changed, so have we, ensuring that we invest in the technology and training to be able to deliver a comprehensive range of services that extend well beyond selling and letting farms, land, property, machinery, fodder, livestock and equipment. Building trust and maintaining close communication are essential parts of the service we offer to our clients. All of our farm agents come from farming backgrounds, and we are quick therefore to understand our client's objectives and motives, our staff are frequently commended for using their experience to deal quickly and efficiently with even the most challenging situations.

    Surveys & Valuations

    Whether you are buying, building, renovating or restoring a property, our surveyors have experience with properties of all types and ages and constantly assess the implication of any new legislation to implement any action required.

    Commercial

    Our commercial agents are experienced in handling the sale and letting of many types of commercial property, including retail, leisure, industrial and office sectors as well as the management of residential and mixed-use blocks and estates.

    Planning

    With a team of dedicated planning specialists within our residential, commercial, rural and agricultural departments we have a wealth of experience within the planning system throughout the region.

    Development Land & New Homes

    Our agents offer honest, professional advice and have a strong track record of success within all areas of planning and development. They are nimble in identifying development opportunities and have built strong relationships with local authorities, land owners and other development professionals.


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User Guide

Title

Symonds & Sampson Auction Team

  • Introduction

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    One of the UK's leading independent residential and commercial property auctioneers, our regular collective auctions feature all types of freehold and leasehold property from houses, barns, building plots and development land, commercial property, farms, land, and often more unusual properties across the south of England.

  • Team Member

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    Mark Lewis FRICS FAAV FNAVA
    Senior Partner - Auctioneer 

    Mark is one of the founding partners of the modern Symonds & Sampson and has been with the firm since 1990, based in our Sturminster Newton Office. Before joining the firm, Mark studied at the Royal Agricultural University and worked in Cheshire before returning to his roots.

    He is the Senior Partner, Property Auctioneer, and a Registered RICS Valuer. In his early career as an auctioneer, Mark sold live and deadstock and fine art before becoming one of the UK's most successful and experienced property auctioneers. He also edits and designs our award-winning magazine Country Matters.

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    Meredith Wallis MNAEA MNAVA
    Head of Auctions 

    Meredith joined Symonds & Sampson in 2014, initially in our Residential Sales department, but more recently progressing through our Property Auctions to become Head of Auctions and Auctions Partner.She studied at Bournemouth University before working for a time in digital marketing.

    Since joining our auctions department, Meredith has taken responsibility for all aspect of the auction process, guiding clients through the process when selling their properties across the South and West of England - and further afield. She coordinates every step of our renowned monthly property auctions. Meredith is a Member of the NAEA and an Associate of the NAAV (National Association of Auctioneers and Valuers).

  • Team Member

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    Graham Barton MRICS

    Consultant Auctioneer & Surveyor

    Graham has been an auctioneer for over 40 years. After studying Estate Management in Southampton, he joined R & C Snell Auctioneers (which merged with Symonds & Sampson in 2001), working in the Trinity Square office and establishing his reputation as a qualified Chartered Surveyor and Auctioneer until the mid-1990s. He 'came home', rejoining Symonds & Sampson in 2021, working from our Axminster Office. 

    Decked out in his trademark striped blazer, he has made countless appearances on national television as the favoured West County auctioneer on the BBC's 'Homes Under the Hammer'. He has sold thousands of residential, commercial, and development properties and many lots of agricultural and amenity land, amassing sales of an estimated half a billion pounds! Graham knows the West Country inside out-there is hardly a road, never mind a town or village, that he's not visited in his professional travels.
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    Disclaimer

    The content on this Microsite has been uploaded by Symonds & Sampson - Auctions, Sturminster Newton. Rightmove Group Limited makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the content, any queries should be sent directly to Symonds & Sampson - Auctions, Sturminster Newton. Where properties are displayed on a page, this comprises a property advertisement. Rightmove Group Limited who operate the website Rightmove.co.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the advertisement or any linked or associated information, and Rightmove has no control over the content. These property advertisements do not constitute property particulars. The information is provided and maintained by Symonds & Sampson - Auctions, Sturminster Newton. Please contact the agent directly to obtain any information which may be available under the terms of The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 or the Home Report if in relation to a residential property in Scotland and if you have any query over the content.

    *Guide Price: An indication of a seller's minimum expectation at auction and given as a “Guide Price” or a range of “Guide Prices”. This is not necessarily the figure a property will sell for and is subject to change prior to the auction.

    Reserve Price: Each auction property will be subject to a “Reserve Price” below which the property cannot be sold at auction. Normally the “Reserve Price” will be set within the range of “Guide Prices” or no more than 10% above a single “Guide Price.”

    Auction Fees: The purchase of this property may include associated fees not listed here, as it is to be sold via auction. To find out more about the fees associated with this property please call Symonds & Sampson - Auctions, Sturminster Newton on +441258473766.