Outbid But Not Outwitted

So after much fanfare, excitement and “yippee-ness” I got outbid.

That is the heart-breaking simplicity of buying property at auction: you win or you lose.

There’s no in-between, there’s no negotiations and pondering over whether the seller will take a higher or lower offer – you put your hand in the air and whoever keeps it there the longest wins.

Anyway, I’ve cut to the chase – I’ve told you the end, at the beginning…but there is more to this story:

Until now, I have kept the property in question under wraps – but here it is:

It’s a top floor, one bed flat located in Bloomsbury in dated condition.

It was a probate sale (although the sellers’ hadn’t yet got probate and had entered it into auction for sale), it came with minimal legal information, it had an extra fee payable of 1% of the hammer price to the sellers,  (for their legal costs) and it came with the potential of an eye-watering estimated major works bill of £12k for the replacement of the heating and hot water system.

If I had not fallen in love with the flat I would have run a mile.  But love does not work in such logical or rational ways.

And so I took the alternative tack – I did whatever I could to try and secure the flat.  I tried to offer before auction (which was not of interest due to the sale being by executors) and then when I found out about the potential £12k bill for the heating replacement I knew I had to try even harder.

I knew I had to get myself onto a level playing field.  I felt it was my “duty” to let every other bidder know about the potential bill.

So I emailed the auction house and seller’s solicitor prior to auction about the potential £12k bill.  I got no reply.

Ignoring me, will not work.

So I called in reinforcements: we will call him “Mr D”.  Mr D is a seasoned property expert and experienced auction buyer.

Let me set the scene:

The auction is being held in a Central London location in a function room which fits approximately 150 people.  At the front of the room is a raised stage area with a rostrum which is where the auctioneer stands.  The auctioneer is flanked by auction house staff who are on the look out for potential bidders.  The rest of the room is full of rows of seats facing the front – rather like a cinema, but with function room chairs.  Along the walls, people are standing to survey the action.  The room has a bustling-quiet. All eyes and ears are on the auctioneer.  If you talk, it’s only because you have to and you whisper in hushed tones.  The auctioneer is the only one who is “allowed” to talk audibly.

There is an air of impatience – two previous lots have been hotly contested and the auction is running behind time schedule.  There is also an edge of anticipation and nervous energy.

My lot is about to be called next.

I feel physically sick.

I am shaking.

I scan the room to see who else may be here to bid on my lot. I look down at my upper bid price.  I remind myself I am not to bid a penny more…

Mr D is stood to my right, Mr I (I had extra reinforcements) is stood to my left.

The auctioneer is about to start the calling of bids for my lot.

Mr D waves his arm in the air to attract the auctioneer’s attention.

The auctioneer is looking the other way and does not see Mr D.

The auction house staff see Mr D is flailing his arm further now and nudge the auctioneer to grant Mr D the “right” to talk.

Mr D’s cut-glass, booming tones reverberate around the room:

“I am very sorry, I was not here for the introductory announcements.  Please can you tell me if there is any further clarification on the potential £12,000 bill which has been estimated for the replacement of the heating at this flat”.

Every face in the room turns to look at Mr D.

This is a rare occurrence.

NOBODY ever normally talks to the auctioneer, let alone questions him.

The auctioneer issues a steady reply: “I do not have any further information”.

Mr D persists: “I received an email from the contracts manager that these works are estimated at £12,000, that is a lot of money”.

The auctioneer fixes Mr D with a firm gaze.  “I do not have any further information, the legal pack has been available and you should check that”.

Mr D continues: “I have checked the legal pack and there is information contained that the works will happen, but the costs are not there”

The auctioneer unwavering: “The problem with works in these communal blocks is that you don’t know when or if the works will ever happen, it may be 5 years, 2 years or 6 months.  I do not have any further information, but if you are not sure then I would advise you not to bid”.

“Thank you, it’s just such a lot of money, but I understand”.  Mr D concludes.

Unfazed by such a rare interjection, the auctioneer begins the calling of bids for the lot.

All eyes return to the auctioneer.

He calls for an opening bid.  There is a muted silence.  A pause.

Then a hand is slowly raised and the bidding commences at £300k.

Within minutes the price has reached £364k.  There is a slight lull, before another bidder enters the fray.

At £374k the bidding slows. I turn to face the wall.  The bidding has now gone over my limit.

And then it starts again.

At £382k the property is about to be sold.

At this point I should leave the room.  I should exit.

But I call the other half who is at work.  “It’s about to be sold at £382k, shall I bid?” I urgently whisper down the phone while watching the auctioneer.

“What, but that is over our budget!” He exclaims.

“I know” I reply, “but we really want it and it’s about to be sold – shall I bid?”

“Yes, OK, I’ve got to go I’m in a meeting” Click. The phone goes dead.

I raise my hand in the air and bid £384k.

Straight away the other bidder (stood at the opposite end of the room) comes back with a higher bid.

It’s now £385k.

This is now over over budget, over retail price and makes no sense.  I really should leave the room.

The auctioneer turns to me and fixes me with a questioning stare.

Mr I, to my left is in a trance – he is caught under the auctioneer’s spell.

Mr D to my right, shrugs his shoulders and whispers: “If you love it and you really want it, bid one more…but this guy is going to bid again, you are NOT going to buy this.  He is going to go all the way.  But bid again, just once, to know you will have no regrets”.

I raise my hand and bid again: £386k

Immediately the other bidder retaliates with a higher bid: £387k.

I look over to the other bidder at the far side of the room.  I study him.  I think he’s Chinese.  I can’t say for sure.

But I know he’s here to bid and buy at whatever price.  And I cannot do that.  I will not do that.

I signal to the auctioneer that I am out.  And I leave the room.

I cannot leave quickly enough.

The excitement, the hopes, the dreams, the ‘what-ifs’, maybes and all planned-for and hoped-for things are not going to happen. Well, at least, not for now.

BUT

Today is another day and the start of another new adventure..