Faced with the difficult decision to sell her childhood family home and property to help fund her mother’s care, Christine Mackay needed certainty at a time of significant emotional and financial pressure.
Her parents’ four-bedroom mid-terrace period property had been a major part of her life since she was just 18 months old. However, following her father’s passing, the property was in need of updating, and when her mother’s health deteriorated, she moved from the hospital into a care home. The family needed to sell the house to help fund her ongoing care.
With care costs continuing and time becoming increasingly important, Christine needed a sales method that could provide both speed and certainty. Following a recommendation from an estate agent, she chose to sell the property at auction.
Christine explained: “The thing we had at the back of our mind was that mum’s cash to pay for her care would be running out soon, so we didn’t want to hang around.”
She added, “Time was of the essence. That was the main reason why we went with the auction. We wanted to know that when the hammer came down, it was sold.”
For Christine and her family, the auction offered a clear timetable and the reassurance of a legally binding sale once the hammer fell, helping to remove uncertainty during an already emotional period.
Like many long-held family homes, the property was ready for a new chapter and offered buyers an opportunity to modernise it to their own tastes.
Despite being confident in the decision, Christine admitted she had mixed feelings about watching the auction itself.
“I was in two minds about watching it because it was our family home, so it meant a lot to us,” she said. “But I knew I would regret not watching it.”
When bidding began, the property started with a guide price of £130,000 before attracting strong interest and eventually selling for £179,000.
While the final price exceeded expectations, Christine said the greatest relief came from knowing the sale had been secured and her mother’s future care arrangements could be supported.
For Christine and her sister, it was a significant moment when the bidding passed the reserve price, providing reassurance that the funds needed for their mother’s care would be available.
When the hammer finally fell at £179,000, Christine said: “We were over the moon with the result. It was a really good experience, and I did shed a tear of happiness as well as relief.”
Throughout the process, Christine praised the support she received from Olivia Boulting, the auctioneer who handled the sale of her parents’ property.
“Olivia held our hands the whole way along,” Christine said. “She was excellent. Even when there was a little hiccup towards completion, she sorted it out. I can’t speak highly enough of Olivia and all the office team, too.
Looking back, Christine is also pleased to see the future the property has been given.
“My mum was also very pleased with the auction result and what’s happened to the house since,” she explained. “Somebody’s bought it and they’ve done a really great job modernising it. It looks lovely.”
As a result of her experience, Christine said she would recommend auction as a method of sale to others facing similar circumstances.
“It was a real pleasure to work with Christine and her family during what was understandably an emotional time.
They needed a sale within a clear timeframe so they could plan for their mother’s ongoing care, and we were pleased to help them achieve that certainty.
Christine’s experience highlights how an auction can provide a practical solution during significant life events.
Whether a property has been inherited, requires renovation or needs to be sold within a defined timescale, an auction can offer a transparent process, competitive bidding and the reassurance of a secure sale.
I am delighted that Christine was happy with the service we provided and that she felt supported throughout every stage of the process.”
Olivia Boulting, NAVA Propertymark Advisory Panel member
While every property sale is different, an auction can be particularly effective for inherited homes, properties requiring refurbishment, probate sales and situations where a quick, transparent and secure sale is important.
If Christine’s experience has convinced you that an auction could be an option worth considering, Propertymark’s Find an Expert tool can help you find an accredited and qualified auctioneer in your area: Find a property agent near you | Propertymark.
