The Modern Method of Auction
Forget months of waiting, broken chains, and buyers who vanish. Howsold's Modern Method of Auction delivers a committed buyer, a 56-day target completion, and zero seller fees — on every Howsold sale.
Our AI-powered tool analyses live sold prices and local market data to give you an indicative estimate.
Indicative estimate only. Based on comparable sold prices and AI analysis — AI can make mistakes. Not a formal valuation or professional appraisal.
Understanding your options
The property market has been stuck in the past for too long. Here's how the options compare.
The "usual" way — estate agent, blind offers, long wait
Fast and binding — but only works for cash buyers
Powered by Howsold — speed, certainty, zero seller fees
The process
A clear, structured process with no surprises. You know exactly what happens and when.
Tell us about your property. We agree a reserve price, set the auction date, and begin marketing immediately — Rightmove, portals, and our off-market investor network.
Interested buyers bid online in a transparent auction-style format. You see all bids in real-time.
The winning buyer pays a non-refundable reservation fee — their financial commitment to the purchase. This is what makes fall-throughs so rare compared to private treaty sales.
The buyer has 56 days to complete — enough time for mortgages, surveys, and conveyancing. We keep both parties informed and moving throughout. You deal with a named person, not a call centre.
Keys handed over, funds transferred. A clean, committed sale — faster than private treaty, more accessible than traditional auction, with £0 Howsold seller fees.
How the three methods stack up side by side
| Feature | Private Sale | Traditional Auction | Howsold MMA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completion time | 8–16 weeks | 28 days | 56-day target |
| Buyer commitment | None until exchange | Full 10% deposit | Reservation fee day one |
| Mortgage buyers | Yes | Rarely | Yes |
| Fall-through risk | High | Very low | Very low |
| Transparent bidding | No | Yes | Yes |
| Seller fees | Estate agent % | Auction house fees | £0 Howsold fees |
| Support | Agent dependent | Auction house only | Named person, direct line |
Sellers remain responsible for their own legal and conveyancing costs, typically £1,000–£2,500. Individual results vary. Not financial advice.
Common questions
Still have questions? Call us on 0151 203 8283 — a named person will answer.
Not in the traditional sense. It's online, transparent, and far more accessible — mortgage buyers are welcome and have 56 days to complete. Think of it as auction-style competitive bidding with modern flexibility, without the restrictive 28-day cash-only format.
The reservation fee is the buyer's financial commitment to the purchase. It's non-refundable, which dramatically reduces time-wasting and fall-throughs. It ensures only serious buyers enter the process — protecting you from the frustration of a sale collapsing months down the line.
The reservation fee is non-refundable, making withdrawal very unlikely — the financial penalty is a powerful deterrent. If it does occur, we can immediately approach other interested buyers from the auction process or our network. In our experience, we have regularly found replacement buyers and completed sales in these situations.
Yes — and this is one of the key advantages over traditional auctions. The 56-day window gives buyers ample time to arrange a mortgage, commission a survey, and complete all legal work. You access a far wider pool of buyers than a cash-only auction.
Zero Howsold seller fees — every sale. The buyer pays the reservation fee. Sellers remain responsible for their own legal and conveyancing costs, typically £1,000–£2,500, which would apply under any method of sale.
In most cases yes — competitive bidding drives pricing toward genuine market value. Combined with zero seller fees, your net proceeds are typically higher than a traditional agent sale. Individual results will vary and are not guaranteed.
We target exchange and completion within 56 days from a buyer reserving the property. Marketing typically runs for 2–4 weeks before auction day, though over 70% of our properties attract a buyer before auction day through our network. Total process: typically 10–14 weeks from instruction to completion, though individual timelines can vary.
Enter your postcode for an indicative estimate based on comparable sold prices in your area. No obligation, no commitment.
Our AI-powered tool analyses live sold prices and local market data to give you an indicative estimate.
Indicative estimate only. Based on comparable sold prices and AI analysis — AI can make mistakes. Not a formal valuation or professional appraisal.