Auction Action with Ned Allison
When the fervour of auction fever takes hold, little can compare to the thrill of the chase and net effect.
The auctioneer plays a pivotal role in determining the outcome, as readers will discover:
Ned Allison
Title: Auctioneer
Company: Harcourts Grenadier
Love of the sport — What do you love most about selling a property at auction?
The energy in the room and exceeding owners’ expectations are things I really enjoy about auctions. For most people, the sale and purchase of a home is not something they do often and it is one of the largest transactions they will make. It’s a real privilege to be part of that and conduct the process.
Experience pays — How long have you been an auctioneer?
I’ve been auctioneering for the past seven years. I was selling real estate briefly for a year or two before making the transition to auctioneering.
Fully qualified — What qualifications did you undergo to become a licensed auctioneer?
Very simple: all you need is a real estate licence. The real learning comes from spending time with good auctioneers and learning all you can from them.
Vendor appreciation society — What is your best advice for vendors?
Sell by auction! By not selling at auction, you remove that possibility of a true premium price through transparent competition, plus all the benefits of an unconditional cash sale.
Bid to win — What is your best advice for bidders?
Bid aggressively and mix up the increments to give the impression you have a lot of money to put other bidders off. Double bidding can be very effective, which takes a bit of know-how, but involves placing a second bid on top of yourself to put it out of reach. This is best used right at the end when you can tell that the other bidders are pretty pushed and things are slowing down.
Trophy wall — What is your proudest achievement as an auctioneer?
Winning the National Auctioneer title a couple of times and Harcourts international Auctioneer of the Year last year are wins that I’m very grateful for.
Case of the jitters — What is your most nerve-wracking auctioneer moment?
Probably those first few auctions, which are pretty terrifying when you’re brand new to the craft.
Best result — What is your biggest margin above reserve?
Not too sure, but probably somewhere in excess of a million dollars. I find the tighter results where you must work hard to bridge a gap between buyer and seller are some of the most rewarding.
