Interview with Clive Emson, Chairman, Clive Emson Auctioneers
- Hello Clive and thanks for speaking with makeoffer.co.uk. You’re a very familiar face in UK property and land auctions, but can you start by telling us a bit about your background and how you came into this sector?
I first took the rostrum in an antiques sale in a provincial saleroom in Hythe Kent when I was 25 –some 40 years ago! The core business of the firm was ,as usual in those days, Estate Agency
- And what’s the story with Clive Emson Auctioneers – when did you start the company and how have you seen it develop since then?
I started my first business, Clive Emson & Co Estate Agents and Auctioneers in 1973 and during the next 10 years opened three further offices in Dymchurch, New Romney and Lydd with a sale room in Hythe.
In 1983 I sold the business to Ward and Partners and they sold to Prudential Property Services in 1986 when I became the Regional Professional Services Director and National Property Auctioneer. As Regional Director it was obvious that the losses could not be sustained and the management of staff and understanding of the business by the London Directors became increasingly frustrating. I resigned from Prudential and set up Regional Property Services Limited in October 1989. Within the first six weeks it became apparent that a “personal” approach would be more successful so the Company has traded since then as Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers. Over the 21 years we have expanded from Kent to Cornwall becoming the largest Regional Property Auctioneers in the Country and ranked 5th in the UK Residential Property Auction league tables.
- Have you seen a change in the type of property being sold at auction over this time?
Very much so. Initially it was distressed and damaged property but now we deal with all types where demand outstrips supply. Whereas auction was “a sale of the last resort ”it is now recognised as the best method of achieving the best price, and quickly, for the right type of lot.
- And what about the people attending, it’s traditionally been thought of as the domain for the experienced investor but have you seen that change?
Because of the character of the lots on offer the type of buyer has also changed. We see more and more “private” people in the sale room where there is a good selection of owner occupier and buy to let properties. Programmes such as Homes under the Hammer have heightened awareness of auction as a straight forward method of buying.
- So what defines the value of property auctions to you compared to the more traditional routes of selling through estate agents?
Openness where the demand is likely to result in a number of potential buyers – bidding in an open forum is far more effective than “sealed bids” where the losers inevitably suspect underhand dealings.
For Trustees, Companies, Statutory Bodies and the like there can be no question at a later date of the property being “undersold”
Speed is another important factor – most sales(ie exchange of contracts) are arranged within 6 weeks of taking instructions.
- In the digital era that we now live in people are familiar with the concept of online auctions through sites like eBay, so what development have you seen here with regards to property auctions?
This is constantly under review. Certainty needs to be guaranteed and pre-lodged deposits in cleared funds need to be arranged – so on line bidding is no different, in reality, from the traditional telephone bidding.
I believe the internet is a useful tool in marketing and gives buyers the ability to search, book viewings and down load legal packs at any time24/7
- Where do you see property auctions being in 10 years’ time – will we continue to see growth and people wanting to physically attend these events?
The atmosphere and participation in the sale room is unlikely to be shelved for many years to come
- So what role do you think online sites like makeoffer.co.uk can play in supporting the property auctions sector?
Anything to promote auctioneers and auctions as an effective alternative for buying and selling is at auction is welcome
- What advice would you offer to those looking to start using property auctions, as buyers or sellers, first time?
For sellers be realistic on price – auctioneers will not be used to “test the market”.. We know what sells and do not need to waste time and money (usually the Clients! )seeing if the property is saleable- .
For buyers – do your homework and make all the enquiries you would normally make before exchanging contracts. Attend an auction or two to get a feel for the process. Be prepared to pay a “fair” price – it is a myth that all auction lots are “cheap”
- And finally, what’s the strangest property that you’ve ever seen sold at auction in your time?
There are just too many to mention – I have sold Napolionic forts, public loos, nudist camps, a railway bridge, house of ill-repute, underground reservoirs, bunkers and radar stations etc., etc.
- Clive, it’s been great speaking with you, thanks again.
About the interviewee:
Clive Emson is as he says the founder of one of the most successful property auction houses in the country and as such his views on the market are essential for a good understanding of where property auctions are at and where they are going.
An Interview with Property Journalist Graham Norwood
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011Harry Ballin of makeoffer.co.uk interviews Graham Norwood, Property Journalist and Author.
Hello Graham and thanks for chatting with us today. You’re a very well-known figure in property journalism, but how did you get into this career?
I was a business journalist at the BBC until 2000 but wanted to get out of London and into freelance writing. I always like property as a subject – this was my chance to write about it.
What made you want to specialise in property journalism in particular?
Property was just ‘getting big’ back in 2000. The Sunday Times pioneered a property supplement, the first TV shows were emerging, and what used to be a boring subject about housing was becoming a lifestyle issue of interest to far more people than ever before.
And as well as your external work, you have your own blog with www.propertynewshound.com. What areas are you trying to cover and what audiences are you speaking to?
Mainstream property journalism is a bit skewed – it’s directed by properties that look good (for pictures) or are promoted heavily (by PRs representing the poshest and best-funded agents and developers). My blog tries to puncture the odd spin balloon from time to time, and also looks at some issues too unsexy to be covered by the mainstream media.
How have you seen media coverage of the property market change over your time working as a journalist?
Dramatic changes indeed. From 2000 to 2006 property, especially home ownership, was a ‘must have’ for lifestyle and investment purposes. Now it has become very much ‘the place where I live and where I want to be comfortable’ and not a Sarah Beeny-style project or an alternative to a decent pension. That’s good, if a bit painful to adapt to.
“The Daily Express flip-flopping from ‘house price crash’ on day one (when an index shows a fall) to ‘house prices soar’ on day two (when a rival index shows a rise) is frankly silly”
Property is quite an emotive area for the average person and we can see quite sensationalist headlines in some of the papers. How does responsible journalism deal with the impact this can potentially have on the property market versus having catchy titles?
The Daily Express flip-flopping from ‘house price crash’ on day one (when an index shows a fall) to ‘house prices soar’ on day two (when a rival index shows a rise) is frankly silly, but at the core of even that sensational tabloid coverage is material that actually comes from the housing industry. If mortgage lenders, developers, estate agents and property consultants want better media coverage, then they should produce more consistent, reliable, authoritative and respected raw material. Less money spent on PR spin and more on good research would be a start – and it would be reported, too.
You also get involved in media training for property organisations such as estate agents and builders. What are the key messages you try to get across to them as part of this?
Property, especially home ownership, ought to be a liberating experience and the agents and developers ought to have our respect for that. They throw this feelgood factor away, to some extent, by spin. So my media training (which is very practical, hands on and in no way involves PowerPoint) tries to show how this can be done – by using case studies, human interest, and so on.
Now you’ve written about a very diverse number of areas within property, but what are you own particular favourite topics within this area?
It’s good to see how property can help ‘ordinary’ people do ‘extraordinary’ things, so experiences of individuals who restore a home and then make good money from it, or people who do something unusual to buy in the first place makes the best type of story for editors, and for journalists too.
“The key message is: Property is not a science, and good research by a hard working individual can make them as expert as many estate agents.”
And you’ve also written a number of books, including your most recent (and highly topical) one entitled “Profiting from property in a recession”. Any nuggets of advice you can tease us with from this?
The key message is: Property is not a science, and good research by a hard working individual can make them as expert as many estate agents. Do your homework on everything from where and what to buy, to how much similar properties are selling for, and you can be in control of handling property, instead of always deferring to experts.
So from your perspective, where do you see the UK property market going in the next five years?
Almost nowhere, to be honest – but that is perhaps a good thing. Prices are unlikely to rise very much against a backdrop characterised by sombre economic mood music thanks to inflation, spending cuts and difficult unemployment figures. On the other hand, that housing market may build more solid foundations in that time, with more homes being built (we hope) and a greater prospect of first time buyers returning. But not until 2016…
And finally, you must have spoken to many interesting people in your career as a property journalist – who have been the most interesting or thought-provoking?
Andre Jordan was the Brazilian who founded a very luxurious holiday home resort in Portugal called Quinto do Lago. It’s rarified – only millionaires can buy there – but he recently told me of why and how he set it up in 1970. That was when home ownership of any kind was the exception, not the rule, and it was the start of ‘the great property adventure’ that even those of us from more modest backgrounds have been involved in ever since.
Graham, thanks very much for your time and we’ll keep an eye out for your articles!
About the interviewee:
Tags: Housing Market, makeoffer.co.uk, Property, Property Auctions, UK Property Market
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