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When you’re selling your property, it’s of vital importance to know who you’re working with.
This is our independent Barnett Ross Auctions review. Our private researchers analysed their company records, strengths and weaknesses.
In here, you’ll find everything you need to know about Barnett Ross Auctions and whether you should trust them to sell your property quickly.
Your next step
Once you’ve read our impartial guides, you’re completely free to choose an auction house or a cash homebuyer and contact them yourself. There’s no obligation to use our introduction service. We’ll be happy to have helped you to find a company you can trust and stop you being taken for a ride. Our work here is done!
However, we understand that choosing a company to buy or sell your home is a big decision, so if you prefer, you can break it down into easier steps.
First, click the cash offer calculator button below to see how much cash buyers offer for properties like yours. It’s completely free to find out, and it only takes a couple of clicks. You don’t have to give any personal information, just an estimated value of your home.
Then, if this figure works for you, simply add a few more details of your home and we’ll connect you with the cash homebuyer we think is best suited to you.
If you’d rather take the auction route, click the ‘free auction appraisal’ button and we’ll put you in touch with the auction house that we think is the best fit for your property.
Our recommendations cost you nothing and they guarantee you the very best service. The PSW is well-respected within the industry and companies will go all out to prove that they’re worthy of our recommendations, so that we keep sending customers to them.
Click below to start your home selling journey.
Company
Established in
2002
Members of RICS
Yes
Members of Propertymark
Not stated
Trading standards approved?
Not stated
Members of TPO
No
Registered with ICO
Yes
How often are auctions held
Every 6 weeks
Online auctions
Yes
Fees
Not shown
Complaints procedure
None shown
Customer service
4 / 5
Trustpilot rating
3.5 / 5 (11 reviews)
Barnett Ross auctions is London based auction house that was started by two highly experienced property professionals. They have a very high success rate, although they only deal with residential properties from London and the Home Counties. They tend to have fewer, higher value properties than many provincial auction houses.
- PSW Rating
4 / 5
1. Barnett Ross Auctions: Company Overview
(source: Companies House)
- Listed with Companies House: 5th August 2002
- Registered Office: Unicorn House, Station Close, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, EN6 1TL
- Registered directors: John Barnett, Steven Grossman, Johnathan Ross
- Company number: 04503218
- All the information seems up to date and correct
Barnett Ross Auctions is a large, London-based auction house formed by John Barnett and Jonathan Ross. They deal with commercial property nationwide and residential properties in London and the Home Counties.
They hold traditional auctions online and boast a high success rate of 92% over the last three years. They also hold the record for the highest value lot ever sold at a UK property auction, with a block of 65 flats in Finchley selling for £20.45m in 2018.
2. Barnett Ross Auctions: Strengths & Weaknesses
Barnett Ross Auctions is one of the largest independent auction houses in the UK and holds property auctions regularly, every six weeks. They also offer bespoke auctions for individual properties, outside of their normal schedule, if their current schedule does not meet your needs.
Their auctions tend to feature fewer lots, but higher values, reflecting their focus on London and the Home Counties. For example, their last auction at the time of writing (July 2024) featured just 15 lots with prices ranging from £90,000 to £610,000. Six lots were sold prior to the auction, two were withdrawn and the rest were sold on the day. You have to go back to April to find a lot that went unsold.
Their website is fairly simple and straightforward and lacks the customer-facing guides often found elsewhere. This may reflect the more professional level at which the company operates, where this kind of understanding is assumed of buyers and sellers.
Are they Propertymark members?
Barnett Ross Auctions website does not show Propertymark logos for their business, and they cannot be found on a search of the Propertymark website.
This does not necessarily mean that they are not Propertymark members, but prospective sellers should double check this.
By using a Propertymark Protected member you are guaranteed to be consulting with a professional who will give you up-to-date advice and guidance. Propertymark regulates members’ activity according to a code of conduct and rules, with disciplinary action for instances of non-compliance.
If an auction house does not take part in the Propertymark scheme, you have that bit less peace of mind when you are dealing with them.
Are they TPO members?
Once again, Barnett Ross Auctions do not appear to be members of the Property Ombudsman scheme. They do not carry the logo on their site and they do not appear on a search of the TPO website.
TPO is a government-approved trade body that protects property sellers. If your auction house is a member of the TPO, then they have agreed to work to a strict code of practice and to accept TPO’s independent mitigation in any disagreements with clients.
Are They Regulated By RICS?
Barnett Ross Auctions are members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and have agreed to follow their code of practice and the Common Auction Conditions contained within.
Being a RICS member means that Barnett Ross Auctions customers do have some redress in the case of a complaint. It also ensures that you will be given terms of engagement that are fair and clear, and which meet all legal requirements and relevant codes of practice.
Are they Registered With The ICO?
Yes, Barnett Ross Auctions has been registered with the Information Commissioners’ Office since 2004.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent regulatory body set up to uphold information rights. Membership demonstrates that a company takes their data gathering and storage responsibilities seriously and has put steps in place to protect your information.
Are they GDPR Compliant?
The Barnett Ross Auctions website has a both a privacy policy and a cookies policy which outline your rights and cover how data is collected, stored and used. This would appear to show that Barnett Ross are GDPR compliant and will have appropriate safeguards in place to protect your data.
These policies state that data collected may be used to ‘Offer or provide you with the services requested, plus any others we think may interest you’. In other words, they may use your data to send you marketing emails.
With this in mind, users are advised to be cautious in the way that they offer personal data, and to carefully check any agreements of cookie approval pop-ups that appear. Never simply click yes just to clear your screen.
Have They Traded For More Than 5 Years?
Barnett Ross have been trading for over twenty years. What’s more, the company was founded by two seasoned property professionals with a combined experience of over sixty years.
We use the ‘over/under 5 years trading time’ as a rule of thumb to gauge whether a company is an established entity with a lot of experience under their belt, or just a newly founded business that may not have the expertise or reputation you can rely on.
The long established service of Barnett Ross Auctions, combined with the experience of its founders prior to setting up the company, more than proves their legitimacy.
How often Are Auctions Held?
Barnett Ross Auctions hold property sales online every six weeks, featuring around 15-20 properties per sale.
The Barnett Ross online auction platform provides all the benefits of traditional auctions, including speed, certainty of sale and transparency, but with the added advantage of being able to bid pressure-free from the comfort of your own home or office via a desktop, tablet or mobile phone.
To place a bid, you need to have registered in advance and provide compulsory information such as proof of identity and your source of funds, in order to comply with money laundering regulations.
Once the virtual hammer comes down, the sale becomes legally binding and contracts are immediately exchanged. The buyer must then pay a deposit of 10% and agree to complete the sale in a maximum of 28 days.
what does it cost to sell with Barnett Ross?
Barnett Ross Auctions do not list their charges online and our researchers were not able to find reference to them online.
Naturally, auction fees will vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of property, the property value etc. Prospective sellers are advised to contact the auction house directly for an up to date quote on your property or properties.
How long does it take to sell?
According to their own sales figures, Barnett Ross Auctions have a remarkable success rate when it comes to auction sales. They claim that for 2023 they had an average success rate of 92% across all their auctions. This means that more than nine out of ten properties were either sold at auction or sold prior or after the sale.
Selling a property at auction is often better than an estate agency sale. This is because the deal is legally binding and so there is no risk of the sale being affected by surveys, cold feet or countless other issues. As many as one in three estate agent sales fail, but auction sales rarely fall through.
The high success rate of Barnett Ross further enhances the benefits of selling at auction. However, it should be noted that the four-week completion deadline does not give residential buyers much time to arrange a mortgage. This can limit potential buyers to developers, investors and cash buyers. Less buyers in turn means less competition and so lower sale prices.
This is where a quick cash sale could be a better option. You may get less for your property, but you will get a guaranteed sale in as little as seven days, with no risk of your property going unsold or not achieving the price you hoped for. A cash sale is clear and quick.
Anything Else Suspicious?
We didn’t find anything that raises suspicion during our thorough research of Barnett Ross Auctions. Our investigators sifted through all of the data and legal records of Barnett Ross Auctions and everything was clean.
However, we’ll redact this paragraph at the first glimpse of dodgy practices.
We never stop researching and our unbending commitment to excellence doesn’t waver. This paragraph is only valid up until the ‘Last Updated’ date of this review, which can be found at the top of this page.
3. Barnett Ross Auctions: Customer Experience
To assess the overall user experience (UX) of barnettross.co.uk we first analysed their website for ease of use and intuitiveness.
The Barnett Ross Auctions website is simple and functional and it doesn’t go out of its way to sell their services – perhaps because as one of the UK’s leading auction houses, they simply don’t have to. Nonetheless, this makes it a little less welcoming and less informative than other auction websites.
There are no auction guides which can be helpful to first time buyers and sellers. Once again, this may reflect their focus on institutional investors and corporate clients rather than individual home sellers.
There is a click through button to view forthcoming auction lots and a link to get a free auction appraisal for your property. Contact is via a London telephone number or email and there is no contact form that potential customers can complete.
First Response Time
We calculated their First Response Time (FTR) by messaging them at approximately 9 AM on a non-holiday weekday (on a Thursday to be exact) and used a stopwatch to estimate how long it took them to respond.
Barnett Ross Auctions responded in 1 minute 23 seconds.
Which is much faster than the industry average. And a fast FRT is something we consider highly important, especially in this sector.
A faster response time suggests that the auction house is better equipped to deal with customer queries.
And if they’re better equipped to deal with customer queries, then it means they’re investing their resources where it matters the most.
Client Satisfaction Guarantee
We also asked if they offer some sort of ‘Client Satisfaction Guarantee’, and if yes, what would that guarantee consist of.
Barnett Ross Auctions don’t offer a formal Client Satisfaction Guarantee but they are well established in the London property sector and as such excellent service may be seen as a given for clients at a certain level.
Client Complaints Procedure
Most reputable companies will have a formal complaints procedure on their website, where clients can express any disagreements, issues or just plain dissatisfaction with the overall service.
By having such a procedure in place, the company shows that they are willing to listen and if possible, rectify any problems that may arise.
Barnett Ross Auctions does not have a published complaints procedure on their website. However, they are regulated by RICS, and so customers have the extra protection of independent mitigation for any disagreements that cannot be solved directly with the company.
Speaking To Past Customers
A legitimate auction house that does what it promises shouldn’t have a problem letting you speak to their past customers.
Of course they need to have the permission of the individual involved and provide some kind of proof that it is a genuine past client of theirs.
We strongly encourage all our readers to ask to speak to a past client.
4. Barnett Ross Auctions: Online Presence
In this section, we’ll discuss what the public thinks of Barnett Ross Auctions and what online reviews the company has received.
Keep in mind that online reviews can be easily faked. The company in charge might hire fake review writers to write positive reviews. Or on the other hand, their competitors might hire fake review writers to write negative reviews and tarnish the said company’s reputation.
Also, social media followers can be artificially inflated.
That’s why we deem this section as purely anecdotal.
Customer reviews
- Google reviews 3.5/5 (11)
This is a fairly low rating on Google, but it should be noted that this is from just 11 reviews. At the level at which Barnett Ross operate, these ‘retail style’ reviews may not be how reputations are built.
Domain Rating
- Domain Rating (DR) – 65 / 100
- Search Traffic – 12,000 unique visitors per month
Social media presence
- LinkedIn – 604 followers
- X (Twitter) – 924 followers
We didn’t find anything suspicious with Barnett Ross Auctions’ social media or online presence, nor with their customer reviews.
We also didn’t find anything suspicious with their domain rating and backlink profile nor their unique monthly search traffic.
Media Mentions
- N/A
TV Channel Features
- N/A
We didn’t find anything suspicious with Barnett Ross Auctions’ social media or online presence, nor with their customer reviews.
We also didn’t find anything suspicious with their domain rating and backlink profile nor their unique monthly search traffic.
The Final Verdict
Barnett Ross Auctions are a leading auction house for residential properties in London and the Home Counties and commercial properties nationwide.
From their website, it appears that they operate at the high end of the market, with properties often changing hands for seven figure sums. This makes them attractive to sellers in this price bracket, but they may not be an ideal choice for lower priced properties. That said, they do handle some lower priced homes.
Whatever your price bracket, their average success rate of 92% is not to be sniffed at, and this can make the difference between selling promptly and facing a similar delay to an estate agency sale.
Dealing with sales that can reach £20.45million, Barnett Ross Auctions may feel like they are ‘out of the league’ of the average domestic property seller, and they certainly do not go out of their way to attract this level of business. However there is no reason why they cannot deliver a swift and satisfactory sale for almost any client in London and the surrounding area.
We will be continuously updating this review as we do with all of our other content. If Barnett Ross decide to alter, amend or modify something, then we’ll make sure to adjust our critique and score accordingly.
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And by using the free Safe Connect™ programme we’ll introduce you to our most recommended & strictly vetted home buyer.
The Safe Connect™ programme was created to ensure you not only get the best possible, genuine cash offer, but also to protect you in this unregulated market.
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Your next step
Once you’ve read our impartial guides, you’re completely free to choose an auction house or a cash homebuyer and contact them yourself. There’s no obligation to use our introduction service. We’ll be happy to have helped you to find a company you can trust and stop you being taken for a ride. Our work here is done!
However, we understand that choosing a company to buy or sell your home is a big decision, so if you prefer, you can break it down into easier steps.
First, click the cash offer calculator button below to see how much cash buyers offer for properties like yours. It’s completely free to find out, and it only takes a couple of clicks. You don’t have to give any personal information, just an estimated value of your home.
Then, if this figure works for you, simply add a few more details of your home and we’ll connect you with the cash homebuyer we think is best suited to you.
If you’d rather take the auction route, click the ‘free auction appraisal’ button and we’ll put you in touch with the auction house that we think is the best fit for your property.
Our recommendations cost you nothing and they guarantee you the very best service. The PSW is well-respected within the industry and companies will go all out to prove that they’re worthy of our recommendations, so that we keep sending customers to them.
Click below to start your home selling journey.
If you use the Safe Connect™ programme to connect with a cash home buyer, we’ll personally hold them accountable. We’ll ensure they go the extra mile and treat you like a VIP.
The Safe Connect™ programme is a free service. There are no additional fees or costs on your end.
Safe Connect™ ensures there will be no last-minute price drops and no nasty surprises. It’s quick, easy and it eliminates all headaches.
Our strictly vetted partner will know that you’re coming through Property Sale Watchdog and they won’t dare to mess you around.
Compare Companies
Barnett Ross Auctions is just one of the many fast home-buying companies in the UK.
In order to make sure you choose the right one, it’s best if you compare them all.
Look at their strengths & weaknesses, their pros & cons and make an informed decision.
It’s essential to know you’re in safe hands, that’s why we’re here to help.
Use our company comparison table to find a reliable and trustworthy service, and decide whether expediting the sale of your property is the right thing for you.
Content Updates
This review is being constantly screened by our investigator team and will be corrected in line with the emergence of new evidence.
If a company contacts us with a genuine and verifiable piece of information which supports their cause, then we’ll immediately redact the review and point to the new information.
On the other hand, if we discover that a company which we’ve previously praised for a certain industry trait, starts to dabble in dodgy practices, we’ll also redact the review immediately.
We’ll point to our new findings and we’ll adjust the table metrics and scores accordingly.
For this reason, make sure to take notice of the ‘last updated’ date at the top of this page.
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