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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 Bond Wolfe Auctions review. Our private researchers analysed their company records, strengths and weaknesses.
In here, you’ll find everything you need to know about Bond Wolfe 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
1983
Members of RICS
Not stated
Members of Propertymark
Not stated
Trading standards approved?
Not stated
Members of TPO
Yes
Registered with ICO
Yes
How often are auctions held
7 auctions a year
Online auctions
Yes
Fees
1% + VAT (min £1800 + VAT) £395+ VAT upfront listing fee
Complaints procedure
None shown
Customer service
4 / 5
Trustpilot rating
4.6 / 5 (66 reviews)
Bond Wolfe auctions is a large auction house based in the West Midlands. They claim to be ‘the number one live-streamed property auctioneer in the UK, achieving the highest success rate of any of the leading auctioneers in the country’. All of their auctions are held online, reflecting their’ traditional values and modern solutions approach’. They work for a number of institutional bodies, such as councils and WM Police, but also offer services to individuals.
- PSW Rating
4.5 / 5
1. Bond Wolfe Auctions: Company Overview
(source: Companies House)
- Listed with Companies House: 12th December 2018
- Registered Office: Sky View, Argosy Road, Derby, DE74 2SA
- There are seven currently registered directors, who can be found on the Companies House register.
- Company number: 11738560
- All the information seems up to date and correct
Bond Wolfe Auctions is a well-established auction house primarily serving the West Midlands, although they also deal with property from across the UK. They have an award-winning team with over 500 years combined experience. Bond Wolfe Auctions also has the backing of the wider Bond Wolfe group and so is able to offer traditional estate agency services as well as auctions.
The company recently celebrated 40 years, and it has established relationships with all the main councils in the area. They sell residential, commercial and mixed-use property, investments and land/development sites and claim to be the only Midlands auctioneers with dedicated experts in each sector.
2. Bond Wolfe Auctions: Strengths & Weaknesses
Bond Wolfe Auctions hold seven auctions per year, all online, with bidders able to take part online, by phone or by proxy bid. They boast a high success rate, with 963 out of 1116 properties sold in 2023, representing a success rate of 86%. This is backed up by their latest auction at the time of writing, July 2024, in which 173 of 194 properties were sold, representing a success rate of 89%.
Bond Wolfe Auctions advertise properties for auction both locally and nationally for three weeks before the auction date, with properties listed on major property portals, including Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket.
Bond Wolfe Auctions clearly have substantial experience and handle a large number of properties every year. Nonetheless, they claim to provide the same level of service whether you have a single property or a large portfolio, tailoring their service to match your needs.
However, despite their bold website claims of having a passionate team who deliver excellent results, some of their online feedback and reviews are less than glowing. For example, they score just 3.6/5 on Google reviews. There is also a Trustpilot page for bondwolfeauctions (not the official Bond Wolfe page) which rates them just one star, with 90% of 66 reviewers giving them this score.
Are they Propertymark members?
Bond Wolfe website does not show the logo for Propertymark or any of the organisations, such as the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA) that make up the Propertymark brand.
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.
NAVA Propertymark members adopt RICS’ Common Auctions Conditions for auctions of real estate in England and Wales. These are designed to set a consistent practice for auctions across the industry.
However, they may be NAVA and Propertymark members, but simply not list this on their website.
Are they TPO members?
Yes, Bond Wolfe Auctions are members of the Property Ombudsman and as such are obliged to work to a strict code of practice. TPO is a government-approved trade body that protects property sellers.
Membership of TPO means that customers have an additional method of resolving complaints and grievances that cannot be resolved between the existing parties. TPO offers independent adjudication on disputes via a complaints enquiry telephone number 01722 333306 or by completing a form online on the TOP website.
Are They Regulated By RICS?
Their website does not show whether Bond Wolfe Auctions are regulated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, and they cannot be found on the RICS member search web page.
Using a RICS member gives you the peace of mind that your auctioneer follows the Common Auction Conditions and ensures that clients are provided with terms of engagement that are fair and clear and meet all legal requirements and relevant codes of practice including reference to complaints-handling procedures and, where it exists, an appropriate redress scheme.
Are they Registered With The ICO?
Bond Wolfe Auctions has been registered with the Information Commissioners’ Office since 2019.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent regulatory body set up to uphold information rights. The ICO also governs all forms of data collection and advertising intelligence. The ICO has a Free Online Checker where you can verify whether a company is registered with them or not.
Are they GDPR Compliant?
The Bond Wolfe Auctions website has a privacy and cookies tab which explains how your data will be collected, stored and used. These suggest that the company is GDPR compliant and will follow established codes of practice.
It is worth noting that this policy states that ‘cookies may be stored to your computer’s hard drive by external vendors when our website uses referral programs, sponsored links or adverts’. In other words, you may receive marketing emails and advertising not only from Bond Wolfe, but also third parties.
For this reason, you should always be very careful about what information your disclose and what cookie policies you agree to. You should always have a choice, and you should read any cookie / data use agreements carefully rather than just clicking yes to clear your screen.
Have They Traded For More Than 5 Years?
Bond Wolfe Auctions have been trading for more than 40 years and claim a combined experience of more than 500years amongst their team.
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. Bond Wolfe Auctions have far exceeded this benchmark and are one of the largest auction houses in the region and claim to be the number one live-streamed auction house in the UK.
How often Are Auctions Held?
Bond Wolfe Auctions hold property sales online seven times a year. This means that there is an auction roughly every six or seven weeks. They held seven auctions in 2023, selling 963 lots worth over £150million.
Auctions are held online, with bidders able to take part online or by telephone, or by placing a proxy bid with the auctioneer. You are not able to attend auctions in person.
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.
While auctions are held online, they are still traditional auctions, with bidders placing bids competitively at the time until the virtual hammer comes down.
what does it cost to sell with bond wolfe?
Bond Wolfe Auctions do not list their charges online, however our sources state that they charge a seller’s fee of 1% + VAT. This is much lower than the industry standard of 2.5% in the auction sector. Sellers also have to pay a non-refundable deposit of £375+VAT upfront to enter an auction, and this will not be returned if the property is withdrawn or goes unsold. Once again, this is lower than many auction houses. his is also a standard fee in the auction sector.
Naturally, the 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, Bond Wolfe Auctions have a very successful track record when it comes to auction sales. On average, in 2023, 86% of properties were sold at auction.
If your property is sold at auction, then the deal is done and there is no risk of the sale falling through, as there is with a sale through an estate agent. As soon as the hammer falls the sale is binding and contracts are exchanged. The buyer must pay a 10% deposit there and then, and they must complete the sale within 28 days.
This process provides you with a very fast and certain sale, which will not be affected by surveys, cold feet or the countless other issues that mean as many as one in three estate agent sales fail. However, this tight, four-week completion timescale may not leave enough time for potential buyers to arrange a mortgage, and so this will limit potential buyers to developers, investors and cash buyers.
It’s worth remembering that even with a very successful auction house like Bond Wolfe Auctions, not all properties will sell Auctions. Bond Wolfe’s high success rate still leaves 14 unsold homes in every hundred that go to auction. If this happens to you, then you will have to wait for the next auction, which could be six or seven weeks away, with still no promise of a sale.
Here is where a quick cash sale could be a better option, as your sale is guaranteed in as little as seven days.
Anything Else Suspicious?
We didn’t find anything that raises suspicion during our thorough research of Bond Wolfe Auctions. Our investigators sifted through all of the data and legal records of Bond Wolfe 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. Bond Wolfe Auctions: Customer Experience
To assess the overall user experience (UX) of bondwolfe.com we first analysed their website for ease of use and intuitiveness.
The Bond Wolfe Auctions website is part of the larger Bond Wolfe site. Clicking on the auctions tab reveals a large amount of customer information, for both buyers and sellers including FAQs and a glossary of terms.
The website also features dates and listings for their upcoming as well as results from previous auctions. This not only shows you their success rate, but also gives you an idea of the prices properties have sold for.
First Response Time
We calculated their First Response Time (FTR) by messaging them at approximately 11 AM on a non-holiday weekday (on a Wednesday to be exact) and used a stopwatch to estimate how long it took them to respond.
Bond Wolfe Auctions responded in 55 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.
Bond Wolfe Auctions don’t offer a formal Client Satisfaction Guarantee but they have been in business for over forty years, and they boast a large number of major institutional clients, so they must be satisfying their customers.
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.
Bond Wolfe Auctions does not have a published complaints procedure on their website. However, they are members of the Property Ombudsman service, so customers have the extra protection of independent mitigation for any disagreements that cannot be solved directly with the company.
Not having a complaints procedure on their website does not mean that they don’t have one. They may well have such a procedure, but potential customers will need to ask for a copy of this as it is not available online.
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. Bond Wolfe Auctions: Online Presence
In this section, we’ll discuss what the public thinks of Bond Wolfe 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
- Trustpilot rating (official Bond Wolfe) 4.6/5 (66 reviews)
- Trustpilot rating (bondwolfeauctions) 2.8/5 (19)
- Google reviews 3.6/5 (222)
The Bond Wolfe website boasts their ‘excellent’ Trustpilot rating at the top of the home page. This covers the whole of the Bond Wolfe operation. However, there is another Trustpilot page ‘bondwolfeauctions’ which paints a different picture, with 90% of 19 reviewers giving them just one star. Their independent Google reviews sit somewhere in the middle at 3.6 stars.
Domain Rating
- Domain Rating (DR) – 78 / 100
- Search Traffic – 35,500 unique visitors per month
Social media presence
- Facebook – 7.1k followers
- Instagram – 1,314 followers
- LinkedIn – 2k followers
- X (Twitter) – 627 followers
Bond Wolfe also has its own dedicated YouTube channel, Bond Wolfe TV, with lots of handy videos explaining the property sector and how best to sell your house.
We didn’t find anything suspicious with Bond Wolfe 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 Bond Wolfe 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
Bond Wolfe Auctions is part of the multi-disciplinary property group, Bond Wolfe, based in Birmingham. They claim to be the number one live-streamed property auctioneer in the country and could be an excellent choice for anyone selling in the West Midlands, as well as further afield.
They hold auctions online seven times a year and boast a success rate of 86%. They sell a wide range of properties, including residential and commercial properties, as well as land. They also specialise in selling unusual or difficult properties. Their service is based on traditional values and modern solutions.
They have been in business for over forty years and have attracted a large number of impressive clients. However, some of their feedback and independent reviews are a cause for concern, especially the unofficial bondwolfeauctions Trustpilot page.
On balance, their website is friendly and informative, and it presents Bond Wolfe Auctions as a professional and highly successful auction house serving both domestic and corporate clients across the West Midlands. However, their poor feedback cannot be ignored and potential clients should proceed with caution.
We will be continuously updating this review as we do with all of our other content. If Bond Wolfe decide to alter, amend or modify something, then we’ll make sure to adjust our critique and score accordingly.
Get The Best Cash Offer For Your Property
We’ve independently investigated all the UK’s top fast home buyers with our cast-iron 18 point checklist.
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.
If you click the orange button below, we’ll automatically Safe Connect you to the best property buyer in the UK – as vetted by our team of investigators. And most importantly, you’ll see exactly why we objectively classified them as the best property buyer in the UK.
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
Bond Wolfe 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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