Start Here
When you’re selling your property, it’s of vital importance to know who you’re working with.
This is our independent Edward Mellor Auctions review. Our private researchers analysed their company records, strengths and weaknesses.
In here, you’ll find everything you need to know about Edward Mellor 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
1987
Members of RICS
Not stated
Members of Propertymark
Yes – ARLA and NAEA
Trading standards approved?
Yes
Members of TPO
Yes
Registered with ICO
Yes
How often are auctions held
Every 3 weeks
Online auctions
Yes
Fees
Not shown
Complaints procedure
Yes
Customer service
3.5 / 5
Google rating
3.8 / 5 (25 reviews)
Trustpilot service
2.3 / 5 (83 reviews)
Edward Mellor Auctions is an established North West property auction house which is part of a larger, multi-disciplinary property company also offering estate agency, lettings, landlord services, mortgages and insurance. They claim to be ‘the North West’s leading monthly online property auction’ and cover a mix of residential and commercial properties across the price range.
- PSW Rating
4 / 5
1. Edward Mellor Auctions: Company Overview
(source: Companies House)
- Listed with Companies House: 11th June 1987
- Registered Office: 65-81 St. Petersgate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 1DS
- There are three currently registered directors: Colin Mellor, Peter Barlow, Christopher Tranter
- Company number: 02139859
- All the information seems up to date and correct
Edward Mellor Auctions is a well-established auction house based within a family run estate agency and property company. It was established in 1983 by Edward Mellor and is currently run by his son. The wider company has multiple estate agency branches across the region and employs over 150 staff.
The auctions part of the business holds regular sales online, as well as some in-person auctions. These cover properties from £20,000 terraces in Macclesfield to £1.5million properties in Leamington Spa.
The company website states that their aim is “to be the best, providing an unrivalled experience whilst ensuring all our customer’s property and financial needs are met.”
Auction houses such as Edward Mellor Auctions offer a quick and easy way to sell your property that is faster than selling with an estate agent, but slower than using a fast cash buyer. You may get more selling via the traditional open market route, and you could get less using a fast cash buyer. It is up to you to decide on the optimum balance between price and speed of sale.
Auctions will charge commission, often up to 2.5% + VAT, as will estate agents. You will also have to pay legal fees on either type of sale. Many auction houses also charge a non-refundable fee to enter the auction, which you will not get back even if your property fails to sell. There is no commission or legal fees to pay on a quick cash home sale.
The main benefit of an auction is that it can generate a higher selling price for your property than a fast cash sale, but only if there is competitive interest on the day. However there are no guarantees and you may not sell at all if there is no bid matching your reserve price. If you have to withdraw your property or postpone the sale, you will have to wait until the next auction to try again. This can mean an auction sale is no quicker than an open market sale, even though you get less for your property. A cash home buyer may not give you as much as you could get at an auction, but your sale will be swift and guaranteed.
2. Edward Mellor Property Auctions: Strengths & Weaknesses
Edward Mellor Auctions hold auctions every 21 days, with a large number of lots available each time. Their last two auctions at the time of writing (Sept 24) had 96 and 105 lots and their next sale has 86 lots listed.
The company has an average success rate of around 50-60%. The August 2024 sale sold 47 of 96 lots (49%) while the July 2024 sale sold 59 of 105 lots (56%). Their website lists the outcome of all auctions dating back to 2010, allowing potential customers to make an open and honest assessment of their performance.
Edward Mellor Auctions clearly have a strong and regular presence in the sector, and to attract almost 100 properties every three weeks they must be doing something right.
Unfortunately, while their statistics are impressive, their feedback does leave a lot to be desired, with 75% of Trustpilot reviews giving them just one star.
Are they Propertymark members?
Edward Mellor Auctions website shows the logo for Propertymark for the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting Agents. This provides users with some protection from Propertymark.
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.
Are they TPO members?
Yes, Edward Mellor 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 and can award compensation of up to £25,000 where genuine financial loss can be proven (although settlements are generally far smaller than this).
Are They Regulated By RICS?
Their website does not show whether Edward Mellor 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?
Edward Mellor Auctions has been registered with the Information Commissioners’ Office since 2009, demonstrating a commitment to handling customer data with care.
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 Edward Mellor Auctions website has a privacy policy, but it does not have a specific cookie policy listed. This does not mean that they are not GDPR compliant, but the information required to make this assessment is not listed as clearly as other auction house websites.
They do not tell you what cookies are used and what they will be used for. For this reason, you should always be very careful about what information your disclose and what cookie policies you agree to when using the site. 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?
Edward Mellor Auctions have been trading since 1983 and the company is still run by the same family. The original founder, Edward Mellor himself, still takes an active interest in the business.
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. Edward Mellor Auctions have far exceeded this benchmark and are a well-established business with plenty of regular customers.
How often Are Auctions Held?
Edward Mellor Auctions hold property sales online every 21 days / three weeks, which is around twice as often as most other auction houses. This means that if your property does not sell, you will not have to wait as long to try again as you may have to elsewhere.
Auctions are held online, with bidders able to take part online or by telephone, or by placing a proxy bid with the auctioneer. They also hold live auctions from time to time as featured on their website.
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. A full guide to buying at auction can be found on their website
While most auctions are held online, they are still traditional auctions, with bidders placing bids competitively at the time until the virtual hammer comes down. Online auctions usually last for 24 hours.
what does it cost to sell with Edward Mellor Auctions?
Edward Mellor Auctions do not list their charges online and we were unable to ascertain their charges for this review.
Normally, the fees charged by an auction house 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.
Remember, you will normally be expected to pay a non-refundable entry fee for the auction, as well as a percentage commission if your property sells. Both of these charges will be subject to VAT at 20%.
How long does it take to sell?
According to their own sales figures, Edward Mellor Auctions have an average track record of selling around half of their listed properties either on the day of the auction, via a prior sale or post-auction. However, sales may be speeded up by the frequency of auctions, and this is well worth considering when it comes to choosing an auction house.
The larger than average sale catalogue for each auction, averaging around 100 properties, will also attract more bidders than a smaller sale, although you will also have greater competition from other homes.
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.
This 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 Edward Mellor Auctions. Our investigators sifted through all of the data and legal records of Edward Mellor 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.
Anything Else You Should Know About?
As far as we are aware, Edward Mellor Auctions haven’t received any additional awards or prizes.
There’s nothing more we could add.
3. Edward Mellor Auctions: Customer Experience
To assess the overall user experience (UX) of edwardmellor.co.uk/auctions/.com we first analysed their website for ease of use and intuitiveness.
The Edward Mellor Auctions website is part of the larger Edward Mellor site covering all of their property related activities. Clicking on the auctions tab reveals a large amount of customer information, for both buyers and sellers, including auction finance options.
The site also has a section of auction news, listing articles of general interest to potential buyers and sellers. This is kept up to date with regular articles added. This is uncommon and should be noted as demonstrating a commitment to their customers beyond the basic service.
The website also features dates and listings for their upcoming as well as results from previous auctions dating back to 2010. 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 2 PM on a non-holiday weekday (on a Tuesday to be exact) and used a stopwatch to estimate how long it took them to respond.
Edward Mellor Auctions responded in 45 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 asked if they offer some sort of ‘Client Satisfaction Guarantee’, and if yes, what would that guarantee consist of.
Edward Mellor Auctions don’t offer a formal Client Satisfaction Guarantee but they have been in business for almost forty years, and they boast a large number of regular 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.
Edward Mellor Auctions does have a published complaints handling procedure on their website. And as members of the Property Ombudsman service, customers also 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. Edward Mellor Property Auctions: Online Presence
In this section, we’ll discuss what the public thinks of Edward Mellor 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 2.3/5 (83 reviews)
- Google reviews 3.8/5 (35 reviews)
- AllAgent mainly 4.8/5 (94 reviews)
The independent reviews of Edward Mellor Auctions are rather disappointing, given their promise to ‘be the best’ and provide an ‘unrivalled experience’. By way of balance, they do list a large number of positive reviews from AllAgent on their website, though the independence of these cannot be.
Their Trustpilot reviews were split 75% one-star and 21% five-star, so there are clearly differences of opinion as to the quality of the company.
It should be noted that the google reviews relate to Edward Mellor Auctions, while the Trustpilot reviews often cover the whole of their property activities.
Domain Rating
- Domain Rating (DR) – 67 / 100
- Search Traffic – 14,500 unique visitors per month
Social media presence
- Facebook – 4k followers
- Instagram – 1,897 followers
- X (Twitter) – 3,980 followers
Media Mentions
- N/A
TV Channel Features
- N/A
The Edward Mellor website also has a number of YouTube videos, including testimonials from previous customers and tutorials.
We didn’t find anything suspicious with Edward Mellor 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
Edward Mellor Auctions is part of a well-established, family run property group covering the North West of England. The regularity and size of their auctions, with around a hundred properties listed every three weeks is impressive and speaks to their reputation and standing within the property sector in the region.
They claim to be the North West’s leading monthly online property auction, and doubtless they can substantiate this claim on sheer numbers alone.
The frequency of their auctions is a bonus for sellers, who will get a second bite of the cherry far sooner than other auction houses may offer. However, their success rate is only average at 50-60%, so this perhaps balances out this benefit.
Sellers may also benefit from Edward Mellor’s wider property expertise and services, including estate agency and auction finance, with a full range of services all under one roof with one company.
Given their long standing, operating since 1983, and their obvious success, with so many well-stocked auctions throughout the year, their independent review scores are somewhat surprising. Potential sellers are advised to read these reviews to see what the specific issues were and whether or not this impacts their own auction house choice.
In conclusion, the longevity of the company and the regularity of sales held make Edward Mellor an auction house worth considering, though sellers are urged to proceed with caution and do their due diligence before committing to a sale.
Get The Best Cash Offer For Your Property
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.
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.
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
Edward Mellor 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.
More To Explore
The Complete Guide:
What is a Memorandum of Sale And How to Use it
Read More >>
The Bulletproof Guide:
How to Sell Your House Fast and What's the Catch
Read More >>