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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 Pugh & Co Auctions review. Our private researchers analysed their company records, strengths and weaknesses.
In here, you’ll find everything you need to know about Pugh & Co 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
1991
Members of RICS
Yes (as Eddisons)
Members of Propertymark
Not stated
Trading standards approved?
Yes (as Eddisons)
Members of TPO
Yes (as Eddisons)
Registered with ICO
Yes (as Eddisons)
How often are auctions held
Monthly
Online auctions
Yes
Fees
1% + VAT £250 + VAT upfront listing fee
Complaints procedure
Yes
Customer service
4.5 / 5
Trustpilot service
None
Feefo rating
4.5 / 5 (156 reviews)
Pugh & Co auctions are one of the largest online auction houses covering the whole of the UK. They hold monthly auctions with an average success rate and have competitive fees at the lower end of the range. The have excellent reviews from previous customers on Feefo.
- PSW Rating
4.5 / 5
1. Pugh & Co Auctions: Company Overview
(source: Companies House)
- Listed with Companies House: 30th March 2000
- Registered Office: 340 Deansgate, Manchester, England, M3 4LY
- There are two currently registered directors: Richard Roe and Anthony Spencer
- Company number: 03960050
- All the information seems up to date and correct
Pugh & Co Auctions is an established auction house dealing with properties from across the UK. They have twenty-five years’ experience selling both residential and commercial properties. They joined the Eddisons Group in 2016, and in 2023, Eddisons added the auction house SDL Auctions, to create a comprehensive range of listings for properties of all kinds across the country.
Pugh & Co have a team of local chartered surveyors who can offer expert advice on property values and ensure a ‘fast and stress-free house sale process’. The company hold monthly auctions with approximately 100 lots each month.
Online auctions such as Pugh & Co provide home sellers with a quick and easy way to sell a property without the stress and extended timescale of listing on the open market. You will get a little less than an open market sale, but the speed can compensate for this. You can sell even faster with a quick cash sale, but this will usually give you less for your home. That said, a quick cash sale provides more certainty than either an open market sale or an auction, neither of which can guarantee a buyer.
Auctions will charge commission, in this case 1% + VAT, plus you will have to pay a non-refundable fee, in this case £250 + VAT, to enter the auction. This is forfeit even if your property fails to sell. You will also have to pay legal fees for the preparation of documents both prior to the listing and following the sale. There is no commission or legal fees to pay on a quick cash home sale.
Auctions may generate a higher selling price for your property, and nationwide, online auctions can be better at attracting a large number of buyers than the limited crowd at a live auction. However there are no guarantees of price or of finding a buyer. You may not sell at all if there is no bid matching your reserve price and you may have to withdraw your property or postpone the sale until the next month.
2. Pugh & Co Property Auctions: Strengths & Weaknesses
Pugh & Co Auctions hold auctions every month, boasting properties from Braford to Bedford. Bidders are able to take part online, by phone or by proxy bid. They have an average level of success and list all previous auctions so sellers can see for themselves their success rate.
Pugh & Co Auctions have 25 years’ experience in selling properties and have a welcoming, easy to use website. However, their success rate is no better than average and well below some other auction houses.
Their last three auctions (Sept 24, Aug 24 and July 24) show an average sale rate of around 61%. Their most recent sale at the time of writing was September 2024. This sale had 108 lots, of which 28 were withdrawn or postponed. Of the remaining 80 lots, 45 were sold, either on the day or pre/post auction. This gives a sale rate of 56%. August 24 had 55 lots, 15 withdrawn and 23 sold, giving a 57% success rate.
Properties listed in Pugh & Co auctions are also listed on the Eddisons website, giving extra coverage to reach more potential buyers.
Are they Propertymark members?
Pugh & Co 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. However, Pugh & Co are members of RICS, and list the Common Auction Conditions on their website.
Are they TPO members?
Yes, Pugh & Co Auctions are members of the Property Ombudsman as part of the Eddisons Group. As such they 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 offer compensation where appropriate.
Are They Regulated By RICS?
Yes, Pugh & Co Auctions are regulated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
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?
Pugh & Co Auctions are registered with the Information Commissioners’ Office as part of the Eddisons Group. Eddisons have been registered since 2001.
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 Pugh & Co Auctions website has a privacy policy and cookies tab which explain 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 they will use your data ‘to market to you and we may periodically send promotional emails about new services or other information which we think you may find of interest’. In other words, you may receive marketing emails and advertising from Pugh & Co, and this may also be true of 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?
Pugh & Co Auctions has been trading for more than 25 years and are part of the Eddisons Group that has been trading since 1844.
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. Pugh & Co Auctions have far exceeded this benchmark and are one of the leading online auction houses in the UK.
How often Are Auctions Held?
Pugh & Co Auctions hold property sales online every month. There have been 626 properties listed in the last six months.
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. Once this has happened, the sale is binding, a 10% deposit is paid and contracts are exchanged immediately. Buyers then have four weeks to complete the sale or lose this deposit.
This is in stark contrast to an open market sale, where buyers can pull out at any time up to exchange of contracts, even after a price has been agreed. Around one in three house sales fall though in this way.
what does it cost to sell with Pugh & Co Auctions?
Pugh & Co 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 £250+VAT upfront to enter an auction, which is also lower than many other auction houses.
Remember, this fee will not be returned if the property is withdrawn or goes unsold. With an average success rate of just 61%, there is a strong possibility that you could lose your entry fee and still not get a sale.
How long does it take to sell?
With regular monthly auctions, your chances of a quick sale are higher than with companies who hold auctions less frequently. However, you need to compare auction company success rates, as a lower rate increases the chances that your property will go unsold, delaying your sale by at least a month. With a 61% average success rate almost two out of every five properties will go unsold.
It is worth remembering that the tight, four-week completion timescale for completion 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. That said, Pugh & Co.’s national reach does compensate for this.
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 Pugh & Co Auctions. Our investigators sifted through all of the data and legal records of Pugh & Co 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, Pugh & Co Auctions haven’t received any additional awards or prizes.
There’s nothing more we could add.
3. Pugh & Co Auctions: Customer Experience
To assess the overall user experience (UX) of www.pugh-auctions.com we first analysed their website for ease of use and intuitiveness.
The Pugh & Co Auctions website is very user friendly compared to many auction sites. It has lots of useful information about buying and selling at auction, as well as a comprehensive Q&A section. There are also many more in-depth articles about selling at auction and the auction sector in general.
The ‘meet the team’ section is always a welcome addition, putting faces to names so you know who you are dealing with.
First Response Time
We calculated their First Response Time (FTR) by messaging them at approximately 3 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.
Pugh & Co Auctions responded in 37 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.
Pugh & Co Auctions don’t offer a formal Client Satisfaction Guarantee, however they have been trading for over 25 years and if their Feefo reviews are anything to go by, they have many very satisfied customers.
Client Complaints Procedure
Pugh & Co Auctions has a published complaints procedure on their website that details who to complain to and the timescale in which to expect a response. They are also members of the Property Ombudsman service, through Eddisons. This means customers have the extra protection of independent mitigation for any disagreements that cannot be solved directly with the company.
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.
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. Pugh & Co Auctions: Online Presence
In this section, we’ll discuss what the public thinks of Pugh & Co 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
- Feefo 4.5/5 from 156 reviews
The Pugh & Co website boasts highlights their excellent Feefo reviews and quotes a large number of glowing testimonials. These are very impressive with a large number of five-star reviews. We were unable to find reviews on Trustpilot or Google.
Domain Rating
- Domain Rating (DR) – 40 / 100
- Search Traffic – 4,500 unique visitors per month
Social media presence
- Facebook – 2.4k followers
- Instagram – 469 followers
- LinkedIn – 7k followers
- X (Twitter) – 2,272 followers
Media Mentions
- N/A
TV Channel Features
- N/A
Pugh & Co also has its own dedicated YouTube channel, Pugh & Co, with a small number of videos explaining the property sector and how best to sell your house.
We didn’t find anything suspicious with Pugh & Co 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
Pugh & Co Auctions is a large, well-established auction house, which has been part of the larger Eddisons Group since 2016. They have a very good reputation as reflected in their number of excellent independent reviews.
Their website is straightforward to use, providing lots of handy information and presenting the company as a friendly organisation to work with. They claim to be ‘one of the best property auctioneers in the UK,’ and to ‘focus on continually delivering results and consistently achieving above the expectations of our clients.’
Pugh & Co offer lower than average charges, on both their commission and their auction entry fees, making them good value for potential sellers.
One of the major advantages of using Pugh & Co.is their national network of chartered surveyors who are available to assess properties and offer expert advice.
On the downside, Pugh & Co’s sales record is average at best, selling around 60% of properties. This makes them little better than an ‘each way bet’ when it comes to selling your home, and you need to consider this carefully when deciding how to sell, especially if you need a quick sale for personal or financial reasons.
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.
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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.
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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
Pugh & Co 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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