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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 Taylor James Auctions review. Our private researchers analysed their company records, strengths and weaknesses.
In here, you’ll find everything you need to know about Taylor James 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
8th July 2020
Members of RICS
Not stated
Members of Propertymark
Not stated
Trading standards approved?
Not stated
Members of TPO
Claimed but not confirmed
Registered with ICO
Not stated
How often are auctions held
Monthly
Online auctions
Yes
Fees
1% + VAT (min £1500 + VAT)
£400 + VAT upfront listing fee
Complaints procedure
None shown
Customer service
3 / 5
Google rating
2.6 / 5 (4 reviews)
Trustpilot service
2.6 / 5 (4 reviews)
Taylor James auctions is a medium sized property auction house based in the West Midlands and serving the Midlands and the North of England. They hold monthly auctions online using the traditional method of auction. They are a relatively new company and have had mixed reviews in their short time doing business.
- PSW Rating
3 / 5
1. Taylor James Auctions: Company Overview
(source: Companies House)
- Listed with Companies House: 8th July 2020
- Registered Office: 35 Ballards Lane, London, United Kingdom, N3 1XW
- There is one currently registered director: Russell Taylor
- Company number: 12729589
- All the information seems up to date and correct
Taylor James Auctions is a relatively new auction house that was only established in 2020. That said, the director, Russell Taylor says that he has twenty years’ experience and has personally handled over 4,500 lots at auction for both private and corporate clients.
The company hold monthly property auctions, mostly of private residential property, with between ten and twenty properties per auction. They cover property across the north of England, from Durham to Cumbria, as well as properties in the West Midlands, where the company is based.
Auction houses such as Taylor James Auctions offer a quick and easy way to sell your property. This sits somewhere between selling at full price with an estate agent, which can take six months or more, and selling to a fast cash buyer, which will be quicker than an auction sale, but may get you a lower price.
Auctions will charge commission, in this case, 1% plus VAT. You will also have to pay legal fees for the preparation of documents both prior to the listing and following the sale, and a non-refundable entry fee for the sale itself, in this case £400 plus VAT. There is no commission or legal fees to pay on a quick cash home sale.
Auctions can generate a higher selling price for your property if there is competitive interest, however there are no guarantees. 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. For example, just 2/11 properties sold in Taylor James’s July 2024 auction. This can delay your sale until the next auction or beyond. 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. Taylor James Property Auctions: Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor James Auctions hold auctions every month, all online, with bidders able to take part online, by phone or by proxy bid. These auctions generally contain between ten and twenty lots. They sold 43 of 62 properties put up for auction between January and June 2024, giving them a success rate of around 69%.
Taylor James Auctions have only been trading for a few years and have yet to establish themselves or gain a worthwhile reputation. That said, their founder and director, Russell Taylor has significant experience in the industry.
They appear to work in the lower value end of the market, with many derelict or run down properties offered in recent auctions and most sales below £100,000. Many of their properties change hands for £20,000 or less. This makes them an excellent choice for sellers of low value homes, but could make them less attractive to better quality, higher value home sellers.
It should be noted that the company has a significant number of poor or one-star reviews, mostly from buyers rather than sellers. Although, to be fair, they also have many five-star reviews from satisfied customers. This mixed bag of reviews makes it difficult to establish just how good Taylor James Auctions really are and what level of service customers should expect.
Are they Propertymark members?
Taylor James website does not show a Propertymark logo and they could not be found on a search of the Propertymark website.
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, Taylor James Auctions may still be Propertymark members, but simply not list this on their website.
Are they TPO members?
This is not clear. Taylor James Auctions do show an older version of the Property Ombudsman logo on their website, however they cannot be found using a current members search on TPO website.
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 deliver binding resolutions, including compensation payments of up to £25,000.
Are They Regulated By RICS?
Their website does not show whether Taylor James 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. These must 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?
Taylor James Auctions is not listed as registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent regulatory body set up to uphold information rights. The ICO 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 Taylor James Auctions website has privacy and cookies policies 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.
The privacy policy states that Taylor James Auctions has ‘a zero-tolerance approach to the passing on of any data stored within our business without the client’s consent’. This suggests that you should be safe from unsolicited sales emails and other unwanted contact.
However, you may still receive marketing emails and advertising not only from Taylor James, 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?
At the time of writing, Taylor James Auctions have been trading for just f years, although their founder has 20 years’ experience in the auction industry.
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. Taylor James Auctions may not have reached this benchmark in their current incarnation, but their founder and director does have significant experience.
How often Are Auctions Held?
Taylor James Auctions hold property sales online approximately once a month. The number of lots varies from as few as seven to as many as forty-six, with auctions generating between half a million and one and a half million pounds in sales.
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 Taylor James Property Auctions?
Taylor James 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 £400+VAT upfront to enter an auction, and this will not be returned if the property is withdrawn or goes unsold. This is about average for the sector.
However, several of the reviews would suggest that the fees for buyers are higher than the industry average, and this could put many buyers off, especially given the typical low sale price of properties.
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, Taylor James Auctions have a moderately successful track record when it comes to auction sales. On average, in the first six months of 2024, they sold 43 of 62 properties offered over five auctions with 69% of properties sold, although sales rates do vary significantly. Their highest success rate was 85%, with the lowest success rate being just 18%.
Auctions can provide a very fast and certain sale, especially when compared to waiting for months on the open market, where as many as one in three estate agent sales fail.
With an auction sale, 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 legally binding and contracts must be exchanged there and then. The buyer must pay a 10% deposit and must complete the sale within 28 days or risk losing this deposit.
However, this very short deadline for completion can leave potential buyers without sufficient time to organise their finances and get the required mortgage for the purchase. As a result, the pool of potential auction buyers will often be restricted to developers, investors and cash buyers.
It’s worth remembering that even with a relatively successful auction house like Taylor James Auctions, not all properties will sell. Taylor James’s average success rate still leaves around a third of properties unsold. If this happens to you, then you will have to wait for the next auction, which could be several weeks away, and still have no guarantee of a sale.
This is why 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 Taylor James Auctions. Our investigators sifted through all of the data and legal records of Taylor James 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, Taylor James Auctions haven’t received any additional awards or prizes.
There’s nothing more we could add.
3. Taylor James Auctions: Customer Experience
To assess the overall user experience (UX) of taylorjamesauctions.co.uk we first analysed their website for ease of use and intuitiveness.
The Taylor James Auctions website is rather out of date in that it refers to the Commonwealth Games coming to Birmingham in 2022 and makes reference to HS2 which has been significantly scaled back. This poor level of attention to their customer facing site does not create a good impression for the company.
The website does features up to date listings for their upcoming auctions, as well as results from recent auctions. This is a very open and honest approach that not only shows you their success rate, but also gives you an idea of the prices properties have sold for.
The website is fairly simple and straightforward and offers basic guides to buying and selling. It is not as user friendly or as informative as many auction houses, and it is predominantly a shop window for upcoming auctions.
The site introduces the team, so you can put a face to the name you are dealing with. This can be reassuring when dealing with the firm remotely in an online auction.
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.
Taylor James Auctions responded in 56 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
Taylor James Auctions website does not list a formal Client Satisfaction Guarantee, although this may be available on request. There are no terms and conditions listed either, although these may be available on request
Client Complaints Procedure
Most reputable companies will have a formal complaints procedure detailed on their website. This shows clients how to raise 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.
Taylor James Auctions does not have a published complaints procedure on their website, although one may be available on request. Taylor James Auctions claim to be ‘affiliated’ with The Property Ombudsman, so you may be able to use their dispute resolution service in the event of problems. However, current TPO membership has not been confirmed.
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. Taylor James Property Auctions: Online Presence
In this section, we’ll discuss what the public thinks of Taylor James 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 2.6/5 (4 reviews)
- Google reviews 2.6/5 (34 reviews)
Taylor James Auctions do not rate well on average on either Trustpilot or Google reviews. That said, they appear to be something of a Marmite company, with 11/34 five-star reviews on Google and 16/34 one-star reviews. Customers appear to either love them or hate them, with little in between. It is difficult to know which level of service you will receive.
Domain Rating
- Domain Rating (DR) – 32 / 100
- Search Traffic – 5,600 unique visitors per month
Social media presence
- Facebook – 1.4k followers
- Instagram – link from website not working
Media Mentions
- N/A
TV Channel Features
- N/A
We didn’t find anything suspicious with Taylor James 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
It is always difficult to judge a relatively new company with few independent reviews, and even more so when those reviews are so polar in their opinions.
Taylor James is a relatively new player in the auction sector, but it is backed by the considerable experience of its founder. They are relatively successful, with an average sales rate of 69% for the first half of 2024, and their fees are reasonable, for sellers at least.
There is nothing special about Taylor James Auctions, and there is nothing especially negative either. On balance, they are a medium sized, middle of the road residential property auction house covering the Midlands and the North.
Potential sellers should read their reviews carefully to see for themselves what to expect, and they may decide that the many positive reviews are enough to make Taylor James Auctions worth a try.
As the company becomes more established, holds more auctions and gathers more independent reviews, it will become easier to assess the truth about their service and the way that they treat their customers.
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.
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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.
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Compare Companies
Taylor James 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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