Birmingham auctioneers Bigwood are warning would-be auction
buyers to arrive early for what is set to be a property bonanza in
a packed sales room.
Next week's Bigwood auction is set to be the largest ever held
in Birmingham and probably the largest outside London.
A massive 136 lots go under the hammer at the Aston Villa ground
on Thursday, March 10, starting at 11am.
Managing director Rory Daly predicts a day to remember.
"We are really pleased with the growth we are experiencing and
the wider interest being shown by the business world in taking the
auction route.
"Auctions appeal to a wide cross section of people - sellers can
be confident of a disposal if they pitch their property at the
right price, investors look to sniff out 'a bargain', while first
time buyers have a chance to get on the housing ladder, where
otherwise they might miss out."
The auction features a huge 37 local authority lots from
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Wyre Forest councils.
And there is a wide variety of buildings on offer ranging
through pubs, night clubs and former care homes.
One of the highlights is Hawthorn House, 58-60 Hamstead Hall
Road, Handsworth Wood in Birmingham.
It is a Grade II listed building, once a period house, and
latterly home to Birmingham City Council offices.
"It could be turned back into a very nice home," said joint head
of auctions Ron Darlington. "But it would be a large one - there
are a lot of rooms."
Alternatives might be educational or community facilities or
back to offices.
It has a guide price of £250,000.
Former council offices are also up for sale in Wolverhampton.
The premises at Lea Road, Graiseley, have a guide price of
£65,000.
Other office opportunities are 7-8 New Street, Stourport on
Severn, a three storey Georgian building with a range of elegant
period features worthy of retention, such as timber-framed sash
windows, original fireplaces and high ceilings, guide price
£300,000; 904-906 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham,
guide price £170,000-£175,000; and Grade II Listed,
Bromley House, 12 Dixons Green Road, Dudley, with a guide price of
£170,000.
A host of former care homes feature in the catalogue.
Mr Darlington said this followed a trend as higher standards for
the sector, including the requirement for en-suite, meant
facilities typically built perhaps 30 years ago, while structurally
sound, were often uneconomic to upgrade.
However, he added, many were attracting interest for
educational, religious or community uses.
A cleared site, where once stood The Elms, Alwold Road/Barnes
Hill, Weoley Castle,
Birmingham, has a guide price of £350,000; The Willows, 1
Park Road, Hockley, Birmingham, is a vacant freehold 22-bedroom
former care home and day centre dating from the 1970s, with a guide
price of £400,000; £200,000 will get you Alderlea, 32
Middle Park Road, Bournville, Birmingham; while St Helens, 42
Claughton Road, Dudley, is a double-fronted semi-detached last used
as an eight-bedroom unit, guide price in excess of
£100,000
Time has been called on four pubs which are up for offer - the
Jolly Collier, 222 Huntington Terrace Road, Cannock; The Bear, St
James Lane, Coventry; The Nags Head, 109 The Green, Darlaston; and
the Royal Exchange, 41 Wolverhampton Street, also Darlaston.
Bigwood director Ian Tudor commented: "All four properties are
situated in busy neighbourhood locations and considered suitable
for a wide variety of alternative leisure or retail uses."
They are joined by the Reflex Night Club, 42 Lion Street,
Telford, available at £255,000.
The property includes three dance floors, two DJ areas, two bars
and a bottle bar, plus the lighting and sound system as well as
internal fixtures.
Meanwhile a town centre motor trade premises at 70 King Street,
Dudley, is available at a guide price of £215,000.
For more details or for a catalogue, contact Bigwood on 0121 456
2200 or visit www.bigwood.uk.com