David Sandeman and Table of Twelve visit the auction room together for a dry run
Publish Date: 26 May 2016
By Beth Fox
Further reading
David Sandeman explains live on LBC Radio about the recent Stamp Duty changes
EIG invited to present at the Progressive Property Conference - May 2016
David Sandeman met up with the Table of Twelve mentorship group at the Barnard Marcus sale room.
17th May 2016 - Grand Connaught Rooms, London
Visiting the auction was a dry run for the group. On the day, the group watched some of the lots they had examined & appraised in detail at the evening session to see how they performed and what they’d make in the room.
It was interesting for the group to see how Lot 2 performed, which had a guide price of £350,00 plus.
In the workshop, David and the group had taken a close look at Lot 2 (a house in Tooting guided at £350,000 plus).
Research on the historic auction price database (EIG) showed similar properties selling for north of £500k plus, and so no surprises to the group when it sold for £505,000.
Table of Twelve host, Trevor Cutmore commented:
"When we went to auction everyone felt very comfortable and confident, although they didn't make any offers on that day because there wasn't something that suited them. However, I've got a friend who I'm going into business with fairly soon and one of those strategies is to buy through auction. So very much what I've learnt & what my friend has learnt has given us the confidence to go forward and buy at auctions to flip some property."
Essential Information Group - News and Information
Keep up to date with our latest news, case studies and what's going on in the property auction industry on our blog.
Buying at auction
25/03/2026
The Most Important Document in the Legal Pack? The One That’s Missing.
Legal packs are often treated as the definitive source of truth in a property transaction. But in reality, they are anything but complete. While they provide essential information, they are built to meet minimum requirements - not to offer full transparency. And in many cases, it’s not what’s included that creates risk, but what’s missing.
Buying at auction
24/03/2026
Guide Prices: Why Buyers Should Treat Them as a Guide to the Reserve
Guide prices are one of the most misunderstood elements of the auction process. Too often, buyers treat them as an indication of a property’s value, when in reality they are designed to signal something entirely different, the likely reserve. In an increasingly competitive and dynamic auction market, understanding this distinction is critical to making informed decisions and avoiding costly assumptions.
Buying at auction
23/03/2026
There’s So Much More Than the Aroma of Hot Coffee…
There’s so much more to selling a property than creating the perfect first impression. While details like fresh coffee, open windows, and careful staging can help set the scene, today’s buyers are looking for something far more important - clarity, confidence, and certainty. And that doesn’t come from how a property feels, but from how well it’s prepared behind the scenes.