Blogs of author

So, after perusing a number of new catalogues over the past couple of days, our midweek auction hot picks, include this quirky one in Co Durham.

It's a 3 bed barn conversion, and admittedly the photos really don't do it any favours, as they're all from the outside and look a bit "colourless", but someone with a creative streak will see that and want to inject a bit of life into the place. We think this property will be stunning once it's modernised, and the garden will be gorgeous with a bit of tlc. Bags of potential and makes us want to grab a paintbrush and add some colour to bring it to

An iconic Newport building which was once an award-winning restaurant is on the market to the highest bidder.

The building, in the city’s historic and improving Lower Dock Street, which for a decade housed the popular, award-winning The Chandlery restaurant before it closed in May 2013, is for sale through Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions.

The substantial, three-storey former ship's chandlers premises, which very briefly reopened for 12 days as a French-style bistro in October 2013, but which has lain empty since then, includes a premises to the rear which is let to Midnight Motor Factors plus

Selling a property by auction is easier than many people think, and the prices that we achieve are usually higher than expected too.

It all starts with an email enquiry or a phone call to us. We will pass on your details to the best performing auction house in your area, at which point you'll be asked about your property, your situation and your requirements.

An Auctioneer or an Auction Valuer will visit and inspect your property, then advise you on the best method of sale. If it is 'Sale by Auction,' you will be given Guide Price recommendations, and our auctioneers will talk you through the

The sleepy county of Rutland in the East Midlands countryside has been named as the best rural place to live in Britain.

Residents' good health, rate of employment and weather were among the many factors taken into account by the annual Halifax Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey, which saw Rutland named as the rural idyll for the first time.

Over 96 per cent of residents reported good or fairly good health, while weekly earnings averaged a high £626. The county also enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the country, less rainfall per year than the national average and an adult population

So over the weekend, whilst the majority of you were outside sunning yourselves, we were busy in the office uploading some new properties into our database for your perusal.

This property in Somerset, caught our eye in particular for what it has externally rather than for the property itself, although it is rather an attractive 2 bedroom stone building in it's own right. It is perfect for the green fingered homeowner! As the house is requiring some modernisation, any owner occupier would also need to be a keen DIY enthusiast given the work that is required inside.

It's the garden that makes

Vacant and tenanted properties across Leeds are set to tempt investors at Eddisons’ next auction this Thursday.

Among the lots is Virginia Cottage, a vacant five bedroom house close to Street Lane in the popular area of Roundhay. Arranged for multiple occupancy, it has previously produced annual income of £18,600. The guide price is £150,000+.

Meanwhile a newly constructed four bedroom house at The Blossoms in Methley is guided at £140,000+. Arranged over three floors the vacant property enjoys a spacious layout including a modern dining kitchen, separate lounge and a jack and jill ensuite to

A house in Worthing built at the end of the reign of Queen Victoria has come onto the market for the first time.

Built by local builder and developer William Wenban Smith, the house is one of four in the terrace.

Internally it is like a time warp with some lovely original features. All the doors, door mouldings and skirting boards have the original painted wood grain effect which is in remarkable condition. There is an outside WC and one of the bedrooms still has evidence of wall-mounted gas light fittings.

As this house is at the end of the terrace it also has the additional benefit of a

A LARGE building in the heart of Boscombe sold for £345,000 after a bidding war at an auction.

The freehold on the three-storey property at 580 Christchurch Road was among 24 lots being sold by regional land and property auctioneers Clive Emson.

Rob Marchant, auctioneer, said: "We received keen interest in the property, resulting in a bidding war. The final bid came in at £65,000 above guide price. There is a lot of property for the money here, in a prime retail area."

The ground floor is occupied by Giggle, a charity, at a current rent of £15,000 while a flat generates £525 per calendar

An Art Deco-style house called Shangri La has been snapped up at auction for £200,000.

Dayne and Julie Bartlett now plan to invest £80,000 to return the three bed 1930’s time warp property in Bryn Road, Pontllanfraith, near Blackwood, back to its former glory.

The couple, who own a selection of businesses including one which restores and converts iconic VW camper vans, bought the Grade II listed building which is packed with period features for £200,000 at Paul Fosh Auctions.

The idiosyncratic, eye-catching double fronted property, which had a guide price of £170,000, was the most popular

A block of toilets with a stunning sea view across St Austell bay has been sold at auction for £115,000.

The 502 sq ft loo block and grounds has been sold to a mystery buyer - after smashing the freehold guide price of £75,000 to £95,000.

The toilets in Charlestown, Cornwall, look across St Austell Bay and its historic harbour and auctioneers said it would make an ideal holiday home, auctioneers have said.

Plymouth-based Graham Barton, auctioneer and regular on BBC One's Homes Under The Hammer said the final selling price had been "a breathtaking outcome".

He said: "It was a spectacular lot