31-07-2025
Burned out Lancashire house had a record 108 bids at auction
Property auctions are known as a place to pick up homes at a bargain price. But while the lots on offer are not always in pristine condition, bidding can get competitive for homes that catch buyers' eyes. This is especially the case when savvy bidders spot an opportunity to renovate and restore a property to its former glory - either to live in or to sell on for a tidy profit.
This home in the popular village of Cockerham, Lancashire, which has been damaged by fire, proved a huge hit when it went under the hammer in an Auction House online sale earlier this week. The four-bed property was listed with a guide price of £46,000, but rocketed far above that after receiving the highest-ever number of bids the auction house has ever seen. Nine bidders competed for the three-storey detached home, racking up 108 bids between them and smashing through the previous record of 80.
In the end, it sold for more than three and half times its guide price at £168,000. For those who can see past the damage, the property offers a spacious entrance hall, large living room, kitchen, utility room, WC and conservatory on the ground floor. There was a three-car garage, which was heavily damaged in the fire.
Why was the house so popular?
The village of Cockerham is small, with a population of less than 700 - so this property represented a rare opportunity to get a foothold in the area. Boasting picturesque country views, it is located about 8 miles south of Lancaster, and in close reach of coastal towns such as Heysham and Morecambe.
It has popular walking routes as well as parachute jumping and cycle rental. According to Rightmove, homes in Cockerham sold for an average of £182,667 over the last year, more than the £168,000 auction sale price - though this figure is probably based on just a handful of sales, and we don't know what type of homes they were.
