RealtyBizNews - Real Estate Marketing and Beyond
Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Home » Housing » US Real Estate » Auction.com Puts 4 Million In Commercial on the Block

Auction.com Puts $154 Million In Commercial on the Block

By Phil Butler | August 13, 2011

In news from Irvine, California, Auction.com is auctioning off some $154 million in commercial real estate notes on their online real estate auction portal. Online bidding begins August 15th at 10 am PDT, according to the news. RealtyBizNews takes a look at a massive online auction, and the offering platform.

Auction.com landing page

Auction Houses 2011

Auction.com is a leading web based auction company that not only offers up properties for research and bidding, but provides services like; residential loss mitigation, titling, escrow, and closing services. Also, according to this news from the company, after the headline auction, the company will be offering up some 50 commercial REO properties with a collective value over $50 million.  Auction.com CEO Jeff Frieden had this to add:

“Investors can perform due diligence on our website, and we are seeing enormous nationwide pre-auction interest in the myriad of properties available. Despite market volatility, investors are interested in acquiring notes secured by commercial real estate and REO properties. We are gearing up for an aggressive and lively online auction.”

Nothing's Perfect - Not Yet Any Way

These two auctions total over 100 commercial properties across the US; hotels, multi-family units, retail, mixed use, industrial, you name it, if it's commercial investors can find it. But here is where the press about Auction.com meets the reality of online showcases sometimes. Auction.com is calling previewing properties on their site "due diligence" - when the platform has a couple of flaws that need to be fixed. Not massive ones, mind you, but the same old haunting oversights so many real estate sites stumble into.

Due diligence where property is concerned (especially online) has to involve images in quality, size, and quantity so that potential buyers - investors - can view the property sufficiently well. Auction.com appears to use "whatever" images are given them, and puts them in a weak slideshow, as illustrated below.

Auction dot com images suck

Less than 320 pixels - I cannot tell beans about this property

Beside not offering a closer look at what the buyer is in for, the only other major problem with Auction dot com is the apparent inaccessibility of the primaries. Robert Friedman and Jeffrey Frieden have their profiles tucked away down in the site, but a direct line to either of them, Twitter, Facebook, nothing much leads to the main people behind the company. While this kind of exclusivity was popular in the dot com era, accessibility and transparency are a must these days. If you don't want to be bothered, stay offline.

Summary

I will say this about auction.com, the site does allow for searching and finding properties very well. Filtering, looking up just about anything you want to know about an offering, before you make a bid, is very well organized. Would I fork over a dollar without more "dilligence?" Not on your life. But the suggestion by auction, is backed up by contacts for principle people who can answer questions - maybe even shoot you some more images - a video?

Auction.com Facebook pages

Auction.com Facebook pages

 

All in all, auction.com offers a sound service, and on Monday, a huge auction will start. We'll contact the founders and see if we can get more info for you. Until then, check out some killer commercial opportunities. We leave you with another aspect Auction.com takes care of nicely, video info bits. Aside their lead in music (hate being picky but) sounding like porn background, the presenter is credible and the company does a good job of adding value here.

Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
  • Sign up to Realty Biz Buzz
    Get Digital Marketing Training
    right to your inbox
    All Contents © Copyright RealtyBizNews · All Rights Reserved. 2016-2024
    Website Designed by Swaydesign.
    linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram