In The News - Article

J. Durham & Associates, Inc. and Martin Realty Advisors have announced the opening of a marketing center in the Atlanta area to primarily serve banks and financial companies in the southeast, helping them to reduce excess inventory brought on by the recent financial crisis.

Joe Durham and Gerry Martin, one of the principals at Martin Realty, know the time for considering an auction could not be better. “We serve residential, commercial and development property owners,” says Durham, a relative of Martin’s. “Many clients of Martin Realty are looking at the total cost of selling a property and realizing that an auction can maximize their value.

“When you take into account the selling cycle, holding time and competitive bidding nature of an auction, you have several reasons to sell at auction versus a traditional marketing method.”

With the national foreclosure rate at an all-time high, auctions are becoming very popular with lenders who have excess inventory to sell. However, bank-owned real estate is not the only property that can be auctioned off. Developers can reduce excess land inventory, new construction and even equipment at auction. Farmers find auctions to be an effective way to sell land and equipment. Even individual homeowners have found that auctions can reduce their market time and bring a higher price during an “auction frenzy.”

For 30 years, J. Durham and Associates Inc. has provided its clients with professional auction services and stellar results. Their successful auctions demand that particular attention is paid to each and every detail at the precise moment to insure that the property is promoted to the largest possible market at its targeted time. J. Durham and Associates’ in-house advertising, including direct mail, newspaper advertising, billboards, radio and television, the Internet and working with local real estate brokers and Realtors.

Staging an auction and promoting it as a special event is crucial. The more competitors that are bidding on a property, the higher the price will go. Another factor is the auctioneer. An animated and professional auctioneer can coax more activity out of a crowd, bringing a higher price for the seller. J. Durham’s closing team members work hard to ensure that closings proceed as schedule and follow contract guidelines.

So, next time you are in Atlanta, don’t be surprised to see J. Durham & Associates auction signs popping up around the city. For more information on how J. Durham and Associates, Inc. Realtors and Auctioneers can assist you, call them at (800) 342-2666.