Ghost bidding, or manufacturing bids to get a higher price for a property is widespread in the auctioneering business, it was alleged last night on RTÉ’s Prime Time programme.
Two anonymous contributors to the programme – both former estate agents – said it is common practice for auctioneers to “bid up” a property to the price [...]

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has announced that the Government has approved his proposals to establish the Property Services Regulatory Authority Bill, relating to the sale of property.
The legislation will give effect to some of the recommendations of the Auctioneering/Estate Agency Review Group.
This will include the establishment of the Property Services Regulatory Authority, to [...]

Irish firm Freeflow has teamed up with eBay in a deal that will see it offer pre and post-auction business services to the e-commerce site.
Under the agreement, Freeflow will provide sales and administrative services to eBay, while gaining the advantage of the company’s private marketplace. Freeflow helps clients liquidate stock, and sells on their surplus [...]

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and its counterpart in Northern Ireland, Ofcom, have today announced plans to hold two coordinated auctions of radio spectrum licences. This is the first coordinated spectrum auction between the two regulators.

Green Party Leader Trevor Sargent has accused the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Government of facilitating property ‘rip-offs’, by failing to regulate auctioneers, estate agents, management companies and developers.
Deputy Sargent said: “The excellent Prime Time Investigates programme broadcast last night shows that the Government has been turning a blind eye to unethical, illegal and [...]

Irish businesses looking for different routes to market can now sell their wares on eBay as the software firm ChannelAdvisor is making its e-commerce management technology compatible with the auction provider’s Irish website.
ChannelAdvisor’s technology and services are aimed at cutting down the administrative overhead involved in selling over the internet. The company said it works [...]

The Construction Industry Federation has welcomed the housing measures announced in today’s Budget. It said the assistance announced for first time house buyers, including those who have already bought, will underpin confidence in the housing market and help maintain continued high output.
The CIF’s Director General, Liam Kelleher, said he believed, however, that an opportunity to [...]

Just 17 per cent of properties that went to auction in the Greater Dublin area during the second half of this year were sold under the hammer, new figures reveal.
Just 17 per cent of properties that went to auction in the Greater Dublin area during the second half of this year were sold under the [...]