House prices have fallen, risen and are falling again. But the real problem here for buyers and sellers is the number of properties being sold.

Transactions are down by 50% from 2007, according to figures from the Land Registry. Rightmove website showed that there was an average of 9,150 new homes listed for sale - almost half the 17,000 average seen before the recession hit.

But what of auctions? The auction room is not only the fare of bargain home buyers - it can provide good deals for both the residential buyer or seller.

If you’re buying a home, you’ll be able to find properties that are priced to sell, and sellers who price their property well may benefit from a healthy competition increasing its value.

David Sandeman, a specialist at the Essential Information Group (EIG), said: 'Against a backdrop of continuing economic difficulties, and a slow property market generally, the auction market has fared relatively well over the last four years, and recently has shown some signs of tentative recovery.'