Concierge Auctions, the Nation's Premier Luxury Real Estate Auction Firm, Continues Expansion With Projects in 15 States in 2011

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Concierge Auctions, the nation's preeminent luxury real estate auction firm, auctioned high-end properties throughout 15 states in 2011. The year proved successful for the NYC-based company, as the firm produced a number of record sales, strengthened its internal client services, marketing and technology teams, and broadened the public's awareness of its platform as a choice method to produce the highest, market-driven price for premier properties.

"2011 proved a positive year of continued growth and expansion for Concierge Auctions, not only in geographic reach and record transactions but also with our internal teams, technology systems and market insight. We had the pleasure of working with a notable group of sophisticated, motivated sellers and savvy, opportunistic buyers who value our accelerated solution as opposed to relying solely on traditional brokerage methods," stated CEO George Graham. "Based on our strong pipeline of upcoming auctions, we're expecting 2012 to be another record year for the company. As the market for luxury homes begins to stabilize, our business will continue to attract sellers who want to realize a fair market price for their homes in a time-efficient manner and buyers who want to purchase with certainty they are paying a fair market price."

Concierge's aggressive global marketing campaigns attracted buyer interest from all US states and 130 countries, generating an average of 185 inquiries and 9 bidders per property sold at live auction.

Building on a centuries-old method for selling the finest art and antiquities, Concierge combines the latest technologies and marketing programs with experienced personnel to generate the maximum value for the most premier properties through competition — a process that identifies fair market value for high-end properties in a 60-day timeframe. Worldwide participation is attracted through aggressive, innovative marketing, and bidders are able to participate via the Internet, in person and over the telephone.

Significant sales conducted by Concierge Auctions during 2011 include:

• "Cove House", an elegant French Norman-style estate on 2.03 private acres abutting Scott's Cove in Darien, Connecticut, with access to the Long Island Sound and less than an hour from New York City. The live auction, held in cooperation with Kelly Associates, generated approximately $8 million for the property, which was the highest residential sale in the Darien Multiple Listing Service in 2011. "Before choosing to auction I weighed all of my options and analyzed the Concierge process in detail. Ultimately I was excited about the highly customized marketing plan, and I have to say they executed on everything promised," stated the seller, Andrew Osinski. "The process attracted interest, generated competition and created a market. It was a thrilling experience, and I firmly believe the future of luxury home sales will be increasingly weighted towards the Concierge Auctions methodology."
• Villa Collina, a stunning, 36,000-square-foot estate modeled after an Italian villa with breathtaking views of the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tennessee, which went under contract prior to the auction date in cooperation with Alliance Sotheby's International Realty. The president and CEO of oil-and-gas company Miller Energy Resources, Scott Boruff, purchased the fully furnished property  for $9.5 million — the highest price ever achieved for a residence in Knoxville. "The number of high-caliber prospects Concierge Auctions produced was impressive. In only three weeks they attracted national attention from various publications including the Wall Street Journal, and in turn more interested buyers were identified than in the prior years the property was on and off the market," stated listing agent Debbie Elliott-Sexton.
• The Rubber Snake Ranch, a luxury Rocky Mountain estate located just 35 miles north of Jackson Hole comprised of three distinct parcels including a 1930s historic lodge, which resulted in a total sale price of $3.7 million in cooperation with RE/MAX Obsidian Real Estate – the highest price on record in Moran, WY; and The Bighorn Lodge, also in Jackson Hole, a premier mountain residence surrounded on three sides by Grand Teton National Park that sold for $7.3 million, marking the highest reported price in 2011 north of Gros Ventre Junction and Concierge's fourth consecutive success in the greater Jackson Hole market. The Bighorn Lodge was sold in cooperation with Jackson Hole Sotheby's International Realty. "The Concierge team is about perfection. They exceeded my expectations in everything they did - from marketing and advertising to on-the-ground sales efforts. In only four weeks the Concierge process generated more interest than a traditional Realtor could in one or two years," stated the seller, Bronko Terkovich.

Concierge is already in full swing for 2012, with auctions scheduled for a 27,000-square-foot estate with two adjacent parcels in Scottsdale, AZ (ScottsdaleLuxuryAuction.com); an exquisite residence in the Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear's Club golf community in Jupiter, FL (BearsClubAuction.com); and a custom, 18,000-square-foot Spanish Trail estate in Las Vegas, NV (VegasLuxuryAuction.com). Additional auctions are upcoming in Colorado, Florida, Hawaii and Montana, among others.

As a preferred auction provider to Sotheby's International Realty® and other luxury brokerage firms nationwide, the company is currently accepting applications from sellers and listing brokers with premier, storied properties. For more information about Concierge and its services call 888-966-4759 or visit www.ConciergeAuctions.com.

About Concierge Auctions: Concierge Auctions is the preeminent luxury real estate auction firm serving high-end sellers nationwide through an accelerated marketing process that obtains fair market value for high-end properties in a 60-day timeframe. As a preferred auction partner to Sotheby's International Realty^® and other luxury brokerage firms nationwide, the company has executed auctions from New York to Hawaii and hosts a database that includes more than 100,000 luxury real estate buyers and agents from all 50 states and 38 countries and territories.  The principals of Concierge Auctions have been involved in the transfer of more than $2 billion in luxury real estate sales over the past 10 years.  For more information, call 888-966-4759 or visit www.ConciergeAuctions.com.

SOURCE Concierge Auctions