I bought at auction back in early September and I paid a few thousand pounds more than I wanted to so I was a bit irked, but I wanted a project, and was ready to buy. I had decided that the brief period that we've had since 2009 when you could get a bargain in some parts of London was well and truly over.

Back in September, I bid at auction on Lot 1 and unusually sat at the front row in the room because I wanted to stay focused and didn't want to feel intimidated by the hordesof people filling up the room. When I won the bidding contest I turned around and was taken aback by just how packed the room was, soI signed my contract and felt glad to escape. The project has gone well soI decided to maintain the momentum with my builder and try and get another property for the New Year. I looked at eight lots recently at Strettons and Savills but the viewings were really busy and my soundings via the auctioneer's staff were that properties were likely to sell for way over the guide price. I prepared my usual spreadsheet and decided that I would be unlikely to bid, but went along to the Strettons auction anyway to see if these predictions would prove correct.

Two of the early lots - 3 and 5 - were houses in East London guided at £200,000 and £300,000. They sold for £385,000 and £336,000 respectively, so that's 68% and 28% over guide price.