Dempsey Auction
Dempsey Auction Company is a third-generation, family-owned real estate and equipment auction firm headquartered in Rome, Georgia, licensed in six southeastern U.S. states. It conducts live, simulcast, and online-only auctions for property sellers, equipment buyers, and nonprofit fundraising clients via the MarkNet bidding platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersRome, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Dempsey Auction does
Dempsey Auction Company is a third-generation, family-owned auction firm headquartered in Rome, Georgia, operating under the legal name Dempsey Auction Company. The company traces its roots to Sproull Dempsey Sr.'s auction career beginning in the 1940s, with formal operations established in 1965. It is led by CEO Ray Dempsey (second generation) and President Louie Ray Dempsey Jr. (third generation), supported by an 11-person team of licensed auctioneers, real estate agents, and operations specialists.
The firm's core business is conducting auctions of real estate (residential, commercial, land, agricultural, investment properties) and equipment/vehicles (construction, fleet, trucks), plus nonprofit fundraising auctions. Auctions are delivered in three formats: traditional live/on-site auctions at the property, live/simulcast hybrid events, and online-only auctions via the MarkNet bidding platform at bids.dempseyauction.com (the online-only format launched May 2022). Sellers face no upfront costs; revenue is generated entirely through a Buyer's Premium charged to winning bidders — 10% on real estate transactions, 13.5% on equipment/vehicles (with a 3.5% discount for cash/check payment). Real estate closings require 10% down on sale day with balance due at closing within 30 days.
Dempsey holds paired auctioneer and real estate broker licenses across six southeastern states (Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida), enabling cross-state deal execution. Distribution channels include direct seller outreach with on-site property evaluations, a formalized realtor referral program, content marketing through a blog and Constant Contact email list, and partnerships with complementary service providers (closing, brokerage). The company also conducts nonprofit fundraising auctions for organizations including the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, and Ducks Unlimited. In 2021, the firm reported over $25 million in real estate sold on behalf of clients, including 1,020+ acres.
Dempsey Auction firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dempsey Auction
- Legal name
- Dempsey Auction Company
- Website
- https://dempseyauction.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Dempsey Auction Company is a third-generation, family-owned real estate and equipment auction firm headquartered in Rome, Georgia, licensed in six southeastern U.S. states. It conducts live, simulcast, and online-only auctions for property sellers, equipment buyers, and nonprofit fundraising clients via the MarkNet bidding platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dempsey Auction industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Real Estate and Equipment Auction Services
- akta.pro industry
- Residential Real Estate AuctionsBusiness & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Auction ServicesLand & Farm/Ranch Real Estate AuctionsBusiness & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Auction ServicesCommercial Real Estate AuctionsBusiness & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Auction ServicesLuxury & High-Value Property AuctionsBusiness & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Auction Services
Keywords
Where Dempsey Auction is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rome
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dempsey Auction business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Buyer's Premium Commission: Commission charged on winning bids. Real estate auctions charge 10% Buyer's Premium. Equipment and vehicle auctions charge 13.5% Buyer's Premium with 3.5% discount for cash/check payments.
- Real Estate Auction Services: Primary revenue from auctioning real estate properties including residential, commercial, land, agricultural, and investment properties. Sellers pay no upfront costs; commission is earned from successful transactions.
- Equipment and Vehicle Auctions: Auction services for commercial equipment, vehicles, and fleet assets. Revenue from Buyer's Premium on these transactions.
- Nonprofit Fundraising Auctions: Auction services for nonprofit organizations to raise funds. May include charitable pricing or special arrangements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Real Estate Auction - 10% Buyer's Premium |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Equipment Auction - 13.5% Buyer's Premium |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Farm/Estate Items - GATE Card Exemption |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Dempsey Auction product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dempsey Auction Company is a full-service auction firm that sells real estate, equipment, and vehicles on behalf of property owners, estates, nonprofits, and businesses through live on-site, online-only, and live/simulcast hybrid auction formats. The firm manages the complete auction lifecycle — from property valuation, marketing, and bidder registration to sale execution and post-sale closing — and earns revenue primarily through buyer's premiums and seller commissions.
Product overview
Dempsey Auction Company operates as a third-generation real estate auction firm offering three auction delivery formats: Live/On-Site Auctions (traditional in-person format), Online-Only Auctions (fully remote, launched May 2022), and Live/Simulcast Auctions (hybrid in-person and online). The core service portfolio includes Real Estate Auctions for residential, commercial, and land properties; Equipment and Vehicle Auctions for construction equipment, trucks, and fleet assets; Nonprofit Auction Services for charity and fundraising events; and a Realtor Referral Program. All online auctions utilize the company's proprietary MarkNet bidding platform accessible via bids.dempseyauction.com. The company holds state auctioneer licenses across Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Real Estate Auctions Full-service auction of residential, commercial, agricultural, and land properties for individual property owners, estates, nonprofits, and commercial sellers across Dempsey Auction's licensed U.S. states.
- Equipment and Vehicle Auctions Auction services for heavy equipment, trucks, vehicles, and surplus assets on behalf of contractors, fleet owners, dealerships, and municipalities.
- Online-Only Auctions Online-only auction format conducted entirely through the MarkNet bidding platform, with no live on-site bidding component, expanding access for remote buyers.
- Live / Simulcast Auctions Hybrid auction format that combines a live on-site auction with real-time online simulcast bidding through the MarkNet platform, enabling simultaneous in-person and remote participation.
- Nonprofit Auction Services Auctioneering and event support services for nonprofit and charitable fundraising events, including live and silent auctions designed to maximize fundraising revenue.
- Realtor Referral Program Referral program that pays licensed real estate agents and brokers a referral fee when they send clients to Dempsey Auction for a property sale.
Quantifiable outcome
- $25 million+ in real estate sold in 2021 with 1,020+ acres
Companies that use Dempsey Auction
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Dempsey Auction technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Dempsey Auction partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- George F. Willis RealtyminorCollaboration on specific auctions combining Dempsey's auction marketing expertise with George F. Willis Realty's local market knowledge. Mr. Raborn Taylor III (Auctioneer GAL #4744) of George F. Willis Realty worked with Dempsey on the 38-acre DAMAR Farms auction.
- Leslie Vaughan Simmons (Closing Services)minorClosing services provider for real estate auctions. Located at 1105 N. Tennessee St, Cartersville, GA, handling all closings for auction sales.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Dempsey Auction competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- J.P. King Auction Company: Multi-generational, family-led real estate auction firm headquartered in Gadsden, AL, auctioning residential, commercial, land, and luxury properties across the Southeast. Directly comparable to Dempsey on region, format mix, and seller base.
- Tranzon: National real estate auction company offering live, online, and simulcast auctions for residential, commercial, land, and luxury assets. Comparable business model and product breadth to Dempsey, with a larger geographic footprint.
- Concierge Auctions: Specialist in luxury and high-value real estate auctions using online and live formats with global buyer reach. Comparable to Dempsey's luxury and estate auction work but operating at the very top of the price spectrum.
- Auction.com: Largest online real estate auction marketplace in the US, covering foreclosure, bank-owned, residential, and investment properties via timed online auctions. Differs from Dempsey in being a national digital marketplace rather than a regional live-auction house.
- Xome (Williams & Williams): National online real estate auction platform operating live, timed, and online-only auctions across most US states. Comparable to Dempsey on auction formats and seller/buyer base, though scaled nationally with a technology-led model.
- Hudson & Marshall: US real estate auction firm conducting live and online auctions of residential, land, and commercial properties nationwide. Closely comparable business model and product mix to Dempsey across auction formats.
Emerging players
- United Country Real Estate: Specialist in rural, land, farm, ranch, and estate property with auction services integrated into its brokerage network. Highly comparable to Dempsey's land/farm/ranch auction activity (1,020+ acres in 2021) but operates a broader multi-agent network rather than an auctioneer house.
Broad incumbents
- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (RB Global): Global leader in equipment, truck, and heavy machinery auctions with online marketplace IronPlanet. Comparable to Dempsey's equipment and vehicle auction services but vastly larger, with national/international reach and proprietary technology stack.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Dempsey Auction social profiles
Digital presenceDempsey Auction compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Dempsey Auction financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dempsey Auction leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Dempsey Auction funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dempsey Auction M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dempsey Auction
What does Dempsey Auction do?
Dempsey Auction Company is a full-service auction firm that sells real estate, equipment, and vehicles on behalf of property owners, estates, nonprofits, and businesses through live on-site, online-only, and live/simulcast hybrid auction formats. The firm manages the complete auction lifecycle — from property valuation, marketing, and bidder registration to sale execution and post-sale closing — and earns revenue primarily through buyer's premiums and seller commissions.
Is Dempsey Auction a public or private company?
Dempsey Auction is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Dempsey Auction founded?
Dempsey Auction was founded in 1965. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Dempsey Auction based?
Dempsey Auction is headquartered in Rome, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dempsey Auction make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Buyer's Premium Commission is the primary driver. The others are real Estate Auction Services, equipment and Vehicle Auctions and nonprofit Fundraising Auctions.
Who are Dempsey Auction's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are J.P. King Auction Company, Tranzon, Concierge Auctions, Auction.com, Xome (Williams & Williams) and Hudson & Marshall. United Country Real Estate is listed as an emerging player. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (RB Global) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Dempsey Auction have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dempsey Auction.
What industry is Dempsey Auction in?
Dempsey Auction's product category is Real Estate and Equipment Auction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAEAA, Residential Real Estate Auctions, with a secondary code of BPAJAEAD, Land & Farm/Ranch Real Estate Auctions.