What Essential Information Group does

Essential Information Group (EIG) is a privately held, UK-based data services company founded in 1991 that operates EIG Auction Insights, a subscription-based platform providing comprehensive coverage of UK property auctions. The platform aggregates auction listings from over 550 active UK auctioneers into a single searchable database, supported by historical sales data spanning approximately 25 years and covering more than 600,000 lots sold and over 1 million historical auction records. Core product features include a property search interface with price, type, and time filters, an auction alerts system that notifies users of new listings matching their criteria, a comparable property analysis tool that surfaces similar prior sales in the same area, and a property history research function. The company launched a live-streaming feature that allows users to watch UK property auctions in real time.

The company operates a product-led growth motion with a free trial offering (no credit card required) that funnels users into paid subscriptions, supplemented by a monthly newsletter programme running continuously since January 2006, content marketing via its website, and email-based auction alerts. EIG serves four primary customer segments: individual property investors (primary), property developers (primary), professional surveyors (secondary), and auction houses (secondary B2B). The auctioneer services line provides resources to auction houses to support auction organisation, creating a two-sided platform dynamic. The business has operated continuously and self-sufficiently for over three decades, with David Sandeman identified as a key executive, and has no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, or external funding.

EIG monetises primarily through recurring subscription fees for access to the EIG Auction Insights platform, with secondary revenue from services to auction houses. Pricing tiers are not publicly disclosed and no revenue figures are available. Distribution is entirely UK-domestic and direct-to-user via the eigpropertyauctions.co.uk web platform, with endorsements from major auction houses (Savills, Cheffins, Allsop, Hunters, Paul Fosh, Loveitts, Auction House East Anglia, and others) serving as a marketing channel. The company does not disclose AI/ML capabilities, API offerings, mobile applications, or international operations.

Name

Essential Information Group

Legal name

Essential Information Group

Website

https://eigpropertyauctions.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Essential Information Group operates EIG Auction Insights, a UK subscription-based property auction data platform covering 600,000+ lots sold and 1M+ historical records from 550+ auctioneers, serving investors, developers, and surveyors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

UK property auction data and analytics platform

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Virtual Real Estate Auctions (Marketplace Platforms) (BPAJAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real Estate Auction Services (FSAEAJAL), Enterprise Search, Indexing & Content Discovery (HDAEAGAH)

Keywords

• UK property auctions
• Auction data platform
• Property due diligence
• Auction alert service
• Comparable sales data

Headquarters

HQ city

Reigate

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription-based Data Access: EIG provides a subscription-based service enabling clients to access information on every auction property in the UK that has either been sold or is going to auction. The service includes search functionality, alerts, and historical data.
2. Services to Auction Houses: EIG provides various resources and services to auction houses to facilitate the organisation of property auctions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Essential Information Group operates EIG Auction Insights, a subscription-based online platform that aggregates virtually every UK property auction into a single searchable database. The platform delivers current and historical auction listings (over 600,000 lots sold and 1 million+ records over 25 years), comparable property search, property history research, and email-based auction alerts. It is sold to property investors, developers, surveyors, and auction houses across the UK.

Product overview

Essential Information Group operates EIG Auction Insights, a unified subscription-based platform for UK property auction data. The core service aggregates virtually all UK property auction listings into a searchable database and provides historical sales data for comparable property analysis. The platform includes auction alert notifications, search tools for finding investment opportunities, and access to regional/national auction statistics via monthly newsletters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EIG Auction Insight: The company's primary data resource platform offering property auction information, research tools, and auction alerts for surveyors, investors, and property professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves time by consolidating auction data from hundreds of websites and catalogues into one searchable platform
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• LoveittsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLoveitts is an auctioneer recommending EIG's services to potential buyers. They endorse EIG for its up-to-date, accurate information on lots available and auction results.
• SavillsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSavills, a major property auctioneer, describes EIG as 'The only auction information service I would ever recommend - Outstanding!'
• Auction House East AngliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBryan Baxter endorses EIG, stating that with detailed information on past, present and future lots, EIG's online service is a necessity for anyone considering buying at auction.
• Hunters Property AuctionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJohn Waterhouse states that Essential Information Group provides the most comprehensive and up to date information available to prospective buyers throughout the UK.
• Paul Fosh AuctionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPaul Fosh states the EIG database is a fast and easy to navigate system providing endless amounts of property evidence and information, used daily as an invaluable service.
• Andrew Morris Estate Agents LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAndrew Morris finds EIG a great tool for promoting property auctions and for finding up-to-minute information on other auctions in their area and nationally.
• Robinson & HallminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDavid Jones describes EIG as 'The service used by professionals'.
• All Wales Auction - North Wales AuctionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMelfyn Williams states EIG web pages are the definitive guide to buying at auction, a site not to be missed for investment opportunities.
• Phillip Arnold AuctionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhillip Arnold states that marketing through Essential Information Group is a must for all auctioneers, providing the best marketing medium available for exposure.
• First for AuctionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDaniel Gale states the EIG website is an invaluable tool for anyone considering investing in property or land.
• CheffinsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSimon Gooderham describes EIG as an unrivalled service providing comprehensive and up to date information to help maximise opportunities for buyers, sellers and auctioneers.
• Allsop CommercialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorge Walker describes EIG as 'marvellous, yet again', indicating ongoing positive relationship with the auction house.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• HM Land Registry: UK government body providing official land and property ownership records, sold price data, and title information. Provides foundational UK property transaction data that overlaps with EIG's historical comparables, though free to access and a public-sector rather than commercial platform.
• Allsop: One of the UK's largest commercial and residential property auctioneers. Allsop is a current EIG partner/endorser but is also a major auctioneer with direct buyer relationships and its own catalogue — could be considered a partial competitor or partner.

Broad incumbents

• OnTheMarket: UK property portal competing with Rightmove and Zoopla. Lists auction properties among broader residential and commercial inventory — relevant as another broad UK real estate platform with potential auction data expansion.
• Rightmove: UK's largest property portal listing residential and commercial properties for sale and at auction. While not a dedicated auction data platform, Rightmove aggregates listings across the broader UK real estate market including auction lots, and could expand auction-specific coverage that overlaps EIG's offering.
• Zoopla: Major UK property portal offering listings for sale and at auction. Like Rightmove, Zoopla operates at a broader UK real estate scale but increasingly surfaces auction-specific data, making it a potential alternative or aggregator competitor to EIG.

Emerging players

• Realyse: UK residential property data analytics platform providing market insights, valuations, and transaction data to investors and developers. Realyse overlaps with EIG on serving UK property investors with data-driven decision tools, though its focus is broader than auctions specifically.
• LandInsight (LandTech): UK-focused property data and analytics platform serving developers, investors, and agents with planning, comparable sales, and land data. LandInsight addresses a similar audience of property professionals and investors via subscription software — adjacent rather than direct overlap.
• Acadata / Adzuna Property: UK residential property data and analytics firm providing house price index data, transaction records, and market intelligence to lenders and investors. Overlaps with EIG on historical sales/comparables data, though at a broader non-auction market scale.
• PropertyData: UK property data platform offering market analytics, sold prices, and valuations to investors and developers. Serves a similar investor/developer audience to EIG but does not specialize in auction-specific aggregation.

Regional players

• BidX1: Online property auction platform operating across multiple European markets including the UK, Spain, and Ireland. While BidX1 operates its own auctions rather than aggregating data, it represents an alternative digital auction model relevant to UK property investors served by EIG.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AuctionProperty
• Facebookfacebook.com/EIGPropertyAuctions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Essential Information Group