The Steel House in Ransom Canyon went up for auction. Staff photo.
The famous Robert Bruno Steel House in Ransom Canyon was auctioned Tuesday evening for $775,000.
It’s not quite a done deal. The sellers, Courtney and Blake Bartosh, must still give their final blessing, and the winning bidder could back out – albeit with the loss of a 10 percent deposit. The closing date is 45 days – basically the last week in December.
The auction lasted 19 minutes with bids starting at $250,000 and working their way up to the final sale price. There were 20 or so people inside the house, and the Bartoshes said even more bidders were online.
“They had everybody lined up and excited. They were telling us that they had 15 people registered online before [it started] which is unusual for them,” Blake said.
Spanky Assiter, auctioneer, said, “This was more than normal. Used to, we’d have 25 or 30 – even up to 40 participants come. Now we’re down to usually eight or 10 participants per house auction.”
Assiter could not disclose the name of the winning bidder, and he also said once the auction is over, he can no longer disclose the final price.
“We feel like it’s a successful auction, because auctions are not always about price. We like to look at transparency in the number of bidders that we have and the participation in the auctions, because everyone has a different concept of what something’s worth,” Assiter said.
Courtney is a Realtor, and the couple tried listing the house traditionally in the past. Blake explained the decision to hire an auctioneer.
“We did it more just to kind of understand value more than anything else,” Blake said.
Courney added, “It’s an easy way, a fast way, to find what somebody’s willing to pay for it.”
No comparison
“But in all honesty, there’s no ‘comps.’” Blake said.
“Comps” are comparable houses. It’s the same problem chief appraiser with the Lubbock Central Appraisal District Tim Radloff mentioned in our previous coverage.
In trying to set a tax value, Radloff has no other “Steel House” in Lubbock for comparison.
Assiter said, “It is by far and away the most unique house I’ve ever auctioned. I even made that comment in there. I’ve sold auctions in all 50 States and seven countries, and this is by far the most unique home that I’ve ever had the opportunity to sell.”
The Steel House was built by artist and Texas Tech architect professor Robert Bruno. He made it from locally sourced, recycled steel.
Before his death in 2008, Bruno said, “I’m not particularly concerned about having a house. I don’t build this to own a home, I build it because I like doing sculpture,” Bruno said.
When the Bartoshes purchased it from Bruno’s family after his death, the inside was unfinished. Blake did some of the finishing and modernizing work himself and hired contractors too.
“I would essentially walk into a space, say, ‘Oh my God, this is what I see,’” Blake said.
Blake also learned how to cut and solder stained glass.
“The impressive ones are Robert’s. The rest are mine,” Blake said. “After you build the glass, it rattles. … I’m like, well, this isn’t very sturdy. How’s this gonna work?”
A little time on the Internet and some putty got the new stained glass right into shape. Some of the windows tell a story.
“The one over the kitchen is of two birds,” Blake said. “A big lightning storm was one.”
Why buy the house?
“I’m not from Lubbock. I’m from the Austin area. First time I saw it, we were on a boat on the lake and my kids pointed up. ‘Oh, look at that. That’s the spaceship.’ … When the opportunity came, we jumped on it,” Blake said.
The Bartoshes bought in 2021. Their kids are now 11 and 7. During this adventure they had another – now aged 2.
A real estate listing said the home makes $93,000 in yearly Airbnb revenue. It’s a three-bedroom house with two-and-a-half bathrooms and 2,450 square feet. The sale included the house, all furnishings and two lots.
“It’s still operating as an Airbnb now. So, we’ve done everything we wanted,” Blake said.
LubbockLights.com asked, if it continues as an Airbnb, would the family come back and visit?
“I want to say yes, but it’s also one of those things that you know, it’s bittersweet, and you have to smile and say, ‘Hey, I did it. I was super happy to have the pictures.’ And I move on,” Blake answered.
Nerve racking
Assiter said, “Most of the people, when they come to the auction are a little nervous. … It can be a little nerve wracking.”
They’re not used to buying high-end items like a house at an auction, he said.
“A lot of times I’ll say, ‘You’re buying this home as-is. And so just so you know, that’s just like you took your spouse for better or for worse.’ And people will laugh just like you did then, and I say, ‘That’s not funny! Look what my wife got,’” Assiter said.
“Try to get them to chuckle and laugh a little bit and kind of relax,” Assiter said.
He also said folks don’t use auctions because they don’t fully understand it. But he thinks there are advantages for both buyers and sellers.
For example, the buyer does not need to wonder, “Could I have gotten a cheaper price?”
The seller does not need to wait for an inspection or financing before accepting an offer. The buyer has to take on those items before the auction starts.
“I’m prejudiced to the auction method because that’s what I’ve done for 40 years,” Assiter said.
As for this auction, Assiter said, “I believe most people had a good time and enjoyed the entertainment a little bit.”
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