Auction House – operating as Auction
House Loveitts in Coventry and Warwickshire - says that the easing of lockdown
restrictions for the property market on 13 May has generated a significant rise
in buyer demand.
The UK’s largest property auctioneer
reports a surge in buyers for its sales from the middle of last month, with
some online livestream auctions attracting over 1,000 viewers.
Sally Smith, Auctioneer and Director said:
“The impact of releasing the property market from lockdown has been remarkable.
Our success rates have risen enormously, bidder numbers are high, and the sales
prices achieved are strong and often well ahead of expectation. In fact, when
sellers take our advice on pricing, we’re selling nearly everything we’ve got!”
During May, the group offered 202
auction lots, and sold 156 of these, at an impressive success rate of 77.2%.
This represents a 14% month-on-month rise in successful sales, with the total
value of property sold just shy of £20m (£19,972,154). This improvement
continued into June, and last week the group again delivered at 80.2%.
Sally explained: “We’re seeing signs
of a demand-led recovery in the auctions sector: a shortage of supply is the
only factor holding back a return to normal sale volumes.
“When the restrictions came into
place, it was like coming across a 30mph sign on a dual carriageway. But once
lockdown was eased, the derestricted sign up ahead came into view and we could
get back to full speed once again. Now we need to ensure that there is
sufficient petrol in the tank – in other words, enough new entries to satisfy
the rush of buyers.
“Of course, this situation represents
a big window of opportunity for sellers – now is an ideal time to bring
properties to the auctions market.”
Auction House recently sold its milestone
1,000th property in May this year, and have now sold 1,267
properties across the UK in 2020, with a total value in excess of £145m.
Sally added: “Not surprisingly, the
fact that people can now view properties they are interested in buying has
stimulated an exceptional interest in auction entries. Our buyers have
recognised that our remote biding services via telephone, proxy or the internet
- which have become the norm in the current climate - are proven, safe, and secure.
“The market is re-emerging. Indeed,
we may have expanded our buyer group through those who saw auctions continuing
to take place during the tightest weeks of the lockdown and have come to join
us. We’ve now got buyers waiting for all sorts of stock, and we’re hugely
confident that any property offered by Auction House and suitably priced will
quickly find a buyer.
“So if you have a property that you
would like to sell, get in touch with a member of our team – we are now listing
for our upcoming auction on Thursday 16th July.”