Industry News

EIG July 2017 Newsletter - Essential Auction News   

Publish Date: 17 July 2017

By Beth Fox

Share:

EIG July 2017 Newsletter - Essential Auction News   

Further reading

EIG June 2017 Newsletter - Essential Auction News   

EIG August 2017 Newsletter - Essential Auction News   

Welcome to the July newsletter:

Looking back at auction activity in June and preceding periods 

126 auctions were held across the UK last month, 18 fewer than in June 2016, yet the market saw very little change in terms of overall performance. The number of lots offered increased by one solitary instruction, to 2,663 lots, whilst there were 14 fewer lots sold - down 0.7% to 1,947 lots. The total amount raised fell 3.7% to £267M, down £10M from June 2016.

The rolling quarterly and yearly figures show small falls in lots offered, lots sold and amount raised, but sale rates remain consistently healthy at around 76% indicating that demand remains high for keenly priced lots. 

Overall Statistics June 2017

Auctions Held in the UK             126
Total Lots Offered                   2,663
Total Lots Sold                         1,947
Percent Sold                           73.1%
Total Realised           £266,830,790

National Auction Analysis

The residential market saw a small increase in lots offered last month, up 1.5% to 2,317 lots, whilst lots sold fell by 0.6% to 1,684 lots. The rolling quarterly figures show minor fluctuations, but overall the sector's recent results have been largely comparable to those recorded last year.

In the commercial market, lots offered and sold fell by 9% and 1.5% respectively last month, whilst the amount raised dropped by £1M to £33M. However, none of the major commercial auctioneers held an auction in June so you can't read too much into these figures, as they will be predominantly made up of commercial lots offered by residential auctioneers.
Having witnessed commercial lot volumes increase throughout the first quarter of 2017, it is slightly surprising to see those trends reversed in the second quarter, with lots offered and sold down 10% on Q2 2016. One contributing factor could have been the furore surrounding the general election; from the unexpected announcement in April through to the extraordinary conclusion of a hung parliament on June 9th. Now the dust has settled one hopes that the market strengthens again through the second half of the year.
 

A word from the editor: I welcome any feedback or questions you may have about our newsletters or the wider market in general.

Kind regards, David Sandeman 

 

Receive the latest Essential Auction News straight to your inbox every month sign up here  

Essential Information Group - News and Information

Keep up to date with our latest news, case studies and what's going on in the property auction industry on our blog.

The Most Important Document in the Legal Pack? The One That’s Missing.

Buying at auction

25/03/2026

The Most Important Document in the Legal Pack? The One That’s Missing.

Legal packs are often treated as the definitive source of truth in a property transaction. But in reality, they are anything but complete. While they provide essential information, they are built to meet minimum requirements - not to offer full transparency. And in many cases, it’s not what’s included that creates risk, but what’s missing.

Guide Prices: Why Buyers Should Treat Them as a Guide to the Reserve

Buying at auction

24/03/2026

Guide Prices: Why Buyers Should Treat Them as a Guide to the Reserve

Guide prices are one of the most misunderstood elements of the auction process. Too often, buyers treat them as an indication of a property’s value, when in reality they are designed to signal something entirely different, the likely reserve. In an increasingly competitive and dynamic auction market, understanding this distinction is critical to making informed decisions and avoiding costly assumptions.

There’s So Much More Than the Aroma of Hot Coffee…

Buying at auction

23/03/2026

There’s So Much More Than the Aroma of Hot Coffee…

There’s so much more to selling a property than creating the perfect first impression. While details like fresh coffee, open windows, and careful staging can help set the scene, today’s buyers are looking for something far more important - clarity, confidence, and certainty. And that doesn’t come from how a property feels, but from how well it’s prepared behind the scenes.

View News & Blog