Essential Auction News
Welcome to the August newsletter that looks back at auction activity in July and preceding periods.
Overall Statistics - August 2018
Auctions Held in the UK 132
Total Lots Offered 3,555
Total Lots Sold 2,578
Percent Sold 72.5%
Total Realised £473,142,367
National Auction Analysis
Residential lots offered and sold fell by 4.8% and 8.2% respectively, whilst total raised dropped £18M to £309M - down 8.3%. The commercial market saw an increase in lots offered; up 5.7% to 743 lots, but sales dipped by 2.2% and revenues fell 13.5% to £164M.
A word from the editor:
As ever I would welcome any comments or feedback you may have regarding the newsletter or indeed 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.
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.
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.
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.