People in search of building plots and renovation projects flocked to the Symonds & Sampson property auction at The Memorial hall in Sherborne Dorset on 8th December .

Auctioneer Mark Lewis said “As soon as we put the catalogue together I knew that we would receive a great deal of interest for some of the lots and this was a very strong end to the year. We sold 124 auction properties in 2017 and raised the second highest total since 2007 with a record number of people attending the sale room.

Highlights included:

Building plots: A site in Shillingstone sold for a two bedroom bungalow sold for £118,000 whist a site in Sparkford for three bungalows sold prior to auction and a site for a 3 bedroom house in Donhead St Mary sold immediately after auction.

Development sites: Two bungalows for renovation or replacement sold well in Leigh Sherborne at £264,000 (5.6% above guide) and Ludwell Shaftesbury at £208,000 (26% above guide) whilst a barn for conversion at Templecombe sold for £200,000.

Renovations: A grade two listed property in Evershot near Dorchester in need of complete renovation sold for £118,000 (26% above guide)

Investment: Two flats in Shaftesbury let on assured shorthold tenancies and providing an income of £10,200 sold for £170,000 a 6% return.

Land: A 515sqm piece of land at Dewlish near Dorchester exceeded expectations when the guide of £22,000 was easily exceeded and the gavel fell at £41,000 (86% above guide).