More than 60 lots have already been entered into SDL Auctions’ new national property auction – just days after the event was announced.

The first national property auction will take place on Thursday 30th April and will allow buyers, sellers and SDL Auctions staff to maintain social distancing within government guidelines.

The auction, which will feature lots from around the country, will be conducted by managing director and auctioneer Andrew Parker from his usual rostrum and live-streamed over the internet.

Andrew said: “To have received more than 60 instructions in such a short space of time is wonderful and a huge vote of confidence from our sellers for our new-style remote auctions. We are delighted to be able to help the owners of these properties achieve a fast, transparent transaction. Contracts will be exchanged the moment the hammer falls, allowing us to provide a level of certainty in uncertain times.”

With Andrew in the auction room will be just one other person; his wife, Rachael, who is the regional property manager for the East Midlands. Rachael will manage internet bids while a remote team takes telephone bids. As normal, proxy bids will be managed by the auctioneer.

The auctions come at a time when instructions across the industry are falling rapidly, with data marketing and analytics company House Vault suggesting they could drop to as little as 1,000 a week.

Andrew said: “Many sellers will have put their plans on hold but not everyone is in a position to wait for the crisis to pass and some may need to realise their assets now. We feel we have a duty to help people in this situation and are proud to be able to do so without them having to leave their homes.

“We have studied the government guidelines carefully and are confident that the whole of our auction process adheres to social distancing rules. Measures are in place so that every stage of the buying and selling process can be done remotely.

“Many of our regular customers are extremely experienced and this is already standard practice for them; it is not unusual for us to complete transactions without ever meeting the buyer or seller.”

The majority of the residential lots going under the hammer are vacant, while a few are already let to tenants. Properties include a converted former hunting lodge of the estate of The Earl of Shrewsbury, in Derbyshire, a stripped-out Nottinghamshire cottage which has planning permission for a single-storey extension and a detached bungalow in Staffordshire which requires renovation.

There are also luxury apartments in Salford and Birmingham, as well as commercial properties and several plots of land, both with and without planning permission.

Andrew added: “We have also received referrals from estate agents after a chain has collapsed. Their clients are unable to wait and we are able to sell faster than on the open market. By switching to auction, both the agent and the seller receive their money sooner.”

The three auctions held behind closed doors by SDL Auctions in March were widely praised by both industry professionals and customers, who were grateful for the opportunity to sell their properties. Watched by 1,850 people, the auctions raised £7.1 million for sellers, with lots selling for an average of 15% above their *guide prices.

The new monthly national property auctions on Thursday 30th April and Thursday 28th May will replace the regional auctions which had been planned to take place at Nottingham Racecourse, the AJ Bell Stadium in Manchester, Pride Park Stadium in Derby, Villa Park in Birmingham and the King Power Stadium in Leicester.

If you have a property to sell, you can request a free, no-contact auction valuation by contacting the team on the usual telephone number, 0800 304 7879, or by visiting www.sdlauctions.co.uk.