Auction House is a national brand with a strong local presence across the South Yorkshire region. The SY team continues to go from strength the strength, selling more than 20 properties every auction. Recently, one of their properties featured on the popular television programme Homes Under the Hammer. To find out more about what happens behind the scenes, unLTD’s Matt Holmes caught up with area manager Sam Harris.
Firstly, we wanted to get to know a little bit about Sam and Auction House before hearing all about his experience on Homes Under the Hammer. He joined the business in March 2020 as a property coordinator when just two weeks later the COVID-19 pandemic hit, bringing uncertainty to the market and Sam’s career respectively. No one knew how social distancing or lockdowns would affect the property auction market.
Fast forward to July of that year and Auction House South Yorkshire adapted how they operated, holding their first-ever Livestream Auction, held behind closed doors, and streamed online. The format was an instant success with all seven lots of the first auction selling on the day achieving 100 per cent success!
The fast growth of the South Yorkshire team resulted in Sam rising through the ranks of auction valuer to area manager, and they continue to grow to this day. They plan to expand the team before the end of the year bringing on a new valuer, meaning larger auctions with more lots and increasing their market share in the region.
By now there aren’t many people who don’t know about Homes Under the Hammer, responsible for inspiring many to dream of property development and renovation.
I asked Sam how he came to appear on the hit daytime television show; “Homes Under the Hammer are regularly in contact with us for properties to feature on the show. They ask to be put in touch with the buyers at our auction to see if they’re interested in taking part.”
The filming for the show is done in two parts, with the first seeing Sam invited for filming to discuss the property, the local area, what condition it is in and the all-important value. Once the property has undergone a refurbishment, Sam is invited back to give his expert valuation of the updated property compared to when it was initially sold at auction.
The property in question that is to feature on the programme was a terrace in Doncaster in very poor condition. Sam said: “It was a typical auction lot – a ‘property with potential’. It needed a full refurbishment and the layout rearranged which was carried out by the vendor.”
Sam’s episode is yet to be aired, so do be sure to keep an eye out on Homes Under the Hammer to see how the South Yorkshire property does under the gavel.
If you’re interested in starting off on your own auction property journey, head to Auction House South Yorkshire’s website to find out more: auctionhouse.co.uk/southyorkshire
