Canberra’s online auction results

The online auction format did not scare the hundreds of active buyers across Canberra logging in and outbidding each other at auction over the weekend.

Among the ACT properties sold online this weekend is a dual-occupancy home at 16 Kneeshaw Street in Monash that sold for $191,000 above the median suburb price on Saturday.

The four-bedroom property was listed with Maria Selleck of Maria Selleck Properties, who worked hard leading up to the online auction making sure everything went smoothly on the big day.

Ms Selleck’s hard work paid off, with four active bidders fighting it out for the spacious, single-level home.

According to Ms Selleck, bidding increments went from $5,000, $2,000, to $1,000, and $500 before the property went under the virtual hammer for $816,000.

“This was a great outcome and both my clients as well as the buyers are ecstatic, which is the most important thing,” said Ms Selleck.

Across the bridge, a competitive online auction was underway at 19 Dickinson Street in Watson.

Listed with Maree Van Arkel and Megan Van Arkel of Ray White Canberra, the three-bedroom home in Canberra’s north was extremely popular with online buyers and sold for $1.435 million.

“We had seven registered bidders and bidding started straight away and just did not stop,” Ms Maree Van Arkel said.

“I was blown away”.

Six out of the seven registered bidders competed for the idyllic property, with one person from Sydney bidding for the home without seeing it in person.

The property sits on a large 842sqm block and was last on the market almost 40 years ago. Features include large bedrooms, an open plan kitchen, dining and living area, and hydronic heating throughout.

“It’s such a nice home in an extremely lovely spot in Watson,” Ms Maree Van Arkel said.

“You are close to schools, shops, a park across the road – it really is an immaculate property”.

According to Ray White Canberra’s Auctioneer and Sales Director, Alec Brown, Ray White Canberra had six online auctions over the weekend and a clearance rate of 100 per cent.

One of Ray White’s successful online auctions was 16 Mackennal Street in Lyneham. The four-bedroom inner-north property saw five registered bidders compete in a fierce online auction, before selling well above expectations under the virtual hammer.

“This home was an excellent opportunity to get into the inner north and the block was well positioned on a slightly elevated block,” said Mr Brown.

“We were confident the property would sell, and the online forum certainly had no negative impact whatsoever – in fact I would argue we would have had the same results had the auction been onsite.”

Mr Brown said Ray White Canberra was prepared for lockdown and said that despite auctions being online, buyers get the benefits of a regular auction from “the comfort of their own home”.

“We are seeing now with online auctions that there is an ability for people who are not just locals to Canberra to easily participate and compete…if anything online auctions broadens the audience,” said Mr Brown.

Eager house hunters also flocked online to see three properties listed with McGrath Canberra go under the virtual hammer.

No. 27 Ulm Street, Scullin sold for $845,000, No. 6 Taber Place, Isaacs sold for $1.471 million, and No. 19 Handcock Crescent in Macgregor sold for $1.261 million. All three properties sold above their reserve prices.

"Our Auctioneer Hugh Rainger did an absolutely amazing job and our team along with Zango were able to adapt to the changes very quickly," said McGrath Canberra's Natalie Kokic Schmidt.

And finally, a standout online auction occurred further north at 42 Shannon Circuit in Kaleen.

Listed with Charles Blackney and Rachelle French of Luton Belconnen, this four-bedroom home sold for $1.205 million under the virtual hammer, $150,000 above reserve.

According to Luton Propeties Chief Auctioneer and Head of Sales, Craig Sheargold, Luton Properties averaged nine bidders across its eight auctions on Saturday and had a clearance rate of 100 per cent.

“Last month we had 54 auctions with six-and-a-half bidders per auction,” said Mr Sheargold.

“We are very happy to see the average number of bidders increase.”

“There is clearly an enormous appetite for buyers to purchase homes and the online platform, from my point of view, makes it easier for them to bid from the privacy of their own home.”

Speak to your local agent to get the latest information as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.