Symonds & Sampson, Agriculture House, Market Place, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1AR Tel: 01258 473766 Eclectic properties sell very well at Symonds & Sampson Auction Symonds & Sampson’s latest auction to take place in Sherborne provided buyers with a really eclectic and unusual number of lots to choose from. The properties were in Dorset and South Somerset and included a Methodist Church at West Coker near Yeovil. This had great scope for a number of uses including offices, studio or possible residential conversion. The guide price of £50,000 attracted a number of buyers but the highest bidder was a water colour artist who paid £78,000.

Just down the road was the Old Post Office in South Perrott a dilapidated property requiring modernisation. This had been taken up to the London auction houses three times and failed to sell and we were therefore delighted that the guide of £160,000 exceeded quite comfortably and the hammer fell at £170,000 to a buyer from Esher in Surrey.

Merlio House in Downes Street, Bridport, is a very interesting Grade II Listed property over three floors. Guided at £125,000 there had been strong interest from people who wanted it for commercial premises, offices and also possible conversion to residential. The guide price of £125,000 was deemed to be quite modest as the hammer fell at £160,000.

The star of the day however was Wentworth, 2 Damers Road in Dorchester. Previously on the market with another agent who had failed to sell it was a lovely house that had been in the same family for many years but now need updating and modernisation. The guide of £335,000 was attractive and with several bidders the two remaining took it up to £408,000.

Auctioneer Mark Lewis said that in his opinion if some of these properties had continued to be offered for sale by private treaty we would never have obtained an exchange of contracts. It showed that this is the best method for properties that are unusual and slightly different.

Symonds & Sampson’s next auctions are on 23 April in Axminster and on 30 April in Sherborne. Entries are now welcome for our auctions in May and June. For further information please contact Mark Lewis on 01258 473766 or your nearest Symonds & Sampson office.