Almost £20 million was raised at a sale by Clive Emson Auctioneers, revealing that variety remains the key during uncertain market conditions.

The auctioneer catalogued 171 lots for the summer sale, which took place across five days in five venues from July 23.

James Emson, managing director, said: “No two lots are ever the same with Clive Emson, and that uniqueness is a key factor when the market is experiencing challenging conditions. We strive to offer as diverse a list of lots as possible – from the biggest buildings to the quirkiest properties – which continues to attract huge numbers of customers to our sales.”

Highlights of the sale included a former NatWest bank located in Saltash, Cornwall, with a working cash machine to be let at £1,000 per annum for return on investment, which saw a buyer making a sizeable deposit of £85,000.

A former trout farm with potential on 12 acres in Hyth on the Kent coast sold for £270,000 – £120,000 more than the initial guide price, while a second-hand car sales and repair garage with consent for demolition and five new houses in Fareham, Hampshire, went under the hammer for £615,000 in a bidding war.

In Chigwell, Essex, a cottage left unoccupied after extension work two years ago was sold for £364,000. Meanwhile, Roebuck House, a commercial building in Hastings Old Town currently housing a doctors’ surgery and a pharmacy, generates £78,000 per annum in rent, has conversion potential, and eventually sold for £700,000.

Clive Emson holds a regional auction at five locations every six weeks. The sixth sale of 2018 starts at 11am at the following venues:

·         Kent & South East London: Monday, September 10 at the Clive Emson Conference Centre, Detling, Maidstone, Kent.

·         Essex & North and East London: Tuesday, September 11 at the Chelmsford City Racecourse, Chelmsford.

·         Sussex & Surrey: Wednesday, September 12 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton.

·         West Country: Thursday, September 13 at the new venue of the Solent Hotel at Whiteley, near Fareham.

Emson added: “We hope everyone has an excellent August break while we prepare for our September sale where we hope to see confidence returning to the market.”