IAM Sold, the auction house which operates via estate agents, sold the most homes under the hammer in 2018 but only ranked mid-table when it came to the actual value of sales.

Despite many auction houses boasting about increased listings for 2018, the latest data on residential sales has been released by the Essential Information Group (EIG), showing the amount raised last year fell 5.5% annually to £3.2bn.

There were 2,172 lots sold via IAM Sold’s physical auctions and a further 837 online, the most among residential auctioneers.

However, as the table from EIG below shows, the firm ranked fourth out of residential auctioneers  – and sixth when commercial firms are added – based on the value of sales in 2018, raising £218m.

Its success rate was 74.4%, above the industry average of 73.6%.

Jamie Cooke, managing director of IAM Sold, said: “We have heavily invested in people and technology, creating a sophisticated, bespoke technology system ensuring an enhanced user experience for our online auctions.

“Our partner agents have seen the benefits of this system which has created a larger marketplace that generates more interest and activity. Buyers have the advantage of being able to bid from the comfort of their own home 24 hours a day, 365 days a year which is proving fruitful for all involved.”

Allsop was the top residential firm for sales values with a figure of £408m.

The top residential auctioneer based on in-room sales success rate was SDL Auctions Bigwood with 82.5% of its 720 lots selling.

Savills was third in the overall rankings and second among residential firms, based on sales, with a value of £250m, and 71% of its 1,113 lots selling.

Clive Emson was seventh, raising £171m based on 78.2% of its 1,185 lots selling, which was one place ahead of Auction House’s total of £110m, with 69.5% of its lots getting sold.

McHugh and Co was eleventh, selling 77.4% of its 305 lots worth £77.4m.

Rank 2018 (2017) Auction House Residential or commercial  Total 18 Total 17 Change (%)  Lots Offered (2018)   Lots Sold (2018)  Success Rate (2018) Market Share
1 (1) Allsop Commercial C £517,942,193 £610,257,770 -15.1% 1,012 861 85.1% 12.4%
2 (2) Allsop Residential R £408,288,801 £425,428,030 -4.0% 1,535 1,212 79.0% 9.7%
3 (3) Savills (London – National) R £250,752,400 £332,742,040 -24.6% 1,113 791 71.1% 6.0%
4 (4) Acuitus C £236,710,218 £303,123,500 -21.9% 470 390 83.0% 5.6%
5 (5) Barnard Marcus R £220,312,128 £255,205,180 -13.7% 1,973 1,367 69.3% 5.3%
6 (6) IAM Sold (Group) R £218,334,442 £198,654,396 9.9% 2,920 2,172 74.4% 5.3%
7 (7) Clive Emson (Group) R £171,770,913 £157,300,950 9.2% 1,185 927 78.2% 4.1%
8 (8) Auction House London R £110,859,301 £120,906,050 -8.3% 737 512 69.5% 2.6%
9 (11) SDL Auctions Bigwood R £97,637,650 £87,388,700 11.7% 873 720 82.5% 2.3%
10 (13) Barnett Ross C £82,236,200 £78,339,600 5.0% 232 212 91.4% 2.0%
11 (10) McHugh & Co R £77,439,250 £89,370,920 -13.4% 305 236 77.4% 1.8%
12 (12) Pugh & Company C £75,441,998 £87,102,858 -13.4% 937 635 67.8% 1.8%

Source: Essential Information Group