Maxwell Collins auctioneer Shaun Carroll, left, alongside father Eugene Collins will auction a Newcomb property on Saturday. Picture: Stephen Harman
The first in-person real estate auctions will occur in Geelong this weekend as regional Victoria moves to the third step of the road map out of the coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday.
Premier Dan Andrews announced real estate auctions would be allowed to be held outdoors for up to 10 people in regional Victoria.
Open homes remain private by appointment under the road map.
Melbourne residents cannot travel to regional Victoria to attend an auction.
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2-4 Portarlington Rd, Newcomb, will be auctioned on Saturday at 10.30am.
Maxwell Collins, Geelong agent Eugene Carroll welcomed the return to in-person auctions.
“Beautiful. That’s good news,” he said.
Mr Carroll said the first auction would be at 2-4 Portarlington Rd, Newcomb, on Saturday.
The 1474sq m property is a development opportunity close to central Geelong that has attracted good interest during the campaign.
“We’ll send out invitations,” Mr Carroll said.
“We’ll have registered bidders, hold it on the property where they can safely bid while maintaining social distancing.”
But some agents would continue with online auctions as planned with some buyers unable to attend in-person.
Agents, like McGrath, Geelong’s David Cortous, have continued to auction properties using apps like AuctionNow. Picture: Glenn Ferguson
Auction numbers have nosedived in 2020 as COVID-19 restrictions placed limits on the number of people able to physically attend an auction before they were banned altogether.
Some have moved online during the lockdowns, with agents using apps or connecting with potential buyers over Google Meet or Zoom.
Other agents have turned to private treaty sales with good results.
Mr Carroll said face-to-face auctions would provide for a better outcome.
“We’ve held two Zoom auctions, they went really well,” he said.
“They went above the reserve and sold, so they were two successful auctions, well-run campaigns and everyone had a fair and reasonable opportunity to put their hands up.
“You have a little bit more emotion when you’re at the property.
“And they can quite clearly see who they’re bidding against and there are no glitches in regards to technology.”
REIV President Leah Calnan.
Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said the resumption of on-site auctions and general opening up of regional Victoria was “an enormous step forward for the regional property market”.
She said the renewed confidence the easing of COVID-19 restrictions would bring was “a really important part”, as strong local economies were key to strong real estate markets.
“Many areas of regional Victoria haven’t had any cases over the last few months. So not only to allow the real estate industry to start trading more, but allowing more industries to do so, is a great step forward. It breeds confidence,” she said.
Ms Calnan noted the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo markets would benefit most from the return of on-site auctions, for which agents and buyers must wear masks and follow strict social distancing, hygiene and record-keeping requirements.
An upbeat Victorian Premier Dan Andrews announcing restrictions to be eased in Regional Victoria as the state appears to have passed the peak of its second wave of COVID-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie
The auctioneer, though, would be allowed to be mask-free while calling for bids, she said.
She added discussions were continuing with the state government to “see how we can allow buyers from stage four areas into regional Victoria to safely inspect properties”.
“It’s not on the immediate list, but it will form part of returning the metro market back to a small level of normality,” she said.
On-site auctions are due to return to Melbourne from October 26, alongside physical one-on-one inspections, assuming Victoria records fewer than five daily COVID-19 cases over the two weeks prior.
But the REIV is lobbying the government to bring forward private inspections to the second step on the road map to reopening, due to kick in from September 28.
With Samantha Landy
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