The auction of a former children’s centre has raised a significant sum for charities local to Plymouth, which will be distributed in the new year.
On the 3rd December, the former Pelican Children’s Centre on Saltash Road in Keyham went under the hammer. The stakes were high for auctioneer Olivia Boulting of Auction House South West, as the centre’s trustees wished to donate any money raised above the reserve price to local causes. Encouraging a bit of healthy competition was therefore key.
A successful sale
The property went up for auction with a guide price of £180,000, but its huge potential for an investor meant that there was plenty of interest. By the time the gavel went down, bidding had reached an impressive total of £227,000. This was comfortably above the reserve price set by the sellers, meaning around £50,000 will now be donated to local causes.
Thanks to the online live feed of the auction, all of its drama could be watched and enjoyed by the trustees, including the centre’s Treasurer and Secretary, Angela Carter. “I watched the action in the playground! It was really different watching an auction with a vested interest in it. It was really exciting! It was great to see how the auctioneer worked to get the best out of the bidders.”
Supporting the local community
With the auction now finished and the sum finalised, the Pelican Children Centre’s trustees have turned their attention to choosing which charities to support. “We’ve got a really good sum,” said Angela, “so we’re hoping we can really make a difference”.
Each trustee is picking their favourite charity for consideration, with a focus being placed on those that carry out community work and support local children and families. “We want to try and support as many charities and non-profits as possible, so we’re looking to see who can benefit the most. Then we can cheer up some people in January!” explained Angela.
An easy process
Looking back over the auction timeline, the trustees are thrilled with the process: “It was really easy and smooth, and [the auctioneer] Olivia was brilliant. The building was empty, so it was really useful to give the keys over to her. We didn’t have much to do! We are all volunteers and have busy full-time jobs, but with Olivia we could just hand things over,” said Angela.
Commenting on the results of the auction, Olivia Boulting of Auction House South West said: “It was fantastic to sell the Saltash Road property for such a great sum. It was a privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of its sale and for getting the best price possible so that the trustees can benefit the local community.”
Explore auction as a buyer or seller
To find out whether auction could be the right option for you to sell your property or land, book a free, no-obligation valuation.
If you’re looking to buy, you can take a look at our latest listings.
