Press Room

‘‘North Meets South’’

James Kersh, director of the successful Liverpool based Sutton Kersh Auctions is joining forces with freelance auctioneer and founder of AuctionYourProperty.com, Andrew Binstock, to launch a new auction house in London - Sutton Kersh Binstock.

The city of Liverpool is no stranger to heavyweight London based companies snapping up the best investment opportunities in the region, but it seems the tables are about to turn as North meets South and together they take on the London market.

Sutton Kersh's first Liverpool auction back in February 2004 went down in history, signalling a resurrection in Liverpool's property market, when over one thousand people clamoured to get inside the auction room, forcing the hotel to close its doors and turn many frustrated bidders away.

Binstock (30), who began his career in the residential auction department at Allsop & Co, before venturing out on his own, was introduced to Kersh (32) through a mutual business associate in London. They hit it off straight away and Binstock became the official Auctioneer for Sutton Kersh in Liverpool.

Binstock's first auction in Liverpool achieved notable success, hitting a record 90% sales rate and he soon became something of a celebrity on the Liverpool circuit, winning them over with his professionalism and entertaining character. After observing him on the rostrum at several Sutton Kersh auctions, Kersh knew he had found the perfect partner to launch his attack on London and the Home Counties.

"Liverpudlians like to be entertained and I was amazed how Andrew would always manage to squeeze out something extra, over and above the guide price and have the bidder come along afterwards to congratulate him for it!"

As well as conducting the forthcoming London auctions, Binstock will also be leading the London firm's pitches for instructions whilst putting together his new auction team.

Despite London being a crowded and highly contested market, Kersh and Binstock are confident that their experience and unique sales technique developed and perfected in Liverpool, will ensure them the same success in the Capital.

Binstock commented: "Liverpool auction rooms are notoriously tough and having experienced success there, going back to London should be a lot easier. I really cut my teeth over the past year in Liverpool, at a time when the property market was showing signs of flattening out and there was a certain mistrust of southerners, as we were accused of driving up prices for the local auction goers".

Sutton Kersh Binstock plan to offer catalogues that contain a blend of UK commercial and residential assets, from both the development and investment sectors, and are currently scouting properties for their first auction to be held in March next year.

The establishment of a new auction company in the aggressive London market is being heralded by many in the industry as a Herculean task. Kersh and Binstock however believe they have something different to offer, that will not only prove successful but take the current market by storm.

Kersh explained; "We have come a long way in the four years we have been running auctions in Liverpool, we have created a very good model and have a good understanding of how the market works. We already have a sophisticated infrastructure and distribution network in place, which will certainly smooth the transition into London".

Binstock added: "Auctions seem to be stuck in a time warp and in London it is very rare to see an auctioneer under the age of 40. What we are aiming to do is create a fresh approach, bring in new ideas, target new dealers and developers; generating the same type of excitement and enthusiasm for auctions that we have achieved in Liverpool."