21 Convent Hill Crescent in Ballina is one of the properties on auction.

McGreal Burke Auctioneers, a member of the nationwide REA group, are holding an online auction on Thursday, June 25 with a number of interesting properties for sale and reserves starting at €30,000.

Robert McGreal, who has sold almost 100 lots in the north-west using the online auction method since May 2018, said: “People were initially sceptical, as anyone would be with a new way of doing things, but after each auction people got more used to it. The ease and transparency provided to people allowing them to bid from their sitting room and see all bids gives people great confidence.”

All auctions are held on BidNow.ie, which is the portal for the greater REA group. McGreal Burke controls all facets of the auction as the auctioneer would in a normal auction setting.

As a group, McGreal Burke invested in the online method of sale as they anticipated that it would become more important in the coming years. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated its use and it now appears that auctioneers will be doing more of their business online rather than less.

McGreal Burke understands that it may be a first time experiencing an online auction for some people and will therefore ensure that time is taken to talk everyone through the process so that everyone is comfortable with it.

The auction includes a commercial unit in Belmullet which overlooks the harbour with a reserve of €42,500, and a redevelopment opportunity beside the Garda station in Ballinrobe with a reserve of €30,000.

In Galway, there is approximately 19 acres of good-quality grazing land in Menlough and a partially renovated farmhouse in Cappataggle. Both of these have reserves of €120,000.00.

Up for auction in Ballina is 2 Clare Street, with a reserve of €55,000. The property comprises a ground floor retail unit with an overhead two-bedroom apartment. There is also a fantastic three bedroom semi-detached dwelling at 21 Convent Hill with a reserve of €69,500.