Probate property auction specialist Probate.Auction has announced the appointment of Corin Holness as their new Corporate Relationships Director in a move ‘to enhance the company’s mission of educating the industry and clients about the benefits of auctions for suitable probate properties’ says the firm.
Probate.Auction launched in April 2024 with the stated aim of providing a first countrywide auction platform for probate property and provides a dedicated solution to executors, administrators, solicitors and families. With extensive experience in the property market having launched YouSpotProperty.com, a popular property website which rewards the public for identifying long term empty and derelict housing, and brings them back into use, co-founders Nick Kalms and Benjamin Radstone aim to deliver speed, transparency and certainty for probate properties, reducing the average time to sell from 140 days to 63.
Holness joins having worked across estate planning, financial, legal, and real estate sectors most recently at Funeral Safe, an FCA-regulated credit provider of funeral finance. With his expertise in estate planning, regulated services, and trust corporations, the role uniquely bridges the gap between probate professionals and the auction process. In his previous roles, Holness focused on streamlining the consumer journey through property and probate. This experience aligns perfectly with Probate.Auction’s commitment to providing a transparent, efficient, and stress-free auction process for probate properties.
One of the primary objectives in the new role will be to change the narrative around auctions through education and support for the probate industry. He aims to help solicitors, case handlers, and beneficiaries understand when an auction might be the most appropriate choice for a probate property.
“I’m thrilled to join Probate.Auction and look forward to working closely with probate professionals,”
said Holness, adding
“My goal is to ensure that executors and beneficiaries have all the information they need to make informed decisions about property sales, potentially leading to faster completions and better outcomes for all parties involved.”
Probate property sales make up less than 5% of all properties sold by public auction in the UK and many still see auctions as a last resort rather than a viable first option says Nick Kalms, an attitude Holness is keen to myth-bust as a growing body of evidence suggests auctions outperform private treaty sales in cases where properties require modernisation, there are complex legal or structural issues with the estate, and where a quick sale is necessary for asset distribution.
“Probate.Auction’s approach, which includes providing expert advice on property suitability for auction, aligns well with my client-centric philosophy. Our comprehensive service aims to manage expectations better and maximize property values for beneficiaries, including charities dealing with legacy properties.”
Concludes Holness
