The "Big Six" Dublin estate agencies - Sherry FitzGerald, Lisney, Douglas Newman Good, Gunne Residential, Hamilton Osborne King and JacksonStops - maintained a strong hold on the auction market in 2000, conducting 78 per cent of auctions this year.

However, there are definite signs that the auction system is in decline, with auction numbers dropping for the second year running. According to figures compiled by The Irish Times, 1,547 auctions were held in the greater Dublin area this year, down from 1,708 in 1999. Last year's figure represented a drop from the previous year, when 1,804 auctions were held.

Auctions generally represent just a fraction of all sales - about five per cent nationally. However, in Dublin, the percentage of auctions is higher, representing 20 to 25 per cent of sales overall.

Traditionally, only more unusual or expensive family homes were put to auction, but in the last six years, the big Dublin agencies have put more and more properties on the block, including modest family homes and, increasingly, apartments. This trend saw auction numbers jump from around 800 properties in 1994 to the present level.

However, with many of these marginal properties failing to sell under the hammer this year, particularly in the second half of 2000, agents have been reverting to private treaty sales.

Sherry FitzGerald's director of auctions Simon Ensor sees this trend continuing next year. "I think, certainly in our view, the volume of auctions will drop. The auction room spoke for itself this year. There were houses going for auction that should not have been auctioned. The success rate of auctions will improve if there is a reduced supply of houses being sold that way, and more houses will be sold by private treaty.

"The conventional four-bedroom semi estate-style house was being put up for auction and unnecessarily so. Many people would prefer to buy them by private treaty and vendors will often get as good a price, or an even better price, without the hassle and expense of an auction campaign."

Sherry FitzGerald maintained its position as the biggest auction house in Dublin, though its share of the market dropped a percentage point from last year. It held 398 auctions, giving it almost 26 per cent, down from 27 per cent in 1999.

Lisney made strong gains in market share for the second year running. It held 328 auctions, equating to a 21 per cent share, up from 16.6 per cent last year.

Lisney also maintained its hold at the top end of the market, selling eight of the 15 most expensive houses of the year (see panel).

Douglas Newman Good also strengthened its position and now ranks third in the auction league table. It held 162 auctions in 2000, giving it 10.5 per cent of the market, a significant gain on last year. And it aims to have more, not less, auctions in 2001.

"Our targets will be to auction slightly more property," said DNG economist Paul Murgatroyd, although he concedes that the auction market may be shrinking. "I can't see that trend reversing," he said. "Auctions got a lot of negative press this year, even though in the majority of cases, deals were done afterwards. People became wise to the fact that even if they didn't enter the auction stakes, they had a good chance of getting what they wanted."

DNG plans to continue its branch expansion programme next year and is aiming for a larger slice of the overall market, he said.

Gunne Residential lost some ground this year and now ranks fourth in the table. It held 144 auctions, giving it a 9.3 per cent share of the market, down almost two per cent on last year.

HOK Residential comes in fifth with close on 6 per cent of the market, also down on last year. However, the residential side of the business went through a major restructuring in the spring and made a stronger impact in the second half of the year. The new team will be hoping to mirror the success of HOK's commercial division, now considered the strongest in the country.

Jackson-Stops, which specialises in both Dublin and country property, increased its share of the auction market by 2 per cent. It held 87 auctions, which equates to a 5.6 per cent share.