Letting & Estate Agent Podcast Why don't Estate Agents like selling new homes? - Ep: 2431
Dec 28, 2025
In this episode, Jamie Lester, an experienced estate agent and founder of House Estate Agents in London, discusses why many agents shy away from selling new homes. He shares insights on the advantages buyers find in new properties and addresses concerns about completion rates. Jamie highlights the power of social media in lead generation, boasting that 80% of sales for a sold-out development came from these channels. He also emphasizes the value of smart ad spending for developers and how to effectively manage leads across different opportunities.
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New Homes Compete Strongly With Resales
- Many buyers compare new homes and secondhand stock and often prefer new builds for cleanliness and design.
- Jamie Lester says new homes remain highly attractive even after Help to Buy ended due to buyer budgets and market pressures.
High Fallout Rates Make Developers Cautious
- Developers often resist selling because many transactions fail to complete, making agencies cautious.
- Jamie highlights one-in-three national and two-in-three London completion failure rates as a major market friction.
Missed Opportunity On A £35m Development
- Jamie recounts agreeing a 2% fee on a £35 million GDV project equating to £700,000 of commission opportunity.
- He admits he missed opportunities previously because his business wasn't set up to handle them, prompting a new venture.