Letting & Estate Agent Podcast

Outsourcing Your Legal Responsibilities as a Letting Agent: Is It Time to Delegate? In today’s ever-evolving property market, staying on top of legal responsibilities can be overwhelming, especially with new legislation like the Rental Rights Bill looming. In this episode, Des Taylor, expert at Landlord Licensing and Defence, explains why outsourcing certain legal tasks could be a game-changer for letting agents looking to streamline their operations and avoid costly mistakes. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 💡 Why trying to handle everything in house could cost you. The complexities of regulations demand expert help. 💡 The power of collaboration. Teaming up with other local agents and service providers to save money and boost efficiency. 💡 Key tasks to outsource. Inventory checks, payment processing, accounting, and listing management, let the experts handle it! 💡 Why independent inventory clerks are a must! How impartial third parties protect your business, especially in disputes. 💡 Legal protection and insurance. How to ensure your contractors and client money are properly insured and compliant. With more pressure on letting agents to comply with an increasing number of regulations, outsourcing could be the solution you need to stay competitive and compliant. Don’t miss out, listen now to discover how outsourcing can make your agency more efficient and legally protected! Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Why 80% of Self-Employed Estate Agents Are Leaving Money on the Table | Unlock the Secret to Success. In today’s episode, we dive into a bold and eye-opening topic: Why 80% of self-employed estate agents are failing to hit their potential. But don’t worry – we’re here to uncover the truth and show you how to break the cycle. Joining me is the brilliant Steph Walker, co-founder of The Agency UK, who’s here to share her insights on why only a small percentage of agents are actually thriving in this model, and what the rest can do to step up their game. Key Points Covered: - The 80/20 Rule in Estate Agency: Why just 20% of self-employed agents are making 80% of the sales. - The Secret to Consistent Success: Why focusing on business-building activities (not Canva designs!) will set you apart. - Hyperlocal Focus: Why choosing your niche and location wisely is the key to long-term success. - Accountability: How taking responsibility for your success is crucial in a self-employed model. - Market Conditions: Why now could be the perfect time to thrive as a personal agent in tough market conditions. Ready to take your self-employed estate agency to the next level? Listen to this episode now to learn actionable tips and strategies that can help you break away from the pack. Don’t forget to comment below and share your thoughts!

In this video, Jayne Twiddle, former National Operations Director at Hunters, and now a mentor for self-employed estate agents (TAUK, York), discusses the evolving dress code in the estate agency world. Should estate agents still adhere to the traditional suit and tie, or is there room for a more personal touch? Jayne shares her perspective on why it’s essential to balance professionalism with relatability. She explains how your outfit should reflect the customer you're meeting and the environment you're in, creating a connection and building rapport. Jayne emphasises that self-expression through fashion can make you more approachable and help you stand out—without losing that polished edge. If you’re an estate agent looking to improve your personal brand, connect better with clients, and stay current in a competitive market, this video is a must-watch.

Maxine Fothergill is the MD of Amax Estates & Property Services Gravesend, Past President ARLA PropertyMark, Columnist for Property Investor News and published book author of “How to Become a Successful Property Investor”. She dropped by the WatkinSofa in the late Autumn of 2024 to chat all things property and why Letting Agents should join ARLA.

The 3 Biggest Mistakes Letting Agents Make with Compliance (And How to Avoid Them). Letting agents, are you making costly compliance mistakes? In this episode, Des Taylor, the bossman of Landlord Licensing and Defence, reveals the three most common errors agents are making today, and more importantly, how to avoid them. From self incrimination when dealing with housing authorities to failing to conduct regular property inspections, Des highlights the crucial areas where agents often slip up. One mistake can open the door to legal trouble or damage your reputation, so understanding where you're going wrong is key. Des also dives into a surprising issue: many agents are undercharging commission, leading to unsustainable business practices. With increasing legislation and growing demands on your services, it's essential to charge enough to deliver top-notch service and stay compliant. This is your chance to ensure you're fully up to speed on compliance and protecting your agency. Listen now and to learn how to avoid these pitfalls and keep your business thriving. Let us know your thoughts in the comments and share with your colleagues, they’ll thank you for it!

Ian Harris is the NAEA Propertymark Vice President and the Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for Watsons Residential Sales in Norfolk. In the winter of 2024, he dropped by the WatkinSofa to chat all things Estate Agency and why it takes so long to complete on a sale.

UK PROPERTY MARKET WEEKLY UPDATE Welcome to the 14th UK Property Market Stats Show of 2025, your go to weekly TV show on the UK Property Market on YouTube This week, I’m joined by Alice Bullard as we delve into the key property market headlines for 14th week of 2025 ending on the 13th April 2025. The YouTube Show https://youtu.be/nSNpUoP_2KY ✴️ UK Property Market Highlights this week . ✅ Listings (New Properties on the Market) 41.1k new listings this week (last week 41.3k) That’s 9% higher than Week 14 of 2024 YTD and 9% higher YTD compared to 2017/18/19. ✅ Price Reductions (% of Resi Stock) 24.9k Price Reductions this week - Run rate of 1 in 7.5 of Resi Sales stock per month is being reduced (which represents 13.4%). For comparison, 12.1% average in 2024, though the long-term 5-year average is 10.6%. ✅ Total Gross Sales (Agreed Sales) 27.3k UK homes sold STC this week, down slightly from a fortnight ago, which was a near 3 year record breaking week of 28k Resi gross sales. That’s 14% higher YTD compared to 2024 and 22% higher than 2017/18/19 YTD levels. ✅ Sell-Through Rate (Monthly in Arrears) March’s sale run rate of 16.3% of Resi stock sold stc (ie 16.3% of Estate Agents properties on the market went sale agreed). 2024 monthly average: 15.3%. Long-term 8-year average: 17.9%. ✅ Sale Fall-Throughs 6,275 Sale fall-thrus last week from Resi Sale Sales Pipeline of 467,414 homes sale agreed (sold stc). Another method is that week’s sale fall thrus as a % of gross sales that week. This week, that is 23% (last week 23.7%). Just above the 7-year average of 24.2%, yet well below the 40%+ levels post-Truss Budget (Autumn 2022). Last month, as a whole, 5.75% of sales in the UK agents pipelines fell thru. For comparison, 2024 average: 5.36%. ✅ Net Sales (Gross sales for the week less Sale Fall Thrus for the week) 21k net sales this week (21k last week), compared 2025 weekly average of 20.1k. 2025 YTD is 11% higher than compared to 2024 YTD and 15.9% higher than YTD 2017/18/19. Local Focus this week - Epsom Graphs - available for use in free valuations / internally. Please dont publish these on social media without my OK. Reason - my fee paying clients use them - so its not fair on them https://we.tl/t-B4j6DxPLAA

Ben Marley, a very well known figure in the UK Estate & Letting Agency community with senior roles at FixFlo and most recently at the ESTAS, has decided to start his own business at GeoCale, a service that helps Estate Agents rank highly on Google when homeowners search for Estate Agents. He dropped by the WatkinSofa in the Autumn of 2024. In this episode, Ben talks about what your Estate Agencies best kept secret is.

How Dog Groomers and Cricket Clubs Could Help You Save Your Estate Agency with Instagram. In today’s fast-paced property market, staying relevant and building a strong local presence is key to standing out as an estate agent. In this episode, we dive into how seemingly unrelated local businesses—like dog groomers and cricket clubs—can be your secret weapon to becoming the go-to agent in your community, all by leveraging the power of Instagram! Listen as Steph Walker, the brilliant boss of TAUK, shares her top tips for tapping into the hyper-local audience that Instagram offers. Whether you're in a bustling city or a quiet village, these strategies can help boost your engagement and visibility. Here's what you'll learn: - Why Instagram is essential for local agents and how it differs from other platforms like Facebook. - The power of local businesses like dog groomers and cricket clubs, and why their followers are your perfect target market. - How to engage with your local community by commenting on posts and following the right accounts. - How supporting local businesses on Instagram can build meaningful relationships and improve your visibility. Ready to use Instagram to become the heart of your local property market? Hit play, leave your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to share with fellow agents!

In this video, Christopher Watkin sits down with Jayne Twiddle, a former National Ops Director at Hunters and now a self-employed estate agent with TAUK, York. Together, they discuss whether the negotiator and lister roles should be combined in estate agency, exploring how a more personal approach could benefit both clients and agents. Jayne shares her thoughts on the shift towards relationship-based service, the impact of self-employed models, and why accountability and focus on the customer are key to success. If you’re an estate agent looking to evolve in today’s market, this is a must-watch!