Letting & Estate Agent Podcast

Chris and property expert Simon King debate whether referral fees should be banned in estate agency. Simon calls them a red herring, arguing the real issue is how agents select partners and whether they value service over cash. He explains how referral fees can benefit agents when used responsibly. Should they stay or go?

Should people in their 20s take the leap into self employment as estate agents? In this episode, we chat with Sam Cerrone from eXp, who went from a 19 year old newcomer to a thriving self employed agent. She reveals why passion and drive can beat experience, how freedom outweighs the corporate ladder, and why self employment might be the smartest move for ambitious young professionals.

When did estate agents stop caring? Sharon Carter from East Anglia explores why too many agents have become transactional and lost empathy. She discusses how compassion and genuine relationships, not quick wins, drive long term success, and considers whether PropTech helps or hinders. A must listen for anyone curious what truly sets great agents apart.

Josh Phegan compares UK and Australian estate agency, revealing what each market does best. From Australia’s structured sales processes to the UK’s strong branding, he shares practical insights to reduce risk, sharpen strategy, and future proof your agency.

Why are so many estate agents wary of new homes? We chat with Jamie Lester of House Estate Agents in London about why the sector feels daunting but is full of opportunity. He reveals how smart lead handling, social media, and clear setup can transform results, including the campaign that helped sell a £35 million development. A must listen for agents exploring new builds.

Why are strong female estate agents still unfairly judged? Sharon Carter from East Anglia discusses the double standards women face in property, the criticism from peers, and why perceptions of leadership and confidence need rethinking. Honest and unfiltered, her insights challenge workplace bias and spark vital conversations.

Why corporate estate agency marketing often misses the mark, and how going local can change everything. I chat with David Newton, a marketing savvy agent running his own family firm, about why big brands struggle to feel personal. He shares why hyper local campaigns work, how supporting local businesses boosts presence, and why not everything valuable can be measured in pounds and pence.

Is compliance getting in the way of great estate agency? Simon King, non-executive director and industry thinker, unpacks how AML checks, material information updates and shifting guidance have created confusion and slowed transactions. He explains how the right partners and proptech can simplify processes, while reminding agents they can outsource the work, but not the responsibility.

Mum guilt in estate agency is real but rarely discussed. In this episode, we chat with Sam Cerrone, a self employed agent from the West Midlands, about balancing family, business, and the pressure to do it all. Sam shares her experience of raising three children while running a thriving agency, setting boundaries, managing guilt, and finding motivation in a career that never switches off. Tune in and join the conversation.

Behind the heels and handbags lies a story rarely told in property. Estate agent Sharon Carter from East Anglia shares the unseen challenges of being a single woman in the UK property world, from loneliness after long viewings to the quiet resilience required to keep going. Raw, honest, and long overdue, this conversation explores mental health, self worth, and finding peace in the everyday.

Feeling the pressure of mum guilt while building your property career? In this episode, Belvoir franchisee Patsy Day from Norfolk and Suffolk shares her journey of balancing family life with a demanding estate agency career. She opens up about sacrifices, support networks, and thriving in a male dominated industry, offering honest insights and practical advice for juggling ambition, motherhood, and resilience. Join the conversation and share your experiences.

Grow your personal brand as an estate agent with insights from Jamie Lester, boss of House Estate Agents and former Apprentice star. He shares how Instagram and LinkedIn help you connect with vendors and developers, create engaging expert content, build confidence on camera, and use social interactions to stand out and win more instructions.

Chris Watkin speaks with John Hards, former Countrywide Lettings Director, on how lettings grew into a £200m business. They explore acquisitions, private equity interest, consolidation, and what agents must consider to maximise value and future proof their businesses.

UK Property Market Weekly Update - Week 49, 2025 I look at the UK property market in the ‘UK Property Market Stats Show“ for the week ending Sunday 14th December 2025 with the brilliant Adam Lawrence, the founder of Propenomix YouTube https://youtu.be/9vDevQx9wEY ✅ New Listings * 16.2k new properties came to market this week, down as expected from 19.4k last week. * 2025 weekly average: 34.1k. * 9 year week 49 average : 19.5k * Year-to-date (YTD): 1.669m new listings, 0.1% below than 2024 YTD (1.670m) and 7% above the 2017–19 average (1.559m) ✅ Price Reductions * 9.1k reductions this week, lower than last week’s at 12.8k (Estate Agents seem to forget they can reduce houses prices after the first week in November!). 23.2k is the average weekly number of reductions for 2025. * 8.8% of resi homes for sale were reduced in November. Compared to Oct 12.8%, Sept 14.1%, August 11.1%, July 14.1% in July and 14% in June. * 2025 average still remains at 12.8%, versus the five-year long-term average of 10.74%. ✅ Sales Agreed * 17.2k homes sold subject to contract this week, down expectedly from 18.5k last week. * Week 49 average (for last 9 years) : 18.7k * 2025 weekly average : 25.3k. * YTD: 1.238m gross sales, which is 2.3% ahead of 2024 (1.211m) and 11.4% above the 2017–19 average (1.111m). * Some will note Gross Sales in Q4 were higher - this was the first time buyers were buying homes to beat the March 2025 stamp duty deadline ✅ Price Diff between Listings & Sales * Average Asking Price of listings last week £403k * Average asking price of Sales Agreed (SSTC) last week was £352k * A 14.6% difference (long term 9 year average is 16% to 17%). ✅ Sell-Through Rate * 13.5% of homes on agents’ books went SSTC in November. Down from 15% in October, 14.1% in Sept, 14.5% in Aug, 15.4% in July, 15.3% in June, and 16.1% in May. * Pre-Covid average: 15.5%. ✅ Fall-Throughs * 4,783 fall-throughs last week (pipeline of 482k home Sold STC). * Weekly average for 2025: 6,100. * Fall-through rate: 25.8%, slightly up from 24.9% last week. * Long-term average: 24.2% (post-Truss chaos saw levels exceed 40%). ✅ Net Sales * 12.9k net sales this week, down expectedly from 13.7k last week. * Nine-year Week 49 average: 13.9k. * Weekly average for 2025: 19.2k. * YTD: 942k, which is 1.9% ahead of 2024 (924k) and 8.4% above 2017–19 (868k). ✅ Probability of Selling (% that Exchange vs withdrawal) * November Stats : 55.2% of homes that left agents’ books exchanged & completed in November. (Note this figure will change throughout the month as more November stats come in). * October 53.3% / September: 53.1% / August :55.8% / July: 50.9% / June: 51.3% / May: 51.7% / April: 53.2%. ✅ Stock Levels * 678k homes on the market on the 1st of December, down from 742k on 1st of November. December ’25 is identical to December ’24. * 482k homes in sales pipeline on the 1st December, almost identical than 12 months ago. ✅ House Prices (£/sq.ft) * November 2025 agreed sales averaged £342.27 per sq.ft. 0.7% higher than 12 months ago and 12.6% than 5 years ago. The £/sqft at sale agreed matches the HM Land Registry Index with a 98% accuracy, 5 months in advance. That is why it is so important. November figures will follow in next weeks show. ✅ UK Rental Market Overview * Average Rent in November - £1,792 pcm - compared to £1,798 in Nov 2024 and £1,405 in Oct 2017. * Available Rental Properties in November ’25 - 321k compared to 300k in November ’24. * Notable increase of 22.8% more rental homes in Outer London than 12 months ago, yet a 3.7% decrease in Inner London - Not sure why ✅ Graphs https://we.tl/t-i2gNxxE5mz

Think self-employed estate agency is all glamour? Think again. Sharon Carter from East Anglia joins us, to reveal the realities behind recruitment hype. From generating your own business to handling pressure without a safety net, they tackle mindset, support, and accountability, giving a frank insight into what it really takes to succeed in today’s UK property market.

What does it really mean when agents say they’ve “capped” or hit “icon status”? In this episode, we chat with top UK estate agent Sam Cerrone to unpack these buzzwords and why they matter. Sam shares her journey from not knowing what “capping” meant to achieving it multiple times, revealing how it works within the eXp model and what it truly takes to build success in today’s property market.

Are cheap fees killing your profits? We chat with estate agency commentator Simon King to expose the myth that lower fees win more instructions. With 83% of vendors not choosing the cheapest agent, Simon explains why value, confidence and clear communication matter far more. Learn how to charge your worth and attract better, more loyal clients.

Do you really understand your numbers? In this chat, Patsy Day from the Belvoir Network in Suffolk and Norfolk explains how knowing the financial side of your agency can transform your business. From calculating a profitable hourly rate to charging for extra services, she shares how small shifts in mindset and support from Belvoir’s Elevate programme helped her boost efficiency, profitability, and focus on working on her business, not just in it.

In this episode, we chat with Jamie Lester, who rose from a Saturday boy to running an award winning London agency. Jamie discusses the work ethic, risks, and resilience that shaped his career, from overseas sales and the credit crunch to The Apprentice. Now transforming the self-employed agent model, he reveals why understanding buyers beats chasing listings and shares strategies you can use in your own business.

The UK property market is changing fast, and so should the way letting agents work with suppliers. In this episode, Siân Hemming Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base, discusses why moving beyond the traditional “service provider” model can boost professionalism, cut risk, and improve outcomes. Discover how stronger partnerships, clear SLAs, and better collaboration can raise industry standards and future proof your business. Listen now and join the conversation.