Agents will close if they aren’t more flexible

A lack of flexibility is causing recruitment issues in estate agency and could threaten the survival of firms, executives claim.

Speaking on the latest Agents MVMT Pass the Syrup podcast Sophie Lang of Cornwall-based Lang Llewellyn & Co, said the “stale and structured nature of the job” is the reason for recruitment problems in the sector.

She said women in particular are affected by a lack of flexibility as they are typically the ones looking after kids.

She highlighted an issue she saw in the Women in Agency Facebook group where an agent’s boss denied a request to let her pick her son up from school at 3pm.

Lang said: “If this is the best person for the job, why not compromise on something so small?

“The more you support staff, the better you get from them.”

She said flexibility is important but added that this doesn’t mean everyone should work remotely from home all the time.

Lang said: “I struggle with working from home in sales as there is an expectation with vendors about the nine to five on the high street.”

Fellow guest Daniel Lewis of FreeAgent247 in Worcester suggested this may depend on the client, adding that he often visits vendors himself and gets messaged through social media rather than in an office.

Also speaking on the podcast, Sarah Evans of Cardea Lettings, said not everyone wants to work from home but flexibility in terms of how and when people work is important.

She added: “As time goes on, people who say no to flexibility won’t be in business.

“Their staff that like the way it’s done, the old school mentality, will at some point leave or retire.

“They then won’t be able to get new staff as young generations aren’t happy with it being rigid and strict. They want the flexibility.”

Watch the full podcast recording, which also discusses the latest interest rate rise, below: