Archive

Prominent industry trainer Adam Walker, who has seen around 150,000 people attend his courses over the past 33 years, is suspending...

It’s been a busy and arguably fruitful year for the property market, with an eager consumer base pushing forwards with their...

The scheme behind two of this country’s most successful PropTech start-ups is marking what it calls a successful first year.  REACH UK...

Media reports from the US state of Virginia say an 84-year-old man killed his estate agent after buying a property ‘sight...

Luke Thirkettle heads up the lettings division at Stratfords, a single-branch lettings and sales agency based in Milton Keynes. Here, he speaks to...

Estate agents, even before Covid-19 reared its ugly head, were flexible, hybrid workers. It is a job that requires a significant...

One of the west of England’s largest independent agencies has signed a two year deal with Zoopla, running across portal listings...

As we move into the autumn of 2021, what the coming year has in store for estate agents is something we...

A Hertfordshire-based hybrid agency has released a surprising and some might argue refreshing message, saying it’s not interested in size as...

A Borders estate agency business, Hastings Legal and Property, has invested in Halo Digital Signage – hailed as ‘the new generation...

What estate agency is going to look like in the post-pandemic world, and what the role of the physical branch will...

A survey conducted by a bank suggests that over half of the self-employed sector of the economy believes its financial position...

Things can change. For those who remember, it’s no secret that I became one of the industry's strongest critics of OnTheMarket (OTM). My reasons...

An estate agency is celebrating its 21st anniversary by launching a new ‘realtor’ franchise model based on enhanced technology and personalised...

There’s gathering momentum to do ‘something’ about the unfairness of council tax and stamp duty. This isn’t new in principle. Agents have...

By any measure, the housing market has been unprecedently busy in recent months, fuelled not just by the stamp duty holiday...

The Stamp Duty holiday has been very beneficial for hundreds of thousands of buyers looking to take advantage of savings, even...

A new survey of some 700 estate agency customers show that they want to get traditional services like High Street branches,...

A series offering “insight and advice” to agents is being launched by Zoopla’s cloud-based software brand, Alto, which was acquired by...

Whilst it was once seen as a way to sell niche or run-down properties, auction is now a mainstream method of...

Propertymark has shortlisted five of the 700 or so PropTech suppliers in the UK, as part of the trade body’s REACH...

When it comes to communications, Propertymark could do with a lot fewer confidentiality agreements and a lot more transparency. And I...

Propertymark has slammed government energy efficiency proposals as being “unrealistic, too simplistic and could deter people from moving home.” A formal consultation...

Knowing adjudication terms and phrases can make all the difference in a deposit dispute. The DPS has been helping landlords and letting...

It’s now more than a year since the government offered an additional £4 million to councils to combat rogue landlords. At the...

Estate and letting agencies are the best performing businesses for low call waiting times in the UK. A survey of 1,000 people...

This time out, I’m in conversation with one of the big three established portals. Since it was founded in 2007, Zoopla...

REACH, a programme encouraging start-ups in the property world, has released a list of UK companies that will feature in its...

As we now find ourselves in the UK’s third national lockdown in 10 months, what tenants want, and need from their...

Millions of leaseholders will be given the right to extend their lease by a maximum term of 990 years at zero...

Ever since the initial ripples of innovation in the 1990s, PropTech has proceeded to reshape our market beyond recognition; going on...

With a new President elected and the old one reluctant to move out, this is a good time to see how...

A conveyancing firm is blaming councils for delays in transactions. Conveyancers have themselves been sharply criticised in recent weeks as the sharp...

It’s been an unexpected year for the property market, shaped by the effects of the pandemic. We didn’t quite anticipate the...

Purplebricks is the first estate agency in the country to launch a meditation service to ease “the emotional rollercoaster felt by...

With no clear end in sight and conflicting Government advice as to whether we should work from home or go to...

A highly-experienced former Savills agent has launched his own buying agency focusing on the prime country market in Surrey. The new company,...

Across the UK and Europe, lockdown measures are changing and the markets are kicking back into life as we grow accustomed...

Rightmove, which recently posted a 37 per cent drop in revenue for the first six months of 2020, has lost almost...

The National Association of Estate Agents is inviting members to join a panel reviewing new PropTech produced as a result of...

Hunters chairman Kevin Hollinrake - who is also a backbench Conservative MP - has been criticised on Twitter by Manchester United...

An American realtor who once predicted his company would have 5,000 UK estate agents working under its banner is now saying...

We have had a special relationship for many years and are bonded as countries in many ways – historically, politically and...

NAEA Propertymark is partnering with a service called REACH UK, to promote selected PropTech start ups to agents who may need...

The Black Lives Matter debate has reached the property industry with some agents dropping the term ‘Master bedroom’ from descriptions. The Times...

A prominent tax specialist has suggested that stamp duty cuts would not help improve the housing market, despite many agents suggesting...

The phrase ‘game-changer’ has been hugely overused. But when applied to how Covid-19 is changing the way estate agents will work...

If you are an established UK estate agent, the status quo dictates that you will most likely work for ‘the man.’ Corporate...

A survey of agents’ attitudes which two weeks ago showed a big majority of agents wanting to work as self employed...

Since my last column in April, one could argue that very little has changed for agents in terms of the market...

Only 33 per cent of agents want to return to working the same way as before the Coronavirus crisis, according to...

At the moment, it somehow seems like tempting fate to think too far into the future, especially in terms of the...

An international comparison of how major portals have discounted their charges to agents show Rightmove and Zoopla making “deeper and longer...

The founder and chairman of Hunters, who is also a Conservative MP, has been criticised for a tweet saying he would...

The extraordinary past week of anger over portals’ fees plus early-warning statements like that from Foxtons indicate the anxiety in the...

The National Association of Estate Agents has announced that it’s to offer US PropTech solutions to UK agents. The REACH programme has...

The Atlantic Ocean is a vast space – some 4,000 miles eastwards across from the USA until land is met again....

Why should agencies leave voicemail in the last decade and make 2020 the year to invest in a more modern solution? Voicemail...

Zoopla has revealed large growth in agency membership and visitor figures for 2019. Since being bought by US equity firm Silver Lake,...

The new government has announced that its first Budget is to be held on Wednesday March 11 - and it’s giving...

After a year dogged by Brexit deadlock, political turmoil, and slow growth, estate agents’ confidence in the property market hit a...

Zoopla has repelled a cyber attack on its Alto property software - with no breach of customer agents’ personal data. It has...

Zoopla has this afternoon announced a massive growth programme for 2020 with 120 new staff and expansion in most of its...

With Brexit still unresolved, the domestic agenda has been pushed from the headlines by the seemingly overwhelming public and political discord...

28th NOVEMBER 2019: Christopher Watkin’s recent thought-provoking interview with Dan Marsden sheds light on the property industry today and offers an...

Pressure is building on the Conservative party to honour its previous commitment to reform stamp duty for British buyers and sellers...

One of London’s leading estate and lettings agents has criticised the government over what he calls its “pitiful” record on affordable...

Being a market leader means staying on top of industry trends. The more aware you are of what's happening in the...

Controversy and Purplebricks have gone hand in hand since the agency was first launched in 2012, through its float on the...

The boss of a 15+ branch estate agency group has explained how he thinks regulation could 'ruin' the estate agency industry. Simon...

Two prominent estate agency chiefs, both members of the Conservative Party, have both tweeted their opposition to some of the policies...

In a previous Natter, I promised to talk more about CRMs – and here I stick to that promise. Following on from...

The new housing minister has admitted that her party has tried to “put a lid” on house price rises and has...

Hunters chairman Kevin Hollinrake, who is also a Conservative MP, has given notice that he would resign the party whip if...

Recently a number of politicians and charities have been calling for the introduction of rent controls or rent freezes in the...

It is now over two months since the introduction of the ban on fees charged to tenants, leaving letting agents with...

Have you asked yourself why technology is so important in letting agency today? Just look around and you will know why. Almost...

Housing experts have expressed their concerns that speculation about a radical stamp duty reduction to be introduced by Boris Johnson’s government...

The trade headlines may be dominated by a revolution proposed for how agents are regulated, licensed and trained but one thing...

In the second part of my exploration of startups, I talk to a number of people with lived experience of creating...

Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ policy that was implemented in 2012 was designed to make staying and residing in the UK as...

An outspoken building society chief has taken the unusual step of calling for stamp duty to be replaced by capital gains...

When you think of the best ad campaigns – from moustachioed opera singers and talking meerkats to millions of bouncing balls...

One in eight people buying or selling in the next six months say they will delay their plans because of Brexit...

The founder of the Hunters franchise agency group, Kevin Hollinrake - now a Conservative MP - is the latest parliamentarian to...

Here’s an unusual story, describing the work of one of Purplebricks’ Local Property Experts who was with the company for around...

No doubt we’ve all seen the recent Purplebricks news - shares have, according to the BBC, ‘plunged after it slashed its...

Few can deny that with announcements from MPs and an announcement from Purplebricks, that it’s been an extraordinary week.  While it may...

BAD PHOTOS – 6 BIG MISTAKES YOU MIGHT BE MAKING! In our last article, we highlighted some really important and shocking stats...

There’s no end to the PropTech and photography solutions available to estate agents these days to help them sell good, old-fashioned...

A think tank is suggesting that micro-homes could be the answer to London’s shortage of available homes for first time buyers. The...

As 2018 draws to a close, it is fair to say that stretched affordability and uncertainty over the Brexit negotiations has...

Another year is nearly done – and what an eventful year it’s been. We’ve had more than our fair share of breaking...

The number of active conveyancing firms handling property transactions in England and Wales has fallen to an eight year low.  A market...

There is a perfect storm brewing in the lettings market, and as the saying goes, “you can’t change the direction of...

The ‘new broom’ owners of Zoopla have revealed that Gary Bramall is to be the firm’s new chief marketing officer charged with...

To say legendary ZPG founder and CEO Alex Chesterman left big boots to fill when he stepped back from day-to-day operations...

It’s the most obvious visual medium high street agents have at their disposal, and for many decades has been absolutely pivotal...

The agency industry has reacted in a broadly downbeat way at the relatively few housing-related proposals that were announced in yesterday’s...

The Competition and Markets Authority is stepping up its campaign to identify and prosecute companies behind cartels - and it’s offering...

When Facebook first announced it would be entering the property listings market a few weeks ago it sent shockwaves across the...

Why do we choose to engage with one application more than another, or find ourselves returning to the same piece of...

Amid the headline-grabbing political manoeuvring over Brexit, a policy proposal which could have serious ramifications for private landlords, and those who...

It may seem innocuous enough but a speech at a party by pro-Brexit housing minister Dominic Raab is being interpreted by...

The Federal Trade Commission - the US equivalent of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority - will today discuss how the...

A recent holiday in the US gave me an opportunity to catch up with property news over there - and surprisingly,...

There is a lull in my imminent flat sale. Just no activity at all, despite a price reduction!  So, I am forced...

Here’s some good news to take into the Bank Holiday weekend.  Research undertaken by Estate Agent Today suggests that fees charged by...

Maplin, Toys R Us, Carpetright, Warren Evans – what do they have in common? All are well-known high street chains that...

It’s London Marathon weekend and it’s set to be hot, hot, hot for those agents and other brave industry folk running...

Just like that, the Easter Bank Holiday has come and gone and I find myself now looking ahead to the Summer.  The...

Three weeks has flown by (I missed an early deadline last week - apologies) and I find myself writing the next...

An estate agent who ‘glassed’ a man who rejected her advances in a pub has escaped a prison sentence. Sarah Brown, 27,...

National franchise giant Hunters has delivered a strong trading update, despite what it describes as 'challenging conditions'. Earlier this week, it was...

This week I carry out a question and answer session with one of the most high-profile names in property. Isobel Thomson has...

Virtual Staging is about presenting a property in the most appealing way to potential buyers. Many consider virtual staging is deceiving...

A new property portal called Linktosale aims to launch in the UK at the start of March following what appears to...

Hands up if you’ve read all of the property reports that have been published in the past week or so? Forever...

Coldwell Banker, the huge US-based international estate agency business, is warning that Brexit is beginning to damage the market and the...

The housing industry has set out a list of demands in advance of the government’s hotly anticipated Autumn Budget on Wednesday.  Despite...

London estate agency Residential Realtors removed a property listing from its website after a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority. The property...

It looks likely that Facebook will soon be able to list homes for sale in the US, in the style of...

Purplebricks has given more details of its activities in the United States, where it is hoping to break into a market...

Facebook appears to be interested in entering the sales and lettings world with its first advertising product geared solely towards industry professionals. The...

The National Association of Estate Agents is rolling out a series of masterclasses to prepare members for the European Fourth Anti-Money...

It’s not happening here (yet) but several articles on US websites have started talking up the possibility of Amazon going into...

How many property professionals are truly happy with their revenue? High levels of competition from new market entrants is a significant...

It’s hot outside but that’s no deterrent to agents helping others, even at the height of summer. Before we honour this week’s...

Supporting the adoption of technology does not mean we have to stop protecting the core values of the property industry. In...

The managing director of ZPG Property Services says his firm will never ‘go around’ an agent in order to directly work...

Mark Goddard was the founder and CEO of The Property Software Group (PSG), a property software solutions firm established in 2007,...

The share price of hybrid estate agency Purplebricks dipped yesterday after it announced its US expansion will begin in California. Purplebricks' share...

Former housing minister Gavin Barwell has been appointed as Theresa May's chief of staff. Barwell lost his Croydon Central seat – and...

The housing industry has responded with shock, joy, and jitters, after Theresa May’s snap general election went catastrophically wrong, leaving her...

As the nation waits with bated breath to see if Theresa May can form either a minority or coalition government after...

Not in vain the distance beacons. Forward, forward let us range, Let the great world spin forever down the ringing grooves of...

Think ‘fake agents’ are no threat to your business? Think again. The rise of online agents - dubbed by some as...

Women may make better estate agents than men even though males dominate the sales sector, explains one of the industry’s most...

Earlier this week it was Dads4Daughters Day – a campaign that strives to promote gender equality in the workplace.  I have three...

Dust off your black tie and grab a tissue as we’re entering a period of mourning. It’s a bold claim, but...

It seems prop-tech is exploding at a scary rate, and the latest brands are all trying to grab our attention by...

Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered his first Budget this week pledging extra funding for the NHS, transport in the Midlands and the...

Purplebricks' entry into selective areas of the US market comes just as new evidence suggests the use of estate agencies by...

Looking ahead to the Spring Budget this week, the Chancellor Philip Hammond will be obliged to face up to the implications...

Ministry of Justice probate fee changes coming into effect this spring will affect all individuals inheriting an estate worth more than...

Over the past two decades, investing in buy-to-let has been a relatively easy way to make money, which is why so...

The Purplebricks stock market bull run took yet another huge leap forwards yesterday with its share price up 20 per cent...

The East Midlands, which consists of several areas including Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and much of Lincolnshire, has an ancient...

The Keller Williams franchise agency, one of the largest in the world, is relaunching in the UK on Wednesday with the...

I recently came across a consumer comment expressing frustration at the length and complexity of UK conveyancing and raising the question...

We’re taking a temporary break from showing images of your terrific agency windows and decorations - and instead, we’re concentrating on...

Next year is likely to be a challenging time for letting agents, following a raft of changes introduced by the government...

Listening to all the coverage of the tenant fee ban, all I hear is consumer groups talking about how some agents...

It may still be too early to start compiling a Christmas wish list, but it is the right time to provide...

The huge consequences of the EU referendum, and the impending Brexit negotiations, have drawn into sharp light the consequences for a...

Buy-to-let landlords may have failed in their recent legal battle against planned government tax relief changes for buy-to-let homes set to...

In recent weeks I have been carrying out question and answer sessions with some of the key figures in the property...

The National Association of Estate Agents report has batted away an idea which has been resuscitated by the insurance industry, suggesting...

With the number of new homes being built across the UK still significantly below the level needed to meet demand, housebuilders...

A Nottingham estate agency is set to open its fourth branch with a dedicated 'VR Zone'. Walton & Allen is holding an...

Zoopla Property Group is organising a series of seminars for agent members next month, aimed at promoting products offered by its...

A survey of 1,200 people buying and selling shows that 13 per cent of those questioned “have now cancelled their move...

With the new Formula One season now well underway, we delve into the fast lane to take you on a whirlwind...

Rightmove has begun testing a virtual reality viewing platform which will allow prospective buyers to view properties without leaving their own...

Fraudsters attacking the conveyancing sector, successfully stealing large sums of money from homebuyers, are making national headlines at a depressing rate....

Running a business is not easy, but sometimes it becomes harder because we are expected to modify our behaviour due to...

Kevin Hollinrake - the founder of Hunters estate agency and now Conservative MP for Thirsk, Malton & Filey - says he is...

Surely people will start moving again soon. The employment rate for the last quarter of 2015 is likely to be the...

Estate agents interested in operating multiple listing services in the UK have the opportunity to meet one of the United States’...

A partnership between the National Association of Estate Agents and the Florida Realtors Association means up to 40 NAEA members have...

Negativity. There’s a lot of it about in the lettings industry right now. Where you might see barriers, hurdles and more...

I make no apologies for returning to Build To Rent, the institutional investment in building and managing blocks of flats to...

The consumer is King and to protect sellers and buyers' best interests estate and letting agents have to operate in the...

The party's over. It's probably the best double entendre in the world of politics right now. For centre or right-leaning Labour...

eMoov, arguably Britain’s highest-profile online estate agency, says it is “inevitable” that it will enter the US sales market in the...

Two interesting developments in the past week have shown how established parts of the agency industry - on either side of...

Zoopla has launched its Real Time Listings Service, allowing member agents to send updates to property listings on ZPG websites within...

I recently visited Life Residential at their bright and modern West London headquarters. I carried out a quick interview with Joint Managing...

Hunters founder and new Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake says he supports the Tory policy of extending Right To Buy to housing...

The industry is awaiting news of exactly who will become the new housing minister and whether the role will have cabinet...

Ian Wilson, the head of Martin & Co, recently threw his hat into the ring regarding Labour’s stated intention to cap...