Archive

Recent Natters have explored the differences between the UK and American models of agency, and why Purplebricks failed to make a...

Seller and landlord leads are what makes estate agency tick. Without them, new business is nowhere to be seen and you...

For a number of years now, predictions have been made that one of the major tech giants will eventually enter the...

It’s fair to say that UK estate agents don’t have the best of reputations, often featuring in the lists of the...

In my last Natter, I explored the differences between estate agency in the UK and the US with the help of...

A leading expert on estate agency and the housing market in Australia has lifted the lid on how Purplebricks failed down...

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

Conferences, events and awards dinners are a hugely important part of the property calendar, bringing the great and the good of...

They are the names we hear about often, pushing for this or seeking clarifications on that. They are the representatives of...

“Let’s Zoom later”, “are we Zooming in the morning or afternoon?” “Yeah, I zoomed the client earlier” – variations on these...

The only story that has come remotely close to pushing coronavirus – and its various knock-on effects – off the top...

All my recent Natters have been focused on one particular topic, the coronavirus crisis, for obvious reasons. But there has been...

There has been much speculation about when agents will be allowed back to work, and what the new office working environment...

Lockdown measures are still in place for another two weeks, at least, with the possibility of them being extended beyond that....

We are still living in highly extraordinary times, perhaps evidenced best by the fact that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was...

Where else to start? Since my last Natter two weeks ago, all our lives have changed more than we could ever...

There’s been a huge change in the way estate agencies operate in recent years, with far more focus on marketing properties...

In the last few Natters I’ve focused on the slow death of local newspaper advertising, and how many agents are now...

The 2010s were a good decade for disrupters. Early on, Airbnb and Uber shook up the holiday lettings/hospitality and traditional black...

Now we’re well into the second month of the year, we have reached a crucial point in the ongoing plans to...

For a very long time, it was one of the best ways – if not the best way – of generating...

It’s back - the five-a-side football tournament which made its debut last year with teams from the property sector makes a welcome return...

Following on from the second half of the last decade, the first few weeks of 2020 have been a bit mad...

First things first, a big happy New Year to everyone. Welcome to 2020! It looks set to be another interesting year...

It’s one of the most crucial aspects of the homebuying and selling process but is too often bogged down by frustrating...

“There won’t be a single home but millions of different homes”, is one quote.  “There will be an end to gadgets”, is...

We’re back to our Christmas celebration photographs, and with the holiday break just over a week away here’s a reminder that...

Yes, believe it or not, we’ve nearly reached the end of a whole decade. And what an eventful decade it’s been. We’ve...

In the latest part of the Natter’s ‘day in the life of’ series, I catch up with Chris Osmond, sales director...

As we know, the world’s moving very fast and how we communicate now is drastically different to even 10 years ago....

This week’s Natter is dedicated to three contrasting agencies doing things differently, from a recently established hybrid to a design-led, Insta-friendly...

Yopa – launched in 2015 as part of the new breed of hybrid operators seeking to shake up the industry –...

In a revival of the Natter’s day in the life of series, I catch up with Rajeev Nayyar, managing director of...

How can estate and letting agents nurture leads who aren't ready to sell or let a property instantly? It's a question many...

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

Former Purplebricks chief executive Lee Wainwright says the problem for estate agents maintaining a strong level of fees isn’t competition from...

They will be the doctors, lawyers, teachers, thinkers, leaders and captains of industry of the not too distant future, but is...

With the often negative portrayal of agents in the media and popular culture, you might ask yourself why anyone would want...

Nicky Stevenson has had a very varied and interesting career in property. She started out as a lettings negotiator for Nicholas...

It’s now more than three years since the EU referendum result in June 2016, and we’re still no clearer on when...

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

All the most successful startups of recent years – from Airbnb and Uber to Just Eat and Deliveroo – have melded...

In the first Q&A Natter for a while, I catch up with Angelica Donati - CEO of Donati Immobiliare Group, PropTech...

Whether you love or hate it, Purplebricks has undoubtedly left its mark since arriving on the scene in 2015 – much...

During our school days, most of us did that task where we imagined and drew the homes of the future, but...

With Easter now upon us (happy Easter, by the way, and hope you’re enjoying the long weekend, the Easter eggs and...

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

Four high-profile industry figures have sent an open letter urging agents to think about what they call “smarter marketing” in a...

For many years, the majority of agents have stuck to the tried-and-tested 9am-6pm opening hours framework. But is this now changing,...

The best suppliers to the estate and letting agent sector for customer service have been announced by the ESTAS in the...

Instagram (or, as the younger generation would have it, Insta) is, by any measure, massive.  Only launched in October 2010, it’s a...

Estate agents and property firms are being invited to take part in the inaugural Property & Construction leg of an event...

With the home buying and selling process firmly on the news agenda of late – everything from a possible ban on...

Kit Malthouse has been making headlines this week, but – in keeping with his tenure as Housing Minister so far -...

I don’t think I can add anything more to the excellent 2019 pieces we’ve seen on EAT in recent weeks –...

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

As we near the Christmas break so it’s time to put our feet up for a moment and celebrate another year. What better...

Hard not to mention two major breaking news stories of recent days; one directly affecting the property market and one which...

Every other advert on the TV is featuring Santa Claus, snowmen or reindeer, the tinsel, trees and decorations are out in...

How will things be done in the future? There’s no knowing, of course, given the many variables at play, but it’s...

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

No, I haven’t lost the plot. Such a thing exists – and if you’re familiar with North London, there is a...

Google celebrated its 20th birthday last month. Yes, it might be hard to recall a time when it wasn’t integral in...

Landlords and letting agents might feel they’ve taken a bit of a battering from the government in recent years – and...

Fake news has become the popular catchphrase of a certain orange-tinted president in recent years. And everyone, from tech giants like...

Out and about recently, I got to thinking: how often do I actually have the call for cash anymore? Or, for...

Next week ludlowthompson celebrates its 25th anniversary. Here, I catch up with Stephen Ludlow, co-founder and now executive director of the...

First things first, I have to mention the World Cup. The dream is over, football’s not quite coming home (not until...

Cast your mind back to July 2008 – Gordon Brown was Prime Minister, the Euros were in full swing in Austria/Switzerland...

Estate Agent Today is 10 years old this weekend. We hope you’ll agree that’s a cause for celebration and a great...

The former managing director of Foxtons, Peter Rollings, has spilled the beans on what it was like working at the heart...

Peter Rollings is one of the most respected and best-known figures in property, having helped to rapidly grow Foxtons (where he...

Last time out I looked at the growing importance of content, social media and design – but these should only form...

As promised a few weeks ago, this week’s Natter concentrates on the importance of content, design and social media, three easily...

Ever wondered what it’s like to be on the frontline of property journalism? Well, wonder no more, as our very own...

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

With the rise of Purplebricks in recent years, many will be eager to know what the hybrid agency’s Local Property Experts...

For part two of the 'Day in the life of' series, I spoke to Peter Kavanagh, who first joined Romans in...

In the first of an ongoing series exploring the people who make the property industry tick, I catch up with James...

The death of traditional TV – where viewers sit down together to watch shows at defined times – has been much...

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

In recent years January has become the month of detoxes, fad diets, health kicks such as Dry January and Veganuary, and...

Oh we do love a busy Agents Do Charity page, and this week’s is busy indeed - thanks to everyone for...

After the fun and over-indulgence of the festivities, most of us are now back to the world of work. And, with...

Another new year is nearly upon us and, once we’ve got the season of mince pies, mulled wine, pigs in blankets,...

As we hurtle towards the end of 2017, it’s time to reflect on the year that’s just been.   Even better, this property-based...

Winter seems to be firmly with us now, if the plunging temperatures are anything to go by. After a ridiculously mild...

The industry appears to be embracing this year’s Halloween celebrations like never before - tomorrow’s the big day but we’ve got...

Crowdfunding is nothing new. As I pointed out in a previous Natter, it dates back centuries, playing a part in the...

They say presentation is key (something that Theresa May now knows all too well after her calamitous conference speech). But equally...

As those of us in the industry know, there is a fine balance to strike between disruptive technology – and the...

How has the world of estate agency changed in the last few decades? That’s the question this week’s Natter is going...

In this week’s Natter I’m going to get all political. Don’t worry, I won’t be giving my opinions on Brexit, Trump...

Are you protecting your data right? This may sound like the sort of direct warning you get from cold callers or...

Property has been changing hands for centuries, but when did estate agents as we know them today – with their branches,...

We’re already more than halfway through 2017 and, against all the odds, it’s pushing 2016 close in terms of eventfulness and...

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,...

To give you a nice distraction from the post-election madness, here’s an interview with Charlie Wright, founder of CIELA (or The...

Since we last spoke, the ESTAS – the biggest and best property awards ceremony in the UK – has been and...

It’s that time of year again – peak conference/event season. And, while Brexit and a shock snap general election are dominating...

In this Natter we have an exclusive interview with David Cox, CEO of ARLA Propertymark and one of the best-known figures...

For my latest Property Natter I have sought the opinions of two well-known property consultants - Michael Day, managing director of...

Excuse the puntastic (or not) title, but as you’ve no doubt already deciphered I took a trip northwards a couple of...

Instant gratification is nothing new. It’s been around for millennia. It’s an in-built survival instinct for humans – that want, that...

A post-Christmas treat this week, as I carry out a Q & A with one of the leading figures in property,...

Countrywide’s controversial hybrid estate agency business has produced “fantastic results” according to Sam Tyrer, the group’s Managing Director, Retail & London. In...

Carpe diem, seize the day – whatever you call it, it’s something all of us in the property industry should be looking...

What a mad, bonkers year it’s been. We’ve had, in no particular order: Trump, Brexit, Leicester winning the Premier League, a...

Good branding is absolutely crucial to any successful business or product, even more so in a world of social media, instant...

Facebook is a difficult beast to tame. You have 2,000 followers, but your most recent post was only seen by 200 people....

It’s all been kicking off in recent weeks, hasn’t it? Marmite wars, the endless Trump v Clinton debate, Samsung phones blowing...

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

This week we have the Head Shepherd of EweMove, Glenn Ackroyd, in the hotseat. He’s been co-owner of EweMove Sales and Lettings,...

A fantastic exclusive this week as I carry out a question and answer session with one of the leading names in...

Later on, the title of this piece should become clearer (at least I hope so). First, though, a few bits and...

It’s easy to forget, but there was a time when the internet didn’t exist. When the idea behind the world wide...

Summer finally arrived, the transport system (as always) went into meltdown, everyone complained that it was too hot and the sun...

As promised, this week’s Natter is dedicated to a question and answer session with Peter Brodnicki, the man who has been...

The joke doing the rounds last week still seems to be just as relevant this week: “the only man with a...

A few of our Industry Views pieces this week focus on the upcoming EU referendum. I don’t think I can add...

It’s nearly June – June! – already. Seriously, where has this year gone? This means summer is nearly upon us, with a...

Last time out I spoke about the beginnings of a PropTech revolution, with two major London-based events in the offing over...

On Tuesday we managed hail, snow, rain, sun and a chilly wind all in one day. Whatever you want to say...

This week, as the title suggests, I turn my attentions to the world of deposit protection schemes. Landlords have been legally obliged...

Storm Katie (makes it sound so harmless when they give it a name like that, doesn’t it?) might have given the...

Software. You might not give it much thought a lot of the time, but it’s an absolutely crucial part of how...

A record 30,000 surveys have been submitted to the organisers of The ESTAS awards on the performance of estate and letting...

Estate agents with a difference, a twist, a unique selling point, whatever you want to call it, seem to be becoming...

Marketing and property often go hand in hand. But from time to time you might come across certain marketing terms that...

First of all, welcome back everyone. Hope everyone had a great and relaxing break for Christmas and New Year. (Is anyone...

Right, so it’s one more week till Christmas and two more weeks until we head face first into 2016. Both these...

It was an end of an era in the property world this week. Christopher Hamer stepped down as the Property Ombudsman...

An interesting story caught my eye a few weeks ago. A man from Lytham St Annes in Lancashire attempted to sell...

Someone told me the other day that it’s now only seven Mondays till Christmas. Now there’s a scary thought. Best get...

I’m writing this from the brand spanking new Center Parks in Woburn Forest. Set within 365 acres of lush Bedfordshire forest,...

Well, the hosts have left the party early. England have crashed out of their own Rugby World Cup after a demoralising...

There’s been a lot of talk lately about artificial intelligence (AI). We’ve seen it feature prominently this year on film (in...

We’ve enjoyed a bit of an Indian summer this week. Not sure it makes up for one of the coldest and...

Public relations is big business these days. Whole companies are set up purely to provide this service. Major corporations have in-house...

So, has everyone been enjoying the fine summer weather we’ve been experiencing? Oh, wait…fear not, I will attempt to inject a...

The rising phenomenon of agent-rating and review websites is a topic that seems to have caused considerable division and controversy among...

OK, you’re being spoilt. This column is now going to be on a bi-weekly rather than monthly basis. You lucky people,...

Hello and welcome to my brand new blog! Every month I’ll be giving you an insight into the varied, exciting and...

The heads of Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket have been invited to take part in a ‘Portal Leaders Debate’ to discuss the...