Propertymark, the overarching body aiming to bring five different associations (ARLA, NAEA, NAVA, ICBA and APIP) into a single brand, was...
Archive
16 January 2021
From: Features

Propertymark is the only agency trade body with sufficient influence on, and links with, government to achieve major gains for the...
15 January 2021
From: Breaking News
07 January 2021
From: Breaking News

Firstly, Happy New Year – here’s to 2021 being less chaotic than the last! In the final part of our series on...
02 January 2021
From: Features

Many independents will be based in the capital, but given its size and breadth they may get drowned out even more...
19 December 2020
From: Features

First off, hello and welcome to this new series – appearing in Estate Agent Today’s Breaking News section each month –...
10 December 2020
From: Breaking News

Welcome to part three of our ongoing series on local independent agents, as we seek to give this all-important part of...
05 December 2020
From: Features

As regular readers will know, the Natter kickstarted a series last time out zoning in on local independent agents – the...
21 November 2020
From: Features

As you may have seen over the weekend, the long-running Property Natter column – penned by Angels Media chief executive, Nat...
11 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Firstly, let’s get the obvious out of the way. Lockdown 2, as it’s being known, is now with us, but fortunately...
07 November 2020
From: Features

The property market has bounced back with all of the expected resilience and flexibility that is its hallmark since it reopened...
24 October 2020
From: Features

The only certainty at the moment is ongoing uncertainty. It’s something we’ve got used to in 2020, but it’s still not...
10 October 2020
From: Features

A new PropTech product claims to help agents generate and nurture leads - even while they sleep. MovePal generates leads through Facebook...
28 September 2020
From: Breaking News

Recent Natters have explored the differences between the UK and American models of agency, and why Purplebricks failed to make a...
26 September 2020
From: Features

Seller and landlord leads are what makes estate agency tick. Without them, new business is nowhere to be seen and you...
23 September 2020
From: Features

For a number of years now, predictions have been made that one of the major tech giants will eventually enter the...
12 September 2020
From: Features

It’s fair to say that UK estate agents don’t have the best of reputations, often featuring in the lists of the...
29 August 2020
From: Features

In my last Natter, I explored the differences between estate agency in the UK and the US with the help of...
15 August 2020
From: Features

A leading expert on estate agency and the housing market in Australia has lifted the lid on how Purplebricks failed down...
14 August 2020
From: Breaking News

We have had a special relationship for many years and are bonded as countries in many ways – historically, politically and...
01 August 2020
From: Features

Conferences, events and awards dinners are a hugely important part of the property calendar, bringing the great and the good of...
18 July 2020
From: Features

They are the names we hear about often, pushing for this or seeking clarifications on that. They are the representatives of...
04 July 2020
From: Features

“Let’s Zoom later”, “are we Zooming in the morning or afternoon?” “Yeah, I zoomed the client earlier” – variations on these...
20 June 2020
From: Features

The only story that has come remotely close to pushing coronavirus – and its various knock-on effects – off the top...
06 June 2020
From: Features

All my recent Natters have been focused on one particular topic, the coronavirus crisis, for obvious reasons. But there has been...
23 May 2020
From: Features

There has been much speculation about when agents will be allowed back to work, and what the new office working environment...
09 May 2020
From: Features

Lockdown measures are still in place for another two weeks, at least, with the possibility of them being extended beyond that....
25 April 2020
From: Features

We are still living in highly extraordinary times, perhaps evidenced best by the fact that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was...
11 April 2020
From: Features

Where else to start? Since my last Natter two weeks ago, all our lives have changed more than we could ever...
28 March 2020
From: Features

There’s been a huge change in the way estate agencies operate in recent years, with far more focus on marketing properties...
14 March 2020
From: Features

In the last few Natters I’ve focused on the slow death of local newspaper advertising, and how many agents are now...
29 February 2020
From: Features

The 2010s were a good decade for disrupters. Early on, Airbnb and Uber shook up the holiday lettings/hospitality and traditional black...
15 February 2020
From: Features

Now we’re well into the second month of the year, we have reached a crucial point in the ongoing plans to...
08 February 2020
From: Features
01 February 2020
From: Features

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...
30 January 2020
From: Breaking News

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

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

It’s one of the most crucial aspects of the homebuying and selling process but is too often bogged down by frustrating...
21 December 2019
From: Features

“There won’t be a single home but millions of different homes”, is one quote. “There will be an end to gadgets”, is...
18 December 2019
From: Breaking News

We’re back to our Christmas celebration photographs, and with the holiday break just over a week away here’s a reminder that...
16 December 2019
From: Breaking News

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...
14 December 2019
From: Features

In the latest part of the Natter’s ‘day in the life of’ series, I catch up with Chris Osmond, sales director...
30 November 2019
From: Features

As we know, the world’s moving very fast and how we communicate now is drastically different to even 10 years ago....
16 November 2019
From: Features

This week’s Natter is dedicated to three contrasting agencies doing things differently, from a recently established hybrid to a design-led, Insta-friendly...
02 November 2019
From: Features

Yopa – launched in 2015 as part of the new breed of hybrid operators seeking to shake up the industry –...
19 October 2019
From: Features

In a revival of the Natter’s day in the life of series, I catch up with Rajeev Nayyar, managing director of...
05 October 2019
From: Features

How can estate and letting agents nurture leads who aren't ready to sell or let a property instantly? It's a question many...
28 September 2019
From: Features

In a previous Natter, I promised to talk more about CRMs – and here I stick to that promise. Following on from...
21 September 2019
From: Features

Former Purplebricks chief executive Lee Wainwright says the problem for estate agents maintaining a strong level of fees isn’t competition from...
16 September 2019
From: Breaking News

They will be the doctors, lawyers, teachers, thinkers, leaders and captains of industry of the not too distant future, but is...
24 August 2019
From: Features

With the often negative portrayal of agents in the media and popular culture, you might ask yourself why anyone would want...
10 August 2019
From: Features

Nicky Stevenson has had a very varied and interesting career in property. She started out as a lettings negotiator for Nicholas...
27 July 2019
From: Features

It’s now more than three years since the EU referendum result in June 2016, and we’re still no clearer on when...
13 July 2019
From: Features

In the second part of my exploration of startups, I talk to a number of people with lived experience of creating...
29 June 2019
From: Features

All the most successful startups of recent years – from Airbnb and Uber to Just Eat and Deliveroo – have melded...
15 June 2019
From: Features

In the first Q&A Natter for a while, I catch up with Angelica Donati - CEO of Donati Immobiliare Group, PropTech...
01 June 2019
From: Features

Whether you love or hate it, Purplebricks has undoubtedly left its mark since arriving on the scene in 2015 – much...
18 May 2019
From: Features

During our school days, most of us did that task where we imagined and drew the homes of the future, but...
04 May 2019
From: Features

With Easter now upon us (happy Easter, by the way, and hope you’re enjoying the long weekend, the Easter eggs and...
20 April 2019
From: Features

When you think of the best ad campaigns – from moustachioed opera singers and talking meerkats to millions of bouncing balls...
06 April 2019
From: Features

Four high-profile industry figures have sent an open letter urging agents to think about what they call “smarter marketing” in a...
27 March 2019
From: Breaking News

For many years, the majority of agents have stuck to the tried-and-tested 9am-6pm opening hours framework. But is this now changing,...
16 March 2019
From: Features

The best suppliers to the estate and letting agent sector for customer service have been announced by the ESTAS in the...
13 March 2019
From: Breaking News

Instagram (or, as the younger generation would have it, Insta) is, by any measure, massive. Only launched in October 2010, it’s a...
02 March 2019
From: Features

Estate agents and property firms are being invited to take part in the inaugural Property & Construction leg of an event...
19 February 2019
From: Breaking News

With the home buying and selling process firmly on the news agenda of late – everything from a possible ban on...
16 February 2019
From: Features

Kit Malthouse has been making headlines this week, but – in keeping with his tenure as Housing Minister so far -...
02 February 2019
From: Features

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

Another year is nearly done – and what an eventful year it’s been. We’ve had more than our fair share of breaking...
22 December 2018
From: Features

As we near the Christmas break so it’s time to put our feet up for a moment and celebrate another year. What better...
19 December 2018
From: Breaking News

Hard not to mention two major breaking news stories of recent days; one directly affecting the property market and one which...
15 December 2018
From: Features

Every other advert on the TV is featuring Santa Claus, snowmen or reindeer, the tinsel, trees and decorations are out in...
01 December 2018
From: Features

How will things be done in the future? There’s no knowing, of course, given the many variables at play, but it’s...
17 November 2018
From: Features

It’s the most obvious visual medium high street agents have at their disposal, and for many decades has been absolutely pivotal...
03 November 2018
From: Features

No, I haven’t lost the plot. Such a thing exists – and if you’re familiar with North London, there is a...
20 October 2018
From: Features

Google celebrated its 20th birthday last month. Yes, it might be hard to recall a time when it wasn’t integral in...
06 October 2018
From: Features

Landlords and letting agents might feel they’ve taken a bit of a battering from the government in recent years – and...
22 September 2018
From: Features

Fake news has become the popular catchphrase of a certain orange-tinted president in recent years. And everyone, from tech giants like...
08 September 2018
From: Features

Out and about recently, I got to thinking: how often do I actually have the call for cash anymore? Or, for...
25 August 2018
From: Features

Next week ludlowthompson celebrates its 25th anniversary. Here, I catch up with Stephen Ludlow, co-founder and now executive director of the...
11 August 2018
From: Features

First things first, I have to mention the World Cup. The dream is over, football’s not quite coming home (not until...
14 July 2018
From: Features

Cast your mind back to July 2008 – Gordon Brown was Prime Minister, the Euros were in full swing in Austria/Switzerland...
30 June 2018
From: Features

Estate Agent Today is 10 years old this weekend. We hope you’ll agree that’s a cause for celebration and a great...
29 June 2018
From: Breaking News

The former managing director of Foxtons, Peter Rollings, has spilled the beans on what it was like working at the heart...
18 June 2018
From: Breaking News

Peter Rollings is one of the most respected and best-known figures in property, having helped to rapidly grow Foxtons (where he...
16 June 2018
From: Features

Last time out I looked at the growing importance of content, social media and design – but these should only form...
02 June 2018
From: Features

As promised a few weeks ago, this week’s Natter concentrates on the importance of content, design and social media, three easily...
19 May 2018
From: Features

Ever wondered what it’s like to be on the frontline of property journalism? Well, wonder no more, as our very own...
05 May 2018
From: Features

Maplin, Toys R Us, Carpetright, Warren Evans – what do they have in common? All are well-known high street chains that...
21 April 2018
From: Features

With the rise of Purplebricks in recent years, many will be eager to know what the hybrid agency’s Local Property Experts...
07 April 2018
From: Features

For part two of the 'Day in the life of' series, I spoke to Peter Kavanagh, who first joined Romans in...
24 March 2018
From: Features

In the first of an ongoing series exploring the people who make the property industry tick, I catch up with James...
10 March 2018
From: Features

The death of traditional TV – where viewers sit down together to watch shows at defined times – has been much...
24 February 2018
From: Features

This week I carry out a question and answer session with one of the most high-profile names in property. Isobel Thomson has...
10 February 2018
From: Features

In recent years January has become the month of detoxes, fad diets, health kicks such as Dry January and Veganuary, and...
27 January 2018
From: Features

Oh we do love a busy Agents Do Charity page, and this week’s is busy indeed - thanks to everyone for...
26 January 2018
From: Breaking News

After the fun and over-indulgence of the festivities, most of us are now back to the world of work. And, with...
13 January 2018
From: Features

Another new year is nearly upon us and, once we’ve got the season of mince pies, mulled wine, pigs in blankets,...
16 December 2017
From: Features

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...
25 November 2017
From: Features

Winter seems to be firmly with us now, if the plunging temperatures are anything to go by. After a ridiculously mild...
11 November 2017
From: Features

The industry appears to be embracing this year’s Halloween celebrations like never before - tomorrow’s the big day but we’ve got...
30 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Crowdfunding is nothing new. As I pointed out in a previous Natter, it dates back centuries, playing a part in the...
28 October 2017
From: Features

They say presentation is key (something that Theresa May now knows all too well after her calamitous conference speech). But equally...
14 October 2017
From: Features

As those of us in the industry know, there is a fine balance to strike between disruptive technology – and the...
30 September 2017
From: Features

How has the world of estate agency changed in the last few decades? That’s the question this week’s Natter is going...
16 September 2017
From: Features

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...
02 September 2017
From: Features

Are you protecting your data right? This may sound like the sort of direct warning you get from cold callers or...
19 August 2017
From: Features

Property has been changing hands for centuries, but when did estate agents as we know them today – with their branches,...
04 August 2017
From: Features

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

The managing director of ZPG Property Services says his firm will never ‘go around’ an agent in order to directly work...
04 July 2017
From: Breaking News

Mark Goddard was the founder and CEO of The Property Software Group (PSG), a property software solutions firm established in 2007,...
01 July 2017
From: Features

To give you a nice distraction from the post-election madness, here’s an interview with Charlie Wright, founder of CIELA (or The...
10 June 2017
From: Features

Since we last spoke, the ESTAS – the biggest and best property awards ceremony in the UK – has been and...
27 May 2017
From: Features

It’s that time of year again – peak conference/event season. And, while Brexit and a shock snap general election are dominating...
06 May 2017
From: Features

In this Natter we have an exclusive interview with David Cox, CEO of ARLA Propertymark and one of the best-known figures...
08 April 2017
From: Features

For my latest Property Natter I have sought the opinions of two well-known property consultants - Michael Day, managing director of...
01 April 2017
From: Features

Excuse the puntastic (or not) title, but as you’ve no doubt already deciphered I took a trip northwards a couple of...
11 February 2017
From: Features

Instant gratification is nothing new. It’s been around for millennia. It’s an in-built survival instinct for humans – that want, that...
28 January 2017
From: Features

A post-Christmas treat this week, as I carry out a Q & A with one of the leading figures in property,...
14 January 2017
From: Features

Countrywide’s controversial hybrid estate agency business has produced “fantastic results” according to Sam Tyrer, the group’s Managing Director, Retail & London. In...
13 January 2017
From: Breaking News

Carpe diem, seize the day – whatever you call it, it’s something all of us in the property industry should be looking...
09 December 2016
From: Features

What a mad, bonkers year it’s been. We’ve had, in no particular order: Trump, Brexit, Leicester winning the Premier League, a...
03 December 2016
From: Features

Good branding is absolutely crucial to any successful business or product, even more so in a world of social media, instant...
12 November 2016
From: Features

Facebook is a difficult beast to tame. You have 2,000 followers, but your most recent post was only seen by 200 people....
05 November 2016
From: Features

It’s all been kicking off in recent weeks, hasn’t it? Marmite wars, the endless Trump v Clinton debate, Samsung phones blowing...
28 October 2016
From: Features

In recent weeks I have been carrying out question and answer sessions with some of the key figures in the property...
14 October 2016
From: Features

This week we have the Head Shepherd of EweMove, Glenn Ackroyd, in the hotseat. He’s been co-owner of EweMove Sales and Lettings,...
30 September 2016
From: Features

A fantastic exclusive this week as I carry out a question and answer session with one of the leading names in...
16 September 2016
From: Features

Later on, the title of this piece should become clearer (at least I hope so). First, though, a few bits and...
09 September 2016
From: Features

It’s easy to forget, but there was a time when the internet didn’t exist. When the idea behind the world wide...
19 August 2016
From: Features

Summer finally arrived, the transport system (as always) went into meltdown, everyone complained that it was too hot and the sun...
05 August 2016
From: Features

As promised, this week’s Natter is dedicated to a question and answer session with Peter Brodnicki, the man who has been...
22 July 2016
From: Features

The joke doing the rounds last week still seems to be just as relevant this week: “the only man with a...
08 July 2016
From: Features

A few of our Industry Views pieces this week focus on the upcoming EU referendum. I don’t think I can add...
17 June 2016
From: Features

It’s nearly June – June! – already. Seriously, where has this year gone? This means summer is nearly upon us, with a...
27 May 2016
From: Features

Last time out I spoke about the beginnings of a PropTech revolution, with two major London-based events in the offing over...
13 May 2016
From: Features

On Tuesday we managed hail, snow, rain, sun and a chilly wind all in one day. Whatever you want to say...
29 April 2016
From: Features

This week, as the title suggests, I turn my attentions to the world of deposit protection schemes. Landlords have been legally obliged...
15 April 2016
From: Features

Storm Katie (makes it sound so harmless when they give it a name like that, doesn’t it?) might have given the...
01 April 2016
From: Features

Software. You might not give it much thought a lot of the time, but it’s an absolutely crucial part of how...
04 March 2016
From: Features

A record 30,000 surveys have been submitted to the organisers of The ESTAS awards on the performance of estate and letting...
01 March 2016
From: Breaking News

Estate agents with a difference, a twist, a unique selling point, whatever you want to call it, seem to be becoming...
20 February 2016
From: Features

Marketing and property often go hand in hand. But from time to time you might come across certain marketing terms that...
30 January 2016
From: Features

First of all, welcome back everyone. Hope everyone had a great and relaxing break for Christmas and New Year. (Is anyone...
15 January 2016
From: Features

Right, so it’s one more week till Christmas and two more weeks until we head face first into 2016. Both these...
18 December 2015
From: Features

It was an end of an era in the property world this week. Christopher Hamer stepped down as the Property Ombudsman...
04 December 2015
From: Features

An interesting story caught my eye a few weeks ago. A man from Lytham St Annes in Lancashire attempted to sell...
20 November 2015
From: Features

Someone told me the other day that it’s now only seven Mondays till Christmas. Now there’s a scary thought. Best get...
06 November 2015
From: Features

I’m writing this from the brand spanking new Center Parks in Woburn Forest. Set within 365 acres of lush Bedfordshire forest,...
23 October 2015
From: Features

Well, the hosts have left the party early. England have crashed out of their own Rugby World Cup after a demoralising...
09 October 2015
From: Features

There’s been a lot of talk lately about artificial intelligence (AI). We’ve seen it feature prominently this year on film (in...
25 September 2015
From: Features

We’ve enjoyed a bit of an Indian summer this week. Not sure it makes up for one of the coldest and...
11 September 2015
From: Features

Public relations is big business these days. Whole companies are set up purely to provide this service. Major corporations have in-house...
21 August 2015
From: Features

So, has everyone been enjoying the fine summer weather we’ve been experiencing? Oh, wait…fear not, I will attempt to inject a...
07 August 2015
From: Features

The rising phenomenon of agent-rating and review websites is a topic that seems to have caused considerable division and controversy among...
10 July 2015
From: Features

OK, you’re being spoilt. This column is now going to be on a bi-weekly rather than monthly basis. You lucky people,...
19 June 2015
From: Features

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