Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Property-Porn Stars

This is the story of how my brother, Sam, took the opportunity, when it presented itself, to attempt a summit of Mount Everest - a climb 8,848 metres above sea level, or 29,032 feet, and whether he succeeded or not. 

It is a fascinating adventure in so many aspects, the extremes, the endurance and the experience, and although it was a story I wanted to hear from him directly, we actually recorded this episode for just one persons benefit, as you will hear. 

I am very fortunate to have a podcast, so although this episode is explicitly 'non-business' I wanted to use the platform to share with anyone who wanted to listen (and, in my opinion, it is worth a listen!). 

A few points to consider before listening: 
- firstly, trigger warning, (which feels weird to say) but there is quite a lot of death mentioned in this podcast, some quite graphic and at times horrifying, pretty much all towards the second half of the episode. 
- On that note, this is longer than the usual episodes, at about 2 hours. We didn't really care how long it took, it was more important for us (and its intended audience) that we did the subject justice. 
- Although you can watch this on YouTube, I probably wouldn't recommend it. It's just me and Sam sat in our parents house (not the usual studio in Canary Wharf), so not a lot to see! 

Simon is a brilliant premium agent, bringing his talent as a designer into the world of agency, not only from a visual perspective but also by creating a formula for generating new business. Simon Gates often uses Simon Cowie as a case study with his clients, and in this episode we go into why, and a load more besides, including:

• How to launch properties, and effectively manage the 'when can you get it on the portals' question from vendors.
• How to use social media as an estate agent...when you hate social media! 
• How to gain up-front marketing contributions from clients, and exceed their expectations in doing so.
• Pricing strategies and client retention.
• The importance of branding, and experience, in estate agency.
• What 'the line' is with social media.
• ... and what Selling Sunsets taught Simon about agency...!

Simon kindly shares so much insight in this episode, its one not to be missed. 

What an episode! If you are interested in:

How to master your mindset

Achieving 2%+ Fees

Overcoming the challenges of operating at the top of the market in a male dominated industry

Maximising productivity as well as self development

Listing and selling luxury properties in a competitive market

How to prove your value as an agent to clients

Mental resilience

Productivity and multitasking 

and how to use your 'why'...

Then you will love this episode, as much as Matt and David loved recording it. 

Marie Fritz is an awesome agent, delivering an incredible service to clients, achieving industry leading fee levels in the premium property market, and nurturing a rapidly growing business... all whilst spinning the plates of family life. 

She kindly shared an incredible amount of value with Matt and David, this is an episode not to be missed! 

Simon Whale (version 2.0) joins Matt and David in the studio to set the record straight about who is the most controversial character in the property industry... 

In his trademarked, unfiltered, 100mph style, 'Whaley' covers the length and breadth of the estate agency and proptech industries, giving his opinion on what the best premium agents are doing, what tech they are using, and what to avoid doing. 

His position in both Kerfuffle and Relocation Agent Network, as well as a background across proptech and an envious contact book of the best in the business, gives Simon an encyclopaedic knowledge which we tap into. All those long hours 'working' at the bar have paid off! 

What is the holy trinity of proptech? Will A.I. take our jobs? What does the future of the portal market look like, and what does that mean for agents? Why does Whaley keep saying it's January throughout the episode!? 😂

James Kendall is an awesome agent, running a market leading estate agency business in Bedfordshire. Having operated across the market, and in multiple discplines, James has settled on focussing his energy on mastering the premium market. 

In this episode, James talks us through the challenges hes faced and how hes overcome them, what he does differently to win market share in the premium market, and, perhaps most importantly of all, the importance of mindset (and even ego!) when succeeding in the premium property space. 

James shares the strategies hes employed on Linked In to win business from this platform, and how to manage different demographics on different social media platforms. This extends offline as well, and James explains how he tailors different marketing strategies in print to appeal to a wide customer range. 

James also gives insight into how he generates revenue from off-market deals, often a tricky area to get right. 

James is a great guy, and a brilliant agent, so don't miss out on this cracking episode from the self-labelled 'nutty professor' of the estate agency industry! 

Jessica Bishop, Advisor from DDRE Global, joins us in the studio to share her journey, and her insights, into what it takes to be successful in the competitive super-prime market of central London. 

From her experience and learning in a corporate setting, to the challenges and growth of 'going it alone' as  a self employed agent under the DDRE brand and stewardship of 'Mr Super Prime' himself Daniel Daggers, Jessica shares her insights as to what has lead her to success.

Even more than that, she shares her challenges, both personally and the illnesses that threatened to stop her new career (and maybe her life!) in its tracks, to the new world of self-employment and the discipline that comes with it. 

Perhaps the most interesting insight Jessica shares is around networking - a difficult, but absolutely essential, skill in achieving success in the prime and super prime markets, and how she achieves it. 

Networking is a both a discipline and a skill, one that Jessica has mastered through countless hours and countless events connecting with the right clientele, and in this episode she shares her methodology for how to network effectively and efficiently to make the right connections, in the right places, with the right people. 

Jessica shares both some practical advice, as well as inspirational stories, and this is an episode not to be missed! 

#SelfEmployedEstateAgent #Prime #SuperPrime #DDRE #PropertyPorn

In this episode, Simon Gates, founder of Opening the Gates to More Listings, joins David and Matt in the studio to share an amazing wealth of knowledge he has gained...through a career that has spanned estate agency, proptech and supplier, to consultant and one of the most insightful individuals in the industry. 

Simon shares his insight, as well as his learning from working closely with some of the best estate agents in the country, on a wealth of topics from generating more market appraisals, to winning listings, to raising fees, to effective prospecting, differentiation, and social media. 

One not to be missed! 

Join David and Matt as they don their polyester Christmas hats to deliver the '12 Pods of Christmas' special edition of Property-Porn Stars. 

Featuring their highlight and key take-away learning from each of the first twelve guests on the show, this is a short, sweet, and action packed podcast ideal as a distraction over the holiday period! 

Maybe a reminder of the learning from the esteemed guests, or perhaps some episodes you didn't see, or even as a taster for some of the shows you have missed, this episode is a whirlwind tour of twelve brilliant people who have been kind enough to share their learnings with us over the last six months. 

Every guest, without fail, has given us as hosts a new insight into the world of premium property. We are so grateful to them for giving up their time, and although this highlight-reel will never do justice to the full episode and the learnings contained within, we hope this whistle-stop tour of the first 'season' of Property-Porn Stars gives you good reason to listen, or even re-listen, to these episodes. 

So, thank you again to our audience for listening and joining us on this journey, and thank you to our brilliant guests for being so generous with their time and with their knowledge, we appreciate it so much. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and here's to another year of Property-Porn Stars and some superb guests as we continue to grow the channel and share some of the insight from the best and brightest in the world of premium property. 

See you in 2024!

In this episode, Adam Lascelles, Managing Director of By Design in Lincolnshire, shares an incredible amount of information...

We cover how he started and is expanding his business, why he turns some business down, how he sells properties without Rightmove, how to manage a successful social media presence as an innately private person... and how Adam has beaten his targets for a full years trading, in just four months! 

Even more than this though, Adam shares what he does on a daily basis to ensure his mindset is focussed in the right direction, and what it has been like transitioning from a traditional high street office environment to running his own business. 

The power of collaboration in the premium market, and even how a vendor prospected Adam!

And why now is the perfect market to launch a new business...if you're a good agent.

Thank you for taking the time to share so much Adam! 

In this episode, Freya Melling, central London estate agent, videography company owner and professional property presenter for the country's largest House Draw company, Omaze, shares her secrets and advice on property presentation...

How to conduct the perfect property video, how to present the property and yourself for the maximum impact on camera, and how to maximise that content across socials are just a few of the topics covered in this conversation with Freya. 

Plus, how her life has changed since millions of people now know her face from the massive advertising efforts of Omaze...and what she has learnt along the way, from a company who, arguably, present properties unlike any estate agent in the country! 

One not to be missed. 

In this episode, we speak to James Skudder, founder of the Country Living Group who are using pioneering videography to take the lucrative west Wales market by storm. 

Due to distance, we take to Zoom to quiz James on his business model, what strategies he has employed to achieve such success in the premium market in his area and how he has overcome the challenges of leaving an employed role to set up his own business... just as Covid hit!

James shares how he pushes past burnout, as well as time management - how he manages his premium brand himself, and working with his colleague to manage his core brand estate agency as well...digital marketing vs physical marketing, high street vs remote offices, traditional vs self employed models...TikTok... we get through a lot in 45 minutes! 

A differentiated marketing style, and a differentiated personal style - James shares a huge amount of how he built his business, an episode not to be missed full of practical advice and strategies you can implement in your business immediately. 

In this episode we are joined by the founder of Lemon + Lime Interiors, a multi-award winning home staging company, and multiple author, Elaine Penhaul. 

She talks us through how dramatically homeowners preferences have changed, and how now she is approached by vendors directly BEFORE they consider estate agents, and how staging and styling premium homes is changing: from a differentiator to 'expectation'. 

Elaine also explains the business rationale behind writing a book...and why she's writing a second, becoming a Key Person of Influence in the industry. 

Elaine has arguably done more than any other person to raise the profile and importance of staging and styling property in the estate agency industry, and her infectious energy is no small part of this huge undertaking. 

Plus, of course, we find out Elaine's 'porn-star' name, can she knock Matt's off the top spot!? 

Steve Carroll shares a fascinating insight into the comparison between the Australian and UK estate agency industry, even more interesting from his time at top-flight portal businesses... including the 'scary' future of property portals. 

• What are UK agents better at than their Aussie counterparts? (And where are they worse...?)
• How Aussie agents market themselves so well
• How to get the most out of your portal partners
• Why are fees higher in Australia
• Is it 'easier' in Aus?
• How do the best Aussie agents manage their 'digital shop window'
• The future of property portals (what the 'Australian Rightmove' is doing!)

A very unique podcast, with Steve providing a unique, global perspective on the estate agency and portal industries. A great episode with a brilliant guest, don't miss it! 

In this episode we are joined by John-Paul Rafferty, of Rafferty & Pickard estate agents in South East England. 

We pick up the story early on into John-Pauls' venture into the premium market, to give an insight into what it is like for an agency starting out in this market. In the first couple years the business has faced challenges over branding, how he competes with premium national brands, gaining his first listings and managing how he manages his residential business and his premium business. 

This episode covers Tik Tok, Doorknocking, Linked In targeting, facebook groups, even the rise of the property reality TV shows...help or hindrence to the industry?

In this episode, we dive into a growing, premium estate agency business - and share the lessons, learnings and advice gained from the crucial first two years trading, invaluable advice for those considering moving their business and focus in to the premium market. 

Jordan and his business, and life, partner Leanna Corban started their business in a highly competitive market, starting from scratch, and not only is their market share highly impressive but their fee levels, company culture, and plans for the future are very exciting too. 

Learn how they accomplished this growth, how they differentiated their business from the competition, how they retain great team members, and, of course, Jordan's porn-star name...

In this bonus episode, 'Property-Porn Stars: Down Under', Matt is on the road armed with his iphone and microphone at AREC 2023, in the Gold Coast, Australia. In this interview with Katrina Tarrant, who is the CEO and a leader of Harcourts: New South Wales, Matt asks her in detail about her journey in the business and about building a culture through change - great content for leaders of teams and individual agents alike. 

The tables have turned!!! Or, rather the sofas have... because our guest on this episode of Property-Porn Stars needs very little introduction...not only is he one of the most prolific content-creators in the industry, but as the host of the Watkin sofa he has interviewed the best and brightest in the industry, so we can benefit from the knowledge he has gained in the 2,000 (!) videos he has recorded. 

Plus, a cracking bit of sales psychology thrown in for good measure. 

Enjoy the episode, and find out what Chris' shortcut to success is...

Inside the head of Russell Quirk...

King of controversy, PR guru, TV Presenter and even occasionally an estate agent, Russell Quirk joins David and Matt in the Property-Porn Stars Studio. 

Not known for being a shy, retiring, wallflower, you can guarantee some outspoken views on estate agency today. 

Russell shares years of experience in industry, out of industry, from his world of PR and how to best leverage local awareness - even if you are a small agency, just starting on your journey. 

We even cover what insights Russell can bring from his world of live television broadcasting, presenting and hosting. 

But perhaps most interestingly, we delve in to controversy itself; how to manage it, how to benefit from it, and how to look after your mental health in a world of anonymous internet 'trolls'. 

Russell opens up on his 'why', especially around his outspoken and often controversial opinions, and for the first time publicly, he shares a story from his childhood which has driven him to where he is today.

...and of course, we also find out what Russell said to get banned from Twitter 😂

Ian Storey has built a business the envy of almost all of the industry. 

He charges fees others could only dream of, selling houses which must 'inspire' him to work with Storeys, and in so doing has created a business he truly enjoys, is excited about, and with a close knit team who share his passion. 

In this episode, Ian explores his Why and his How.

Why he chose the premium market, what it means to his business, the stark comparison it delivers him as opposed to another business he owned at the opposite end of the house price spectrum. 

And perhaps more importantly for our listeners, he explains how. How he started, what he got right, what he got wrong, what his approach to listing, marketing and selling premium properties in his area is, and what his plans are for the future of his business. 

It is NOT Ian's life storey (see what we did there), that is available through the brilliant Christopher Watkin interview series. Being a guest on Property-Porn Stars, the Premium Property Podcast, we focus solely on the premium and prime property markets, with the goal of delivering knowledge and wisdom from experts in this field to agents who are in, or aspire to operate in, these lucrative markets. 

Ian delivers in spades, and with a Cheshire market which is relatable to almost any estate agency business in the country, we couldn't recommend more spending less than an hour of your time absorbing Ian's wisdom. 

Matt, co-host of Property-Porn Stars and owner of a succesful estate agency business, immediately actioned outcomes from this episode in his own company, and we are sure you will too. Enjoy!

In this episode, we are joined in the studio by one of the most interesting operators in the industry, Simon Hawkesley. 

An explorer, mountaineer, adventurer...and when he's not scaling mountains he brings an approach to estate agency unlike almost any other in the industry. 

Whilst his approach is carefully curated for his market, and is built upon his years of experience in the premium and prime markets, there is a huge amount to be learned from him by anyone in the industry. 

The principles of limiting the supply of service to charge higher fees, to deliver an outstanding personal service, to become a trusted advisor to his clients, to collaborating with others in the industry, to thinking differently. 

Simon is a truly unique individual, a friend of David, one of the hosts of the Podcast, and we are delighted he accepted our invitation to join us on Property-Porn Stars to share his wisdom and his knowledge with you. 

We absolutely guarentee you will finish this episode thinking very, very differently about your business. Plus, a bonus history lesson on the Mt Everest attempt by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine...


We hope you enjoy!

In this episode, we cram in as much marketing mastery in 45 minutes as possible; you’re going to get loads out of this episode it’s a good one! 

We cover differentiation, brand positioning, A.I., door knocking, personal branding, mistakes to avoid and strategies to follow so you win more premium business in your estate agency…

Don’t forget to press the ‘Subscribe’ or 'Follow' buttons so new episodes are delivered straight to you. We have some equally brilliant guests joining us in the studio, you won’t want to miss them.

In this episode, we are joining by the one and only Mr Super Prime himself, Daniel Daggers from DDRE. 

With experience in independent agency, corporate, and now his own brand DDRE global, Daniel brings a wealth of experience to the show from working in the UK, the US, and globally with his High Net Worth and Ultra High Net Worth clients. 

Whether you operate in the residential, premium, prime, or super prime markets, this episode is packed with insight, tips and mindset tools to help you succeed in your agency. 

So a huge thank you to Daniel for giving up his time, enjoy the episode, and don't forget to subscribe to the channel to avoid missing out on future guests!

In this 'pilot' episode, your hosts, David Lindley and Matt Giggs, introduce 'Property-Porn Stars', the new podcast for property professional who are either working in, or aspiring to work in, the premium home market. 

The 'Property-Porn Stars' are the guests who will feature on each coming episode, each of them excellent in their own field when it comes to the premium property markets, while the hosts interview them about their approach, what they've learned, and what they would advise for others working in the premium market to add significant value to their businesses. 

This 'pilot' episode is a short introduction to the show, a brief background on your hosts David and Matt, an attempt to justify the shows' ridiculous name, and some insight into what you can expect from coming episodes, each designed to be short-and-sweet, 30-40 minutes long so easy to consume in a commute!

That, and we find out Matt's incredible 'porn-star name', a new tradition for guests joining the hosts. 

If the premium property market is a subject you want to learn more about, or even if it is to take some of the insights you will learn here into another market, you are sure to gain lots of value from listening. 

On behalf of the show's hosts, David and Matt, we are incredibly grateful for everyone who gives up their time to listen, and we are always eager for feedback on subjects, guests and questions. 

Thank you for listening! 

Alia Khan is a superb premium agent, taking her market by storm - listing over £10,000,000 worth of instructions in the first ten weeks since launching her new business. 

In this episode, we discuss this (of course!) but a lot more, including: 

The feeling of being the 'black sheep of the family'; defying expectations of those closest to you

The pitfalls and benefits of being 'always on'

The importance of ethics in estate agency, and handling difficult conversations

Approach to social media and channel management

Property launch strategy as an instruction winner

How to manage price conversations

What to do when other agents bad-mouth you

Managing mindset regarding underhand tactics from other agents

Having a videographer to vlog behind the scenes content of your day to day life

And a shocking story about discrimination in the industry...

And a lot more... its a great episode for lots of different reasons, available on all the usual channels - dont miss it! 

Welcome to PRIME CUT - a special, one-off episode where we take the 'cream' of the Voice of the Agent Survey, and find out what the best premium and prime estate agents are doing...

And the results are fascinating, surprising, and controversial... 

Co-hosted by Marie Fritz, back by popular demand after her first podcast received so much positive feedback, and of course, Simon Leadbetter, the author of the survey of over 800 agents across the country. 

In this episode, you will find out: 

• Fees go up, the further up the market you go...why? 
• What can agents learn from this to achieve higher fees?
• How much does mindset matter when it comes to achieving higher fee levels? 
• Is the premium market 'daunting'... and if so, what can agents do to overcome that perception? 
• How to transition, as an agent, from the 'residential' market to the premium market
• Should you outsource your marketing or keep it in house to win premium business? 
• Who you should hire into your business next?
• Exactly which A.I. tools you should use in your agency, and, how to use them best. 
• even, discrimination and mental health challenges... Premium agents suffer these less, but why? 

To download the full survey, please click this link: https://issuu.com/weareunchained/docs/welcome_to_the_voice_of_the_agent_2024_-_final?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ

Tanya Baker has a social media following well in excess of 120,000 people, achieves millions of views of her property tours and has featured in national press for her achievements. In this video she shares EXACTLY what she does, her processes, and how her videos perform so much better than most agents' on socials...! Tanya shares:

• Winning a £1,000,000 instruction from TikTok...
• The surprising secret to her viral voiceovers
• How to use social media to outperform the property portals
• Using social media to generate valuations, and win instructions...even make friends! 
• '10,000 followers from one Reel...' how Tanya did it
• Exactly what to put on TikTok, vs other platforms
• What does your follower count actually mean for business

And so much more, aside from socials too - mindset, principals, and methods behind growing her business. 

I promise you'll do something different after listening to this episode... Tanya shares a huge amount of gold, this is an episode not to be missed! 

This podcast episode is different in lots of ways. Oliver Howard is a larger than life character, who is building his estate agency business in central London against the best in the business, but is doing so in a very different way. 

First of all, even if you don't listen to this episode, I encourage you to follow Oliver Howard on Instagram ( @OliverHowardLDN ) its not often I say that but Oliver is doing 2 things, I think, very differently online. 

First is his videography is unlike anything else Ive seen in the industry, and secondly, his incredibly authentic and genuine daily updates - as simple as they may be, are a good example of how easy it is to keep in front of our audience and keep them engaged (what seems 'boring' to us is fascinating to most people out of industry!) 

In this episode however, we get under the skin of Oliver:

• online trolls and how to use them to your advantage
• how his videos look they way they do (spoiler, they're not 'normal' and get massive traction online as a result)
• how to prospect, and WHO to prospect effectively, especially when starting an estate agency from scratch... 
• How long you have to post on socials for to begin to attract customers to you
• Using negativity on social media to your advantage
• How to 'clickbait' your property listings
• What to look forward to, or worry about, from the next generation of agents coming into the industry
• How hard the first 18 months of launching his business has been, and dealing with the mental health challenges this brings
• ... and why Oliver spent 36 hours editing one property video... 🤯

Oliver is fascinating character, a great fun person to be around and an awesome agent doing some really interesting things in the market - don't miss this episode! 

This cracking episode features David Warburton, of WeLocate and Burton James estate agencies, an especially powerful episode for agents contemplating how to run both a 'core brand' agency brand as well as spending time, and being the face of, their premium brand. David goes into some great detail on: 

• Why the premium market
• The importance of consistency and what does a premium offering look like? 
• Differentiation and managing two brands
• The pain of transitioning the company, and turning business away
• Being the 'face' of the business and videography
• Moving from cheap fixed fees, to percentage fees, and then to premium fees, and defending them
• and of course Direct Mail mastery...

Naturally in this episode James Kendall and Ian Storey get a fair few shout outs... and this completes the trio of the 'Complete Agent's appearing on Property-Porn Stars. 

And now for something completely different... 

In true Simon Bradbury style...it was never going to be a 'normal' podcast, and of course this isnt. 🤯

We take a totally different format for this episode, as Simon takes us through his top ten lessons learnt over FOUR DECADES (surely not...) in Estate Agency. 

Just a small highlight reel of this episode includes:

The importance of experience in estate agency
How much money are you leaving on the table? 
How to learn the 'rules of the game'
Is it actually 'different' for me in my market? 
Vulnerability... both our own, and, even how to exploit your competitors
The currency of trust
The art of negotiation
Closing deals
...we even cover Rightmove...
phew! 😮‍💨

We are incredibly grateful to Simon for sharing his insights which have lead his business to incredible, award winning, and sustained success across his markets - both residential, and premium. 

Profound, provacative and thought provoking - this, very different, episode of Property-Porn Stars has so much to offer, miss it at your peril!

• High street, traditional businesses vs self employed agency
• The commission structures to drive effective teams
• Managing culture, a high tempo work rate and how to grow a business full of A Team players
• What does an estate agency's leadership need to be, act like, look like, and even not do, to succeed
• How to balance working with friends with maintaining incredibly high standards of quality
• How to deliver emotional intelligence, combined with driving hard KPI's across teams
• How your life outside of work impacts what you achieve at work

Jamie is a fascinating individual who has achieved an incredible amount at a very young age, and might be a voice you haven't heard before. But I promise it will be one you wont forget. 

James Cooper, MD of By Design in South Devon, talks Matt and David through how he was instructed on £18,000,000 of instructions in the first 10 weeks of his business launch, his journey into premium agency and how he has been so successful in it. 

If you are in residential agency, and you are interested in moving into the premium market, or want learn from one of the best in the market, this is a great episode to listen to. We discuss: 

How property brochures not only have a role in this new world of A.I., but how to use them to win instructions! 

Can one person run both a premium brand, and a residential brand?

How to use a network of professionals around you to generate more business

What a 'genuinely personal' service means for premium homeowners

International - working with overseas clients

'Traditional estate agency, modern technology'

Generational difference in estate agency today

And so much more besides. 

Available now on all streaming platforms. 

Matt Strafford is the co-founder of Dream Home Films, one of the premium property industry's leading photography and videography companies (as well as being a lead singer in the band!). 

In this podcast we delve into what Matt sees from the behind the lens, what the best agents are doing in their property marketing, and what the future of videography, social media, and property marketing looks like...! 

More than that, Matt's background in the music industry is fascinating, and how he combines that creativity with a shrewd business mind is very interesting... 

All that, plus: 

-What the best agents, and the 'pros', do on camera for maximum benefit

-Managing rejection, and building resilience

-How to be natural on camera

-The knack of 'trusting the process'

-Hiring, firing, and expectations of team members

-The importance of a 'Director' in videography

...and loads more besides, 

Check out this excellent, and very different, episode - available now on all streaming platforms! 

This is something very different to our 'usual programming'...but I really recommend you listen to this! 

We are joined by Psychotherapist, Author, and Podcaster Ella McCrystal, who shares some incredible insight into how our brains work and how we can re-mould it to improve our work and personal lives...

As a total newbie to this whole subject, I found this conversation incredibly interesting, and there will definitely be some actionable tactics you can employ in your day to day life from this episode. 

Estate Agents deal with so many emotions - with their clients and their teams - using Ella's knowledge can help manage these more easily. In this conversation, Ella answers our questions on: 

• Fear, imposter syndrome, anxiety - and how to overcome them
• Fight & flight responses, where they come from and how to manage them
• Real 'authenticity' and how to be truly authentic (including on socials!) 
• Your 'energy' (you'll have to listen to understand what we mean by this subject!) 
• How to protect your mindset from clients who offload their problems onto you
• What is your core self (and why that matters)
• Belief systems
• And how to leverage these through social media strategies too.

We hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as we enjoyed recording it, and finishing the year on a particularly special episode. 

A big thank you to everyone who has listened or watched Property-Porn Stars this year, we hugely appreciate it and look forward to creating more content in 2025 - we've got some special stuff planned! 

Check out Ella on Instagram where you can find links to all her work: https://www.instagram.com/ellamccrystal/?hl=en-gb

Richard Austen, MD of By Design in South Cambridgeshire, explains how he cold-started his premium estate agency business from zero to £15,000,000 instructions in a matter of months. 

Transitioning from the volume market to the premium market, as explaining how the sales training he received in the motor trade before that, Richard takes us on the journey, the highs and the lows, of his journey in the world of high-end homes.

In this conversation we cover: 

What service levels are expected - and is Selling Sunset to blame? 

Doorknocking - the RIGHT way

The increasing standards expected in marketing

Transitioning into the premium market

How to cold-start in the premium market

Managing social-media pages, both personal and professional

Online and offline marketing strategies

Managing rejection

'Second-hand' instructions

Review plans with vendors

And so much more. Special shout outs to Christopher Watkin and James Skudder. Full podcast live now, check it out! 

Mark Burgess, CEO of Iceberg Digital, is focussed is on applying the future of technology to the estate agency industry. After the last few years of exponential advances in tech, this is a crucial conversation for agents to hear, regardless of whether you are on the front lines or in a strategic role. 

What the future of technology in our industry will do, and how the best agents leverage it today

How consumers make decisions over which agent to invite to a Market Appraisal

The fallacy of touting strategies

A business journey from magazines to AI, and everything in between.

What the best entrepreneurs taught Mark about structuring a successful company... and what are the things estate agents get wrong most!

Technology causing deflation, instead of the inflation we are used to

How to find, and leverage, a network of experts to improve your business

Plus, how to think, and act, strategically rather than reactively in your company, which is arguably even more valuable insight than the vision of the future of technology. 

Don't miss this episode! 

We are joined by Paul Jamieson, Sales Director at 20ea, who shares some invaluable listening for anyone operating in the premium market, both from your own business perspective and some great stats to inform clients with courtesy of Paul and 20ea.

Amongst a lot else, we cover: 

- Some suprising stats around the growth of the premium market
- Is the premium market growing faster or slower than the volume market?
- What does 2025's market look like?
- Are premium homes actually selling, is there demand? 
- The shocking effect the length of time to complete is having on the market
- Should premium agents be reducing prices more?
- How to demonstrate your value against competitors (and the market in general)
- Self-employed agents performance vs traditional models

Not only is the data shared (some of which is very surprising) but some actionable tactics of how to use this information with clients too. Definitely not one to be missed as 2025 kicks off.... 

Stats breakdown:
£1,000,000+ Market
January to November 2024
Data Source: 20EA

Supply (New Instructions)
Volume: 89,511
+12% 2023
+83% 2019

Demand (SSTC)
Volume: 41,557
+16% 2023
+71% 2019

Fallen Through
Volume: 6,666
+9% 2023
+78% 2019

Price Changes
Volume: 46,448
+12% 2023
+115% 2019

Exchanges
Volume: 26,910
+6% 2023
+49% 2019

Withdrawn
Volume: 51,154
+12% 2023
+60% 2019

Likely to Sell (Exchange)
34.5% 
-3.3% 2023 
-4.4% 2019

Available Stock
Volume: 48,378
+11% 2023
+74% 2019

SSTC Stock
17,558
+24% 2023
+132% 2019

Price Change %
34% of properties have had a price change (typically
reduction)
+1% 2023
+9% 2019

Fall Through %
23%
2% better than 2023
2% worse than 2019

Self Employed Agents Market Share
1.4% 
+16% 2023
+194% 2019

Online Agents Market Share
0%
0.1% in 2023
1.2% in 2019

Time to Sell (NI – SSTC)
3.3 months
17% slower than 2023
19% slower than 2019

Time to Exchange (SSTC -Exchange)
4.1 months
1% slower than 2023
37% slower than 2019

Time to Move (NI – SSTC)
7.4 months or 225 days
8% slower than 2023
5% slower than 2019

Industry veteran David Brierley has enjoyed a fascinating and varied career throughout the industry so far; agent and supplier, high end and 'online', independent and corporate, and from trainee to mentor, to name only a few. 

On a non-industry related note, David is an adventurer, and an avid sailor - accomplishing things that frighten me just to think about... sailing the crocodile (and humungous oil-tanker!) ridden Panama canal in a catamaran, and voyaging across an ocean where the nearest landmass is 400 miles away, 6 miles of ocean beneath you, and the nearest humans to you...are in the international space station! 😳

This is a great conversation, touching on:

David's journey through corporate, independent, start up, online agency, premium agency, supplier...what hed do again, and what he wouldn't! 

The easyProperty deal.

Meeting a billionaire, and how they think.

Sales vs Managerial roles; how to retain your best talent.

The art and science of salesmanship. 

Promotions...! How to promote salespeople, and manage managers...

What I learned on my adventures: oceans, crocodiles, oil tankers, and the remote place on earth! 

And the role of fear... in business, and in your personal life; how to harness it. 

Benefit from David's 40 years in business, as he kindly shares some of the best things he has learned in arguably one of the most varied and interesting careers in the industry. 

For well over the asking price (breaking local records), quickly, and at 2%+ fees...

This is genuinely a masterclass (a bit of a controversial word!) but there is so much to take away from this for agents, regardless of the market you're in. 

In this episode, David sits down with Simon Cowie, MD of By Design in Warwickshire and Sutton Coldfield, and Alex Wilcocks, Co-Founder and MD of Burbeck Interiors, to share their strategies for a huge success for a special property in the midlands. 

What went well, what didn't, what they'd do again, and what they wouldn't - our guests share their strategies in detail, and this insight is worth its weight in gold for any agents operating, or aspiring to operate in, the premium property market.

Is your business worth what you think it is?? 

This is crucial listening for agents, in order to avoid a nasty surprise down the road, and to set their business up for future success if and when they look to exit. 

This month’s guest is Adam J. Walker, who is a Business Transfer Agent (or, put another way, he is an agent for Estate Agencies!). With decades of experience and having accomplished over 700 agency sales in his career, he shares with us the pitfalls, traps, and value-reducing mistakes agents make… as well as how to set yourself up for maximum value on your exit. 

Plus, how all this plays out in the new world of Self-Employed agents, as well as the future of valuations in the agency market. 

In this conversation, we cover:

Lifestyle business vs. saleable business, how even profitable businesses can be almost unsellable.

The importance of lettings in business valuation

Valuation benchmarks, and how to sell for more…

Common deal structures, and what to avoid

Top mistakes agency owners make when selling

When to start planning a sale

What the characteristics of a saleable agency are (and they might not be what you think)

Industry trends, changes over the past 25+ years, and what to expect next

Perhaps most interestingly, when Adam thinks that traditional sales agencies will be the most valuable… i.e., when to sell!

Certainly not one to miss….

Welcome to the next instalment of our, super quick, premium market reports. 

This month we review the headline stats for the first half of 2025 and how the premium property market has performed, and it's some particularly interesting listening! 

All stats provided by Simon Gates, and you can read his full market report (as well as his top 5 Google Chrome extensions tips, newly updated!) in his article for Premium Estate Agency News, out on Tuesday 22nd July. 

Subscribe for free, and catch up on last month's content, here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c5289dd2935b2fe&id=bfb6ee9673

Hosted by David Lindley, with expert insight from Simon Leadbetter, Elaine Penhaul, and Simon Gates.

Join four leading voices in the premium property sector for a candid and thought-provoking discussion on the state of the UK’s high-end housing market. In this special episode of Property Porn Stars, we dive into the findings of the 2025 Voice of the Agent Survey—with over 1,000 agents contributing their views.

📈 In this episode, we explore:
 • What agents across the country really think is happening in the premium market
 • Why understanding market sentiment is crucial when dealing with homes at the top end
 • How staging, marketing, and messaging are evolving in today’s landscape
 • The tension between data-driven insights vs. agent anecdotes
 • The role of collaboration and how different industry perspectives can shape better outcomes

Whether you’re an estate agent, property professional, or simply intrigued by the premium market, this episode offers rich insights, expert commentary, and lively debate from a panel deeply embedded in the industry (even if not currently practising agents themselves).

👥 Featuring contributors from:
 • Lemon and Lime Interiors (Elaine Penhaul)
 • Opening the Gates (Simon Gates)
 • Unchained Marketing (Simon Leadbetter)
 • By Design (David Lindley)

📣 Don’t just take one opinion—hear the collective voice of over 1,000 agents and the commentary that brings it to life.

👉 Watch now, and let us know your take in the comments!

Subscribe to receive Premium Estate Agency News, featuring articles from Simon, Simon, Elaine and I each month, here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c5289dd2935b2fe&id=dcada24633

#PremiumProperty #EstateAgency #VoiceOfTheAgent #UKHousingMarket #PropertyPodcast #ByDesign #PropertyPornStars

Welcome to the second instalment of our new feature, a (super quick!) monthly update on the premium market. 

Perhaps you're curious, thinking strategically about the premium market, or are on your way to see a client - hopefully there is some useful information here to help. 

All stats collated by the numbers man, Simon Gates, and his full in depth market report is available on our monthly newsletter, Premium Estate Agency News. You can check it out, and subscribe for free to receive it directly to your inbox, here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c5289dd2935b2fe&id=dcada24633

(Plus you can check out Simons top 5 hacks for listing and launching properties to sell, particularly pertinent at the moment!). 

Back with the 'usual' interview style episode next month, until then I hope you enjoy this premium market update episode. 

It has been 10 years (!) since Andrew and I last saw each other, but it was great to reconnect and share his story about how to succeed in the rural premium market in Yorkshire, and the urban prime central London market, too.

Surely thats something for everybody!?!

Andrew shares his story, from selling ‘back to backs’ in Yorkshire to Mayfair penthouses, and even beyond our shores…

Andrew’s career is very unique, so this is a fascinating listen, covering topics like:

“It’s different where I am”…is London exception, or not?

Fee levels in London vs provinces

How not to compete with other agents, and the mindset required

Paying for the best

Premium brands ‘done right’

Arrogance vs confidence - ‘confidence in your confidence’

How people act differently in premium and prime

Acting as a buying agent and sales agent

High net worth individuals coming BACK to London, despite what you might hear in the press…

Long term relationships and networking with high net worth clients - tips and the harsh reality of it (compared to our favourite property TV’s depictions!)

And how Andrew was one of the early pioneers of personal branding…!

Plus lots more, a great conversation with a great guest, be sure not to miss this one.

Welcome to the first instalment of our new feature, a (super quick!) monthly update on the premium market. 

Perhaps you're curious, thinking strategically about the premium market, or are on your way to see a client - hopefully there is some useful information here to help. 

All stats collated by the numbers man, Simon Gates, and his full in depth market report is available on our monthly newsletter, Premium Estate Agency News. You can check it out, and subscribe for free to receive it directly to your inbox, here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c5289dd2935b2fe&id=3449ca75a2

(Plus you can check out Simons top 5 hacks for targeting properties currently on the market with other agents there, particularly pertinent at the moment!). 

Back with the 'usual' interview style episode next month, until then I hope you enjoy the first premium market update episode. 

In this episode we are take a (virtual) hop across the Irish Sea to speak with Regina Mangan of Liberty Blue estate agents in the beautiful town of Waterford. Regina is a big character in the Irish property market, a successful entrepreneur, best selling author and exceptional estate agent. 

In this episode we cover: 

How to use values to run a business

Knowing your numbers

Succession planning

Growing pains

The value of mentorship

Why attending industry events is so important

How to maintain your mindset

Teambuilding

How to manage Burnout

Self Care

Firing Clients

How to ask for help!

And most importantly, the story of Matt table-dancing at an industry event...

A great episode from a great guest, be sure to check it out wherever you get your podcasts! 

Customer identification, targeting your niche, standing out and a modern approach to building a rural-orientated business… just some of the subjects we discuss in this cracking episode with Ross D'Anielo, the co founder of Chartwell Noble. 

We get into the detail of how Ross started his business, why, and what the future holds for Chartwell Noble.

Rightmove vs Social Media, Ross’ most controversial opinion on the industry, how the exclusive/countryside market is different to the volume market, and the importance of specialisation in your chosen field.

Plus, what a ‘schoffel’ is, and why its so symbolic of a market niche.

And…most importantly of all, we might have a new winner for the best ‘Porn-Star Name’!

Lots of shout outs, some detailed explanation of decision making as he launched his business, and some learnings along the way… there’s a great amount of content shared in this episode - one not to miss!

In this episode of Property-Porn Stars, host David Lindley speaks with Mark Breffit, a leading figure in London’s premium property market.

With over £1 billion of property sold, Mark shares his journey from working at Dexters, Knight Frank, and Hamptons Private Office in prime central London, to launching his latest venture — KnokKnok, a prop-tech platform aiming to reshape how buyers and agents connect.

We cover:
•Life inside corporate agency vs the independent mindset
•Mark’s early career experience with Airbnb and what he learned about innovation
•Why tech, personal branding, and consumer behaviour are reshaping estate agency
•The inspiration behind KnockKnock, and how it bridges the gap between portals, social media, and direct client connections

If you’re interested in property, startups, or the future of estate agency, this is a must-watch conversation.

In this super-short episode, we cover the headlines of what is going on in the premium property market (spoiler, there is lots of activity!) for July 2025. 

All stats provided by Simon Gates, whose full report will be out on Friday as part of Premium Estate Agency News - you can read last month's episode and subscribe for free here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c5289dd2935b2fe&id=dd3de8a355

The usual monthly premium market update, but featuring the stats man himself Simon Gates! So instead of the usual 3 or 4 minute long summary, we analyse the premium markets performance this year so far, and how August fared, in light of political turmoil affecting the market. 

What all this means to you, your sellers and your buyers? Find out here!

In this episode of Property-Porn Stars, I am joined by a hugely successful premium agent, with arguably the most incredible story in the industry.  

Alice Watson-Smith, Managing Director of Fine & Country French Riviera & Provence shares her story, and her insight, grit and determination needed to succeed in a hugely competitive market. 

Alice’s story is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Zimbabwe, her family lost everything overnight when their farm was seized during Mugabe’s land reforms. Forced to flee to South Africa with only suitcases in the car, they eventually rebuilt their lives in Europe, starting again in Cannes.

Today, Alice leads one of the most respected premium real estate agencies on the French Riviera. She shares:

- The dramatic story of leaving Zimbabwe and starting over from nothing
- How her family turned chance property purchases during the Cannes Film Festival into a thriving business
- The six tough years of door-knocking and prospecting it took to establish their office, eventually building the business up to 18 self employed agents working alongside her
- Why she championed *exclusive mandates* in a chaotic French system, changing how sellers and agents work
- Insights into today’s Riviera market; from €400k apartments to €5m+ villas, and a client base 60% international, 40% French
- The importance of resilience, reputation, and daring greatly in both business and life

And lastly, a profound message that has stuck in my mind for 5 years since I heard Alice share it on stage…maybe it will stick with you too. 

If you’re interested in luxury property, resilience in business, or what it really takes to build success from the ground up, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.