Letting & Estate Agent Podcast

Is there a link between sporting grit and UK property success? I sit down with Cindy Slaughter from Avocado Property to explore how a background in competitive sport builds resilience, sharpens your mindset, and helps estate agents dominate their patch.

UK Property Market Update The headlines for the 10th week of the 2026 UK Property Market (week ending Sun 15th March 2026)   The YouTube  ‘UK Property Market Stats Show' for the week ending Sunday, 15th March 2026 (week 10) with Toby Phillips, boss man of Martin & Co and the xPerience EA franchise brands   https://youtu.be/CMlypjFlK1g Detailed Breakdown …   ✅ New Listings   •           39.7k new properties came onto market this week (down as expected & in line with wk 10 long term trends) from 40.2k last week. •           2025 weekly average: 30.6k. •           10-year week 10 average : 35.8k   ✅ Price Reductions   •           22.9k reductions this week, down from 25.5k last week •           11.4% of resi homes for sale were reduced in February. Feb 25 - 12%. Feb 24 - 11.5% •           2025 average was 12.8%, versus the 6-year long-term average of 10.7%.   ✅ Sales Agreed   •           26.3k homes sold stc this week 10, up from 25.6k last week. •           Week 10 average (for last 10 years) : 26k •           2026 weekly average : 24.2k.   ✅ Price Difference between Listings & Sales •           19.9% difference (long term 10 year average is 16% to 17%). (£439k ave Listing Ave Asking price vs £361k Sale Agreed ave Asking price)     ✅ Sell-Through Rate   •           15.4% of homes on agents' books went SSTC in February '26. (Feb '25 - 16.1% / Feb '24 - 16.7%) •           Pre-Covid average: 15.5%.   ✅ Fall-Throughs   •           5,156 fall-throughs last week (pipeline of 434k home Sold STC). •           Weekly average for 2025: 6.1k. •           Fall-through rate (Fall thru expressed as a % of the Gross sales that week): 19.6%, down from 21.5% last week. •           Long-term average: 24.2% (post-Truss chaos saw levels exceed 40%). •           4.9% of all the sales agreed in Estate Agent's Sales pipelines fell thru in February 2026. 2025 average - 5.3% & 10 year average - 5.8%).   ✅ Net Sales   •           21.2k Net Sales, up from 20k last week •           Ten-year Week 10 average: 20.6k. •           Weekly average for 2026: 19.2k. •           Weekly average for the whole of 2025: 18.8k. ✅ Probability of Selling (% that Exchange vs withdrawal)   •           Feb '26 Stats so far : 53.9% of homes that left agents' books exchanged & completed in Feb. (Note this figure will change throughout the month as more Feb stats come in). •    57.6% is the 7 year average (which includes the crazy years post lockdown 18 months) ✅ House Prices (£/sq.ft)   •          February '26 agreed sales averaged £343.36 per sq.ft. 2.3% higher than 12 months ago (£335.63) and 18.2% than 5 years ago (£290.43). The £/sqft at sale agreed matches the HM Land Registry Index with a 98% accuracy, 5 months in advance. That is why it is so important. ✅ Stock Levels   •           682k homes on the market on the 1st of March '26. (675k - 1st March 25) •           434k homes in agent's sales pipeline on the 1st March 2026, slightly lower than 12 months ago on 1st March '25 (444k). ✅ UK Rental Data •           Average Rent in Feb 2026 - £1,711 pcm (£1,745 in Feb 25) •           305k UK Rental Stock available to rent in Feb 26 (310k in Feb 2025)   ✅ Local Focus The Cheshire Golden Triangle (Alderley Edge, Wimslow, Knutsford & Prestbury) ✅ Graphs https://we.tl/t-M0AHt6GrO3

Is the property industry too focused on personal branding? The Baldock Brothers join me to discuss why established company brands still matter, and how top agents blend personal presence with corporate trust.

Is estate and letting agency about people or property? I sit down with Grace Milham, Group Operations Director, to explore why agencies succeed when they balance human touch with process, sharing practical tips to boost sales, lettings, and landlord satisfaction.

Are you running a property business or a sausage machine? I chat with Cindy Slaughter from Avocado Property about why the UK estate agency still favours KPIs over human connection, and how self-employed models put relationships, not listings, first.

I chat with The Baldock Brothers about the UK property market's online moaning culture. We explore why criticism rarely helps, how constructive feedback can raise standards, and why showing up thoughtfully online matters for reputation, collaboration, and progress.

Is estate agency a profession or just an industry? I chat with Grace Milham, Group Operations Director, about what professionalism truly means, the evolution of the market, compliance, and practical tips to improve mindset, processes, and business efficiency.

Is your property career serving your life or consuming it? I sit down with Cindy Slaughter to explore keeping family as your North Star, surviving the six month wobble, and why enjoying the journey, not just chasing instructions, leads to success.

UK Property Market Update The headlines for the 9th week of the 2026 UK Property Market (week ending Sun 8th March 2026)

Why do qualifications really matter in estate and letting agency? Chris Watkin talks to David Powell, CEO of Andrews, about why ongoing training, regulation and professional standards are vital in today's evolving UK property market, and why experience alone is no longer enough.

Is overvaluing a competitive tactic, or are we quietly damaging our industry and the clients we're meant to protect? In this episode, I sit down with Matt and Neil Baldock, The Baldock Brothers, to unpack the fallout of inflated pricing, long sole agency agreements and our 53% sell through rate.

IQ versus EQ in estate and letting agency: why emotional intelligence matters. I chat with Grace Milham about how understanding people, from landlords to teams, boosts results, improves interactions, and turns good agents into great ones. Practical EQ tips included.

In this episode, I chat with Cindy Slaughter, Head of Marketing at Avocado, about why the industry needs a cultural overhaul. We explore moving from transactional models to human-centred, relationship-driven approaches that boost both client experience and agent satisfaction.

Why does the gender gap persist in UK estate and letting agencies? Chris Watkin talks with David Powell, CEO of Andrews Property Group, about why it happens and how to fix it. They explore flexible working, career progression, and how better gender balance strengthens teams, leadership, and long term business success.

Does the UK need another self-employed estate agency model? I sat down with Neil and Matt Baldock to challenge that thinking, exploring their approach to building sustainable, multi-income property businesses focused on long term value, real support and proven systems, not just self-employment.

The headlines for the 8th week of the 2026 UK Property Market (week ending Sun 1st March 2026)

How well do you really know your tenancy agreements? In this episode, I chat with Grace Milham, queen of compliance, about why letting agents often overlook agreements, the risks this creates, and how knowing them inside out protects your clients and career.

Most agents chase quick listings, missing the bigger picture. I chat with Cindy Slaughter from Avocado Property about why the UK property industry struggles with marketing, how patience and CRM-driven touchpoints build trust, and why top agents act like marketers first.

Is Britain's housing crisis driven by the market or government policy? Chris Watkin speaks with David Powell, CEO of Andrews Estate Agents, on council housing, build to rent and why well intended policies often backfire. A sharp look at supply, demand and long term solutions for UK housing.

In this episode, I sit down with Matt and Neil Baldock to unpack the numbers many agents get wrong. We explore conversion myths, hidden sale costs, and why knowing your true minimum fee is crucial to protecting profit in today's UK property market.

UK Property Market Update The headlines for the 7th week of the 2026 UK Property Market (week ending Sun. 22nd February 2026)

Is this the UK's most ethical estate agency? Chris Watkin talks with David Powell, CEO of Andrews, about what ethical agency really means. From charitable ownership to customer first values, they explore overvaluing, industry change, and how profit and purpose can work together in today's property market.

Chris Ellis questions Rightmove's dominance, showing how off market sales, pricing flexibility and strong relationships can often achieve higher prices, challenging agents to rethink traditional property selling methods.

Why is stamp duty holding back the UK property market? Chris Watkin speaks with David Powell, CEO of a 40 branch agency network, on how this tax inflates moving costs, restricts first time buyers, and slows market movement. They debate long-term solutions, alternative revenue options, and whether reform could unlock transactions and boost the wider economy.

In this episode, we talk with Amy Rowlands, an estate agency leader from North East Wales, about one of the UK property market's biggest challenges: staff engagement. Amy shares honest insights on recruitment, COVID's impact, and tough lessons from staff departures, revealing why clear values, shared vision and genuinely caring for people are key to building motivated, committed teams.

UK Property Market Update The headlines for the 6th week of the 2026 UK Property Market (week ending Sun 15th February 2026)

Kent estate agent Chris Ellis reveals how reservation agreements, with 94% completion, reduce fall throughs, protect buyers and sellers, improve survey conversations, and boost deal completions.

Estate agency in 2036 is under the spotlight as Chris Watkin talks with David Powell, CEO of Andrews. Drawing on 26 years' experience, David explores the future of the industry, why accountability matters more than personal branding, and how focusing on vendor experience will shape successful, future proof estate agencies across the UK.

In this episode, we speak with Kent estate agent Chris Ellis about why UK property transactions stall. He breaks down outdated conveyancing, stretched solicitors and weak sales progression, then shares practical fixes agents can use to speed up completions, improve pipelines and keep clients happier.

Why are estate agents often seen as egotistical? Chris Watkin chats with North Wales agent Amy Rowlands about ego in estate agency, the impact of fear and rejection, and why self reflection matters. They explore personality types, people skills, lost listings and learning from mistakes, with practical insights on building stronger client relationships and better results in a competitive market.

UK Property Market Update The headlines for the 5th week of the 2026 UK Property Market (week ending Sun 8th February 2026)

From shop floor to agency owner, Chris Ellis shares his unfiltered journey through estate agency, revealing resilience, leadership lessons, mental wellbeing struggles, and the highs and lows of UK property life.

Ever wondered why so few estate agency CEOs put themselves in the spotlight? Chris Watkin speaks with David Powell, CEO of Andrews, on the power of visibility in property. From attracting clients and talent to raising industry standards, they unpack the real risks, rewards and impact of being a visible leader.

From kitchen table to thriving estate agency, Amy Rowlands shares a candid look at building a property business from scratch. She talks redundancies, early uncertainty, scaling too fast, partnerships, and finding balance. An honest, inspiring conversation about the realities of running a UK estate agency, learning from setbacks, and coming back stronger with a renewed focus on people and clients.

We talk with global real estate coach Josh Phegan at Wembley Stadium about why agents overvalue homes. They explore how data led valuations, transparent reporting and clear storytelling build trust, improve completion rates and help agents win listings with confidence.

UK Property Market Update The headlines for the 4th week of the 2026 UK Property Market (week ending Sun 1st February 2026)

Is the Boxing Day bounce real or just clever marketing? Estate agent Chris Ellis explains why more listings don't always mean sales, offering insights for UK property professionals.

Rent protection is no longer optional for landlords or agents. Oli Sherlock explains how the Renters' Rights Act increases financial risk, why rental income often goes uninsured, and how agencies can turn rent protection into both a safeguard and client retention tool.

Do tout letters still work in today's property market? Sam Ashdown and Phil Jones reveal how well crafted letters can unlock valuations, uncover hidden opportunities and deliver serious ROI when used as part of a smart, strategic estate agency system.

We speak with world renowned property coach Josh Phegan about securing realistic price reductions. Learn how data, structured conversations and early communication help agents align sellers, create urgency and achieve faster, smoother sales.

UK Property Market Weekly Update - Week 3 of 2026 I look at the UK property market in the ‘UK Property Market Stats Show“ for the week ending Sunday 25th January 2026 (week 3) with the brilliant Steph Vass. YouTube https://youtu.be/496XoAgOVIU ✅ New Listings * 35.2k new properties came to market this week in week 3, up as expected from 32.8k last week. * 2025 weekly average: 30.6k. * 10-year week 3 average : 31.8k * Year-to-date (YTD): 96.5k new listings, 0.5% above than 2025 YTD (96.1k), 17.5% above 2024 YTD (82.1k) and 34% above the 2017–19 average (72k) ✅ Price Reductions * 20k reductions this week * 7.6% of resi homes for sale were reduced in December. Compared to Oct 12.8%, Sept 14.1%, August 11.1%, July 14.1% in July and 14% in June. * 2025 average was 12.8%, versus the five-year long-term average of 10.74%. ✅ Sales Agreed * 24.6k homes sold stc this week 3, up expectedly from 21.2k last week. * Week 3 average (for last 10 years) : 23.4k * 2026 weekly average : 19.1k. * YTD: 62.7k gross sales, which is 8.7% behind Week 2 * 3 YTD of 2025 (68.7k), yet 23.5% ahead of wk.3 2024 (50.8k) and 30.6% above the 2017–19 average (48k). * Thoughts - January 2025 was an exceptional month as we had the stamp duty deadline for April 2025 - here it was a good sales month. To be ahead of 2024 and pre Covid years by such a amount is good to see. ✅ Price Diff between Listings & Sales * Average Asking Price of listings last week £413k * Average asking price of Sales Agreed (SSTC) last week was £348k * A 18.8% difference (long term 9 year average is 16% to 17%). ✅ Sell-Through Rate * 9.9% of homes on agents' books went SSTC in December '25. Down as expected from 13.5% in November, 15% in October, 14.1% in Sept, 14.5% in Aug, 15.4% in July, 15.3% in June, and 16.1% in May. * Pre-Covid average: 15.5%. ✅ Fall-Throughs * 4,783 fall-throughs last week (pipeline of 482k home Sold STC). * Weekly average for 2025: 6,100. * Fall-through rate: 25.8%, slightly up from 24.9% last week. * Long-term average: 24.2% (post-Truss chaos saw levels exceed 40%). ✅ Net Sales * Huge jump in net sales from last week. 19.3k, up from 15.8k last week. * Ten-year Week 3 average: 18.2k. * Weekly average for 2026: 15.4k. * Weekly average for the whole of 2025: 19.2k. * YTD: 46.1k, which is 8.3% behind Wk.3 of 2025 (30.6k), 35% ahead of wk2 2024 (19.9k) and 40% ahead of wk2 2017–19 (19.1k). ✅ Probability of Selling (% that Exchange vs withdrawal) * December Stats : 60.2% of homes that left agents' books exchanged & completed in December. (Note this figure will change throughout the month as more December stats come in). * November 55.2% / October 53.3% / September: 53.1% / August :55.8% / July: 50.9% / June: 51.3% / May: 51.7% / April: 53.2%. * Dec 24: 60.3% / Dec 23: 57.7% / Dec 22: 64.4% / Dec 21: 73.7% ✅ Stock Levels * 613k homes on the market on the 1st of January '26 , down from 678k on 1st of December '25 . (605k on the market on 1st Jan '25 for comparison) * 434k homes in agent's sales pipeline on the 1st Jan 2026, almost identical than 12 months ago on 1st Jan '25 (439k). ✅ House Prices (£/sq.ft) * December 2025 agreed sales averaged £337.09 per sq.ft. 0.6% higher than 12 months ago (£335.04) and 12.6% than 5 years ago (£299.30). The £/sqft at sale agreed matches the HM Land Registry Index with a 98% accuracy, 5 months in advance. That is why it is so important. ✅ UK Rental Market Overview * Average Rent in December 2025 - £1,702 pcm - compared to £1,719 pcm in Dec 2024 and £1,301 pcm in Dec 2017. * Available Rental Properties in December '25 - 285k compared to 321k in November '25. (Dec '24 - 258k and Dec '23 - 235k) ✅ Graphs https://youtu.be/496XoAgOVIU

Chris Ellis, an estate agent from Sittingbourne, shares his honest experience with Lifesycle CRM, exploring mindset, intent based data, and AI to win more instructions and improve client conversations.

Is AI the property market's silver bullet or just another shiny distraction? Oli Sherlock from Goodlord cuts through the hype, exploring how agents should assess tech, prioritise customer readiness, and focus on real solutions rather than flashy features or empty promises.

At Sean Newman's Estate Agency Conference in Birmingham, July 2025, we spoke with world renowned coach Tom Panos about a shocking stat: only one in eight buyers return. Discover why recency beats loyalty, and how to stay front of mind to win long term clients.

Josh Phegan reveals how UK estate agents can win listings without cutting fees. Learn how better leads, value based selling and long term relationships help top agents beat cheap fee competitors and confidently overcome objections before the valuation even begins.

Estate agent Chris Ellis argues long tie in periods encourage overvaluing, hinder honest pricing, and reduce sale success. He shares insights on faster sales, stronger prices, and better agency reputation.

Should you launch an estate agency solo or with a partner? Sam Ashdown and Phil Jones of ASHDOWN JONES share eight years of real world experience, revealing the rewards, risks and realities of partnerships, from trust and timing to ego, profit and decision making.

UK Property Market Weekly Update - Week 2 of 2026 I look at the UK property market in the ‘UK Property Market Stats Show“ for the week ending Sunday 18th January 2026 (week 2) with the brilliant Ben Madden. YouTube https://youtu.be/Pti1_kA3L3I ✅ New Listings * 32.8k new properties came to market this week, up as expected from 28.5k last week. * 2025 weekly average: 30.6k. * 10-year week 2 average : 27.8k * Year-to-date (YTD): 61.3k new listings, 0.3% above than 2025 YTD (61.1k), 25.6% above 2024 YTD and 49% above the 2017–19 average (41.3k) ✅ Price Reductions * 19.8k reductions this week * 7.6% of resi homes for sale were reduced in December. Compared to Oct 12.8%, Sept 14.1%, August 11.1%, July 14.1% in July and 14% in June. * 2025 average was 12.8%, versus the five-year long-term average of 10.74%. ✅ Sales Agreed * 21.2k homes sold subject to contract this week, up expectedly from 17k last week. * Week 2 average (for last 10 years) : 19.6k * 2026 weekly average : 19.1k. * YTD: 38.2k gross sales, which is 11.3% behind Week 2 YTD of 2025 (43k), yet 31% ahead of wk.2 2024 (29.1k) and 42.4% above the 2017–19 average (26.8k). * Thoughts - January 2025 was an exceptional month as we had the stamp duty deadline for April 2025. ✅ Price Diff between Listings & Sales * Average Asking Price of listings last week £423k * Average asking price of Sales Agreed (SSTC) last week was £346k * A 22.2% difference (long term 9 year average is 16% to 17%). ✅ Sell-Through Rate * 9.9% of homes on agents' books went SSTC in December '25. Down as expected from 13.5% in November, 15% in October, 14.1% in Sept, 14.5% in Aug, 15.4% in July, 15.3% in June, and 16.1% in May. * Pre-Covid average: 15.5%. ✅ Fall-Throughs * 4,783 fall-throughs last week (pipeline of 482k home Sold STC). * Weekly average for 2025: 6,100. * Fall-through rate: 25.8%, slightly up from 24.9% last week. * Long-term average: 24.2% (post-Truss chaos saw levels exceed 40%). ✅ Net Sales * 15.8k net sales this week, up expectedly from 11k last week. * Ten-year Week 2 average: 14.4k. * Weekly average for 2026: 13.4k. Weekly average for 2025: 19.2k. * YTD: 26.8k, which is 12.3% behind Wk.2 of 2024 (30.6k), 35% ahead of wk2 2024 (19.9k) and 40% ahead of wk2 2017–19 (19.1k). ✅ Probability of Selling (% that Exchange vs withdrawal) * December Stats : 60.1%% of homes that left agents' books exchanged & completed in December. (Note this figure will change throughout the month as more December stats come in). * November 55.2% / October 53.3% / September: 53.1% / August :55.8% / July: 50.9% / June: 51.3% / May: 51.7% / April: 53.2%. * Dec 24: 60.3% / Dec 23: 57.7% / Dec 22: 64.4% / Dec 21: 73.7% ✅ Stock Levels * 613k homes on the market on the 1st of January '26 , down from 678k on 1st of December '25 . (605k on the market on 1st Jan '25 for comparison) * 434k homes in agent's sales pipeline on the 1st Jan 2026, almost identical than 12 months ago on 1st Jan '25 (439k). ✅ House Prices (£/sq.ft) * December 2025 agreed sales averaged £337.09 per sq.ft. 0.6% higher than 12 months ago (£335.04) and 12.6% than 5 years ago (£299.30). The £/sqft at sale agreed matches the HM Land Registry Index with a 98% accuracy, 5 months in advance. That is why it is so important. ✅ UK Rental Market Overview * Average Rent in December 2025 - £1,702 pcm - compared to £1,719 pcm in Dec 2024 and £1,301 pcm in Dec 2017. * Available Rental Properties in December '25 - 285k compared to 321k in November '25. (Dec '24 - 258k and Dec '23 - 235k)

Will self-employed estate agents take over the high street? I speak with Simon King, a leading UK estate agency figure, about why self-employment is rising but unlikely to replace traditional offices. We discuss the high street's ongoing value, how established agencies are adopting hybrid models, and why strong personal and regional branding matters in a competitive market.

Should negotiators and property managers really do the same job, or is it holding agencies back? We chat with Oli Sherlock and explore role separation, single threaded leadership, compliance risk and why focus, ownership and expertise matter as regulation tightens.

World renowned real estate coach Tom Panos reveals why overpricing kills sales, sharing insights from Sean Newman's Estate Agency Conference. Learn how top agents use strategy, data and competition to price correctly, manage vendors and achieve stronger offers.