Whether you’re curious about the inner workings of an estate agency or you’re thinking of starting out as a professional in the industry, we’re here to tell you all about what it’s like to be an estate agent.
And because we feel so passionately about it, we thought we’d go straight to the source. So, we asked our lovely team to tell you what a typical day looks like as an estate agent, the essential skills needed to succeed and the dream houses they’d love to have a look around.
Q. What does a typical day look like for you as an estate agent?
Tom
No two days are ever the same, which is what I love about the job – different properties, different people, different situations.
John
The day can be very varied from being office-based answering calls, negotiating on offers or helping with sale progression, all the way through to being on the road all day doing valuations, viewings and carrying out energy performance certificates.
Q. How has estate agency changed since you started and how have you adapted to these changes?
Helen
Your house is quite often the most valuable asset that you’ll ever own and you need to make sure that this transaction is in safe hands. The market is now flooded with estate agents, but not good ones. We have to compete with online and low-budget agents on a daily basis. We have to adapt our sales progression depending on which agent we have in the chain with us.
Victoria
It’s become more common place to communicate by way of email rather than telephone calls – being someone who likes to talk, this has taken time to get used to!
John
When I started in the industry, we didn’t really have property portals like Rightmove or Zoopla. We’ve always moved with the changing patterns in the industry, blending all the modern tech available to help us with the expertise of an experienced team who have seen many new ideas come and go over the years.
Q. What skills do you believe are essential to be a good estate agent?
Tom
The main one is empathy. There’s no denying that it can be a stressful time for people, so being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and see matters from their point of view is essential.
Victoria
A good estate agent is able to ensure that the best possible price is achieved on a property by using their negotiation skills and having good knowledge of the local property market.
John
The most important skill is being able to remain calm. Moving house can be a very emotionally-charged journey and a good agent will be able to provide a calm and considered sounding board for the people in the middle of the transaction, whilst also showing empathy and understanding.
Q. What are the most common misconceptions people have about being an estate agent?
Tom
Some people just think that we list a property online and that’s where our job starts and ends. This is just the tip of the iceberg – with so much work going in to it both before and after the point of listing.
Helen
That we are not to be trusted – which is of course not true! When you’re looking for an estate agent make sure you take the time to ask friends or colleagues for recommendations. Find out how easy it was to arrange a viewing, the communication they received afterwards, and check online reviews. We love reading reviews from our clients!
Q. What advice would you give to someone considering a career as an estate agent?
Victoria
Estate agency is really only for you if you have an interest in not only properties, but in people. If you can work well under pressure and love working as part of a team, then this is for you.
John
The industry is moving towards regulation in the coming years under the term RoPA (Regulation of Property Agents). I think someone looking to get into the industry should read more into this via professional bodies such as the NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) and possibly look to make a start on the training – you can find information on Propertymark here.
For those who aren’t yet certain but want to get a feel for the industry, some agents may be able to offer work experience or part-time positions.
Q. Is there a particular street or set of houses that you’d love to sell (or just have a good look around)?
Tom
I think some of the multi-million-pound houses you get sneak peeks of on Instagram would be amazing to look around. It’s also really satisfying going back to a property that we’ve sold to see how people put their own stamp on them!
Helen
I’d love to revisit the ‘project homes’ we’ve sold to see the transformations that’ve been made.
Victoria
I love period properties, ranging from Edwardian villas to farmhouses.
John
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit so many amazing houses locally in town, the suburbs and rural villages around the area. I spent a lovely weekend in Bath a couple of years ago and I would love to have a look around the houses on Royal Crescent; they look absolutely beautiful.
Q. Which period of time produced the ‘best’ houses in Newcastle-under-Lyme?
Tom
Some of the original pre-war Westlands properties are hard to beat, although equally some of the Edwardian properties closer to the town centre are quite exceptional.
Victoria
Newcastle-under-Lyme has some beautiful Edwardian properties, some of which are still family homes and others have been converted into apartments.
John For me, it would be the 1930’s. I think the houses are handsome whilst also practical for families with parking and gardens. There was a real effort put into the quality of brickwork, and intricate features were built into many properties.
Being an estate agent is diverse and blends human connection with market strategy. From navigating sales to helping families, there’s never a dull moment. I hope our team’s experiences have sparked your interest. If you’re ready for a varied and rewarding career, estate agency might be perfect for you.
