Utterly Indispensable Podcast for Estate Agents

This episode is a proper behind-the-scenes look at how sellers choose estate agents — and why so many get it wrong. I’m joined by Colby Short, co-founder and CEO of GetAgent, the UK’s leading estate agent comparison platform. Over the last 11 years, GetAgent has analysed millions of data points, worked with over 7,500 agents, and helped more than 1.2 million homeowners try to answer one deceptively simple question: Who is actually best to sell my home? We dig into the original insight that sparked GetAgent — a single London postcode where 800 sellers chose 200 different agents, half of whom had never sold a property there — and why that chaos still exists today. Colby explains: Why most vendors confuse familiarity with performance The three metrics that really matter when choosing an agent Why speed to lead wins more instructions than fee discounting The uncomfortable truth about completion rates and unsold stock How GetAgent survives on a pay-on-completion model while many prop-tech firms collapsed Why data without human judgement still isn’t enough This is an honest, commercially grounded conversation about data, cash flow, fees, lead quality, and the brutal reality of running a business where you only get paid if everyone else performs. If you’re an estate agent who believes you’re good — but wonders why the market doesn’t always reward that — this episode will make you think very differently about how sellers see you, long before you ever sit on their sofa.

Most estate agents didn’t get into this business to drown in admin… yet somehow that’s exactly what happens. In this episode, I’m joined by Bronwyn Schmidt, Operations Director at VA Central, to unpack what actually happens when agents stop trying to do everything themselves. We talk honestly about: Why most agents leave outsourcing far too late The difference between cheap outsourcing and building a proper team What tasks VAs really should be doing in sales, lettings and property management Why delegation isn’t about losing control – it’s about structure and trust How VAs and AI work together (and why AI isn’t coming for your job) The broker model, burnout, low fees, and the hidden cost of doing £10-an-hour tasks Why your business doesn’t need to be “perfect” before you outsource Bronwyn brings real-world insight from working with over 200 UK estate agencies, and we get into the practical realities – systems, onboarding, CRMs, productivity, and why your support team doesn’t need to sit in your office to deliver a better service. If you feel busy, stretched, or trapped inside your own agency, this episode will make you rethink how you build your team – and your business. Less graft. Better systems. Smarter growth.

Aarti Patel isn’t just impressive. She’s one of those rare people who walk into your world and remind you what’s actually possible. Her property journey didn’t begin with fanfare. It began with a disaster. The kind of disaster that sends most people off to lick their wounds and mutter “never again.” Aarti did the opposite. She treated it like tuition. Learned the lessons. Then used those lessons as rocket fuel. Today she’s a force of nature — a developer, the mind behind Aarti Auctions, a marketer, a founder many times over, and someone who understands how to carve out a niche so sharp it could take your finger off. She’s used social media to generate opportunity most agents dream about. She’s built partnerships. She’s created momentum from thin air. And she’s done it all with integrity, optimism and a ridiculous level of resilience. Her story is one of reinvention, bravery, and backing yourself even when the evidence isn’t exactly cheering you on. If you want inspiration, you’ll get it. If you want practical insight, you’ll get that too. But above all, you’ll hear from someone who proves — emphatically — that a “Life by Design” isn’t a slogan. It’s a decision. A cracking listen.

Estate agents love the thrill of the chase. Listings, negotiations, deals — that’s the fun bit.Compliance? That’s the part that keeps everyone awake at night. In this episode, Amy Shields, former estate agent turned Smart Compliance powerhouse, pulls back the curtain on the side of agency most people avoid until it’s too late. From AML pitfalls to the fines agents don’t believe they’ll ever get, to the uncomfortable truth that yes, prison is technically on the table… this conversation is a masterclass in what every agent should know but most never learn. Amy’s journey from frontline agency to compliance expert is surprisingly relatable, surprisingly human, and occasionally absolutely terrifying. This episode should probably have been released on Halloween; the jump scares are real, and the consequences even more so. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll deal with compliance later,” listen to this before “later” becomes a very expensive word.

Alex Pelosi-Buchanan is one of those leaders who doesn’t hide behind buzzwords or corporate gloss. He’s honest, sharp, commercially switched on and absolutely obsessed with doing agency properly — no shortcuts, no fluff, no ego. In this episode, Alex takes us behind the curtain of what it really takes to build momentum in today’s market. We dig into leadership, culture, standards, growth, accountability, and the uncomfortable truths most agents avoid because they’re easier not to talk about. Alex tackles all of it head-on. This is the kind of conversation estate agents should be having more often — practical, grounded, and full of “why aren’t we all doing this?” moments. Whether you’re running a single branch, growing a team, or scaling a brokerage, there’s a stack of insight in here that will sharpen your thinking and challenge you in the best way. Alex is sharp, fair, and frighteningly clear-headed. You’ll finish this episode with a stronger sense of what good looks like and how to actually build it.