It is widely accepted that you need to prospect for new business to have a successful estate agency. But, if we are all being honest, it is one of those jobs that sits on the to-do list without ever getting done - until now! Make prospecting smile and ensure that you have a steady stream of new sellers instructing your agency.

It's that time of year again - New Year, New you. Fresh start. It is when we all begin to plan for the new year ahead and set goals for what we want to achieve. To make sure you have the best 2024 in your estate agency, the planning and preparation need to start right now - read this article to tell you how.

Some agents are resorting to dropping their fees to win new business. Reducing the potential income in favour of getting something to sell at any cost.

But what are the smart agents doing?

Running an estate agency business is many things. It is hectic, chaotic, stressful, varied, interesting, and busy, but certainly never dull. It's also very unpredictable.

How often has someone told you that they'd love to be an estate agent because looking at properties all day must be so nice?

And how do you react to that comment?

As I saw the use of these applications increase among estate agents, I did wonder for a second if it was time for me to pivot my business model. With agents across the country waxing lyrical in social media groups about how they've used AI to write their most recent blog post, I thought I might be out of a job. Perhaps it's time to consider my skills and pivot my business because AI has taken all my clients.

The property market is getting a little more challenging, and those halcyon days when new instructions were easy to come by and buyers would fight over each property feel like a distant memory.

As the market begins to quieten, every fee counts, so you must make the most of each sale.

Estate agents often overlook the wording for a property brochure. The photos take priority as this is what people see first. Then the floorplan and perhaps even a virtual tour or a video. But, if you've caught a potential buyer's attention with the photography and video, the next step is to read the brochure. 

Sadly, the wording in property brochures is often an afterthought. Perhaps this is because agents don't know what they want to convey in the text or simply don't have the time to carefully craft a beautifully worded description.

Lead generation is super important, particularly in more challenging markets when attracting new clients to your business is getting harder. With fewer sellers coming to the market, each instruction is vital, and the competition between agents has never been stronger.

So, what do you do?

As estate agents, you're experts in the property market.

You likely know more than the economists and analysts on the news each day, predicting what will happen because you are in it, on the front line, so to speak.

You know if you're reducing more properties than before or if you have to be a little more conservative on valuation appointments.

So, if you know, or at least know more than most, what's around the corner, surely you can be prepared?

There is no point having a heads up on what is coming, then burying your head in the sand and simply waiting for it to happen. If you have the inside scoop, use it to your advantage, rather than waiting for it to happen and then trying to hold on for dear life.

If you've been around the estate agency industry for several years, you'll no doubt have once been told by a manager that "boards breed boards".

Back in the day, this was a buzz phrase used by agents all over the country.

Boards Breed Boards.

What does it even mean?

How most estate agents waste £££ on blogposts for their estate agency that has no impact. Get the most bang for your buck with these marketing tips.

The website BestAgent, which sends a valuation request to all agents in a town anonymously for the sellers, created a mystery shop video as a team member arranged valuation appointments with every agent in her town.

You might not know why I specialise in working with estate agents.

It's because I am one.

In fact, this is my USP.

The majority of writers that write for this industry can not say that they have worked as an agent.

Protect your estate agency from tricky market conditions and cheap fee competitors with this powerful strategy!

Estate agency is somewhat of a dark art.

The tactics and techniques, the rules and regulations, have all been kept under wraps.

It appears that all estate agents do the same thing.

Why pay someone 1.5% + VAT when you can get the exact same thing for £999?

At the end of every year, most of us start to think about our plans for the next.

Some of us make New Years' resolutions.

To do more exercise or lose a few pounds after the excesses of Christmas.

As a business owner, you are probably starting to think about your business plans and goals.

How can you make sure that you have an awesome year?

Think about the best clients you have ever had. The top 5.

The ones that were a dream to work with. They recommended you to their friends and family.

They never quibble about your fees.

They are your ideal client. 

Imagine if you had lots and lots of clients that were exactly the same as your top 5?

Life would be awesome, right?

I know what it is like.

You start off marketing your business with vigour and enthusiasm.

You are posting everyday creative, funny, exciting content.

You see a slight increase in sales. Yes, it is working!

Things are going well.

Then, out of nowhere, you run out of inspiration.

Have you ever had a business pop up on your social media, out of nowhere, that you have not heard of before?

You likely tried to find out more about them.

But what if they have not updated their website for months?

It feels a little disappointing.

As if they have no news to share.

They have nothing to say to you, the customer.

The trail of research on your customer journey has gone col