Needle & Haystack Podcast

"A theatre for someone's life...."   Be in no doubt, photos sell homes. First impressions last.   If the images any agency create are less than favourable, it's always going to be a struggle.   Our guest today, Philip Tottenham, had an early career in photography.  "Enthusiastic to the point of O.C.D " is how he frames his passion for photography.   Photos have to present a true reflection of a home and bring the property to life.   "It's important to me that I 'get' what makes this such a beautiful home".    Rightmove and Zoopla are littered with examples of agencies that care little for the image.  It is vitally important. As is much of the work that goes unseen in high-street estate agency.   The more I listened to this episode, the more detail I uncovered. About the agency. About our guest.   I hope you enjoy

Doing what you say you're going to do. Not always easy. There's plenty of distractions and inducements to move any estate agency away from that intent. But, it is important. Especially in the world of estate agency. Where vendors have a tendency to rely on what any agent says, as 'gospel'. Perry Power has six core values. One of which is Tenacity. They do what they say they're going to do. Very impressively. Listen out for the other values. If they match, this is the agency for you. Our chat with Perry brought up some interesting viewpoints. He, somewhat surprisingly, welcomed the advent of 'call-centre' estate agencies, for no other reason than it has shaken-up the complacent model that existed for so long. A forward-thinking estate agency, in every sense. Highly deserving of the 'raving fans' that spread the word. We hope you enjoy this episode. As much as we did.  

Neil is a twenty-year-experience estate agent with the Holland Park branch of KFH, London. In this episode, we feature that all too rare commodity with estate agents and vendors - TRUST. The two equal parts of trust, according to Stephen Covey, in his book, The Speed of Trust, are that of Character and Competenece.  Most estate agents rely on competence, together with valuation and fee to win trust from the vendor.  It requires more.  It requires character. It's 'old school'.  But, important.  People buy from people they know like and trust.  Listen in and see if you agree. Estate agents either have both. Or, they struggle to gain trust.

There are so many things that can wrong in the sales process. Anyone that has ever sold their home will understand that it's not an easy business and that it requires an estate agency with not just the experience to foresee problems that might arise, but one with the determination and commitment to do the best job possible. For many estate agents, this can involve asking the vendor to reduce the asking price. Said differently, make the estate agents' job easier. There are, however, some great estate agencies that shine when things get tough. As they say; " When things get tough, the tough get going". We hope you enjoy this episode with Donald Collins of Ealing estate agency, GoViewLondon. An agency that is committed.  

"Off the bench - and he scores!!"  Joe Newton, from Nottingham estate agency, Walton & Allen, was a last minute substitute for Director, Phil Williams. As a Valuer for their 4 branches, Joe is the agent most Nottingham homeowners meet when they ask his agency to appraise their home. Here's a great opportunity to find out more about Joe before you make that phone call. An estate agent that sets the bar high and constantly tries to deliver the result.  Walton & Allen are truly a "forward thinking agency". Their technology is cutting-edge, but they haven't lost sight of the fact that it's a people-driven business.  I'm a big fan.  Listen in, look at their web site and see if you agree.

In this episode we chat to Simon Stone, director at Unique Property Company.  If you have a property that is rather unusual, that you love for its uniqueness, then it makes sense to use an estate agency that specialises in those sort of properties. The buyers this agency attracts are looking for exactly that type of property and Simon aims to connect buyers and vendors in a shared vision of what's best in these stunning properties.  Listen in as Simon explains his passion for architecture and the owners that have been down that road. It is, in my opinion, a great agency. Or, Simon's take on it; "Normal people just trying to do the best job we can". See what you think.

As we chatted to Carl about his ambitions and strategy for making a difference to the Balsall Common community, it became clear that in our search for U.K best estate agents, it wasn't just about the years of experience or about the size of the business.  It was about the detail and the depth of the service that all great agents offer. Make no mistake. Every estate agent can and will sell your home. Some will charge less than others, but more important, is that the agency chosen has taken the time and effort to ask, of potential buyers, the follow-up questions. Those are the ones that result in better answers. This depth of attention and service isn't available everywhere     Listen in to Carl's story. It's about deep work.

Art, Cars, Antiques, Commercial Buildings and Books are just a few of the items traditionally sold at auctions.  Residential property less so. And for good reason. Selling your home via a property auction can seriously damage your wealth. It's a minefield and despite some estate agents recommending this method to get you a quick sale at a 'fair' price, if you don't know the pitfalls, it can be a poor choice. Listen in as we discuss why some estate agents are promoting the 'modern-method' of auction. But, remember, in any sales transaction, there will be winners and losers. Just make sure you are on the right side.

The real reason many estate agencies are keen to get vendors offering "Open-House" viewings to buyers. What agencies claim are the advantages and what, more often than not, happens at these events can be miles apart. We explore how successful they are and give you the facts.  Have you had your home on the market and were persuaded to use the "Open-House" sales programme? Let us know your experiences, good or bad.

Fascinating conversation with Adam Walker, an agency boss that clearly understands the value of community.  "There are some big characters in the property world  with strong opinions on many subjects. I rather prefer to fly under the radar and work hard in relative silence, letting my results and referrals make the noise"  In an age when estate agents will often over-promise and sometimes under-deliver, where rapid growth and expansion are perceived to be desirable,  it's absolutely refreshing to discover an agency that has found their niche and has very clear focus on how best it can meet the needs of the community. No wonder one of the testimonials refers to Adam and his team as " The House Hero". Listen in as we chat with Adam about his business beliefs & values. Hope you enjoy it. We did!

Matthew Moore & Chris Edwards, directors of Edwards Moore Estate Agency, have a clear sense of community. "Local people buying from local people"    They understand the community, the aspirations, the values and above all else, the sense of helping others.  Choosing the best estate agency is never simply a matter of valuation, much less about the fees. It's more about feeling confident that the agency has the experience and process in place to meet every challenge that can and does arise when putting your home on the market.    Listen in as Matthew shares his 20+ years of experience. We hope you enjoy.

If you're ever tempted to try an online estate agency, listen in as Mark explains what the vendor doesn't get for their money with that low-cost option.  Why vendors who don't appreciate the amount of work that goes into sales progression, from accepted offer to completion, are failing to make a smart choice. One that can end up costing them money!   In this episode, a great story of how they helped someone move that had lived in their house for over 80 years. The qualities needed?  Care, compassion, perseverance, empathy and patience to name just a few. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did.

In this episode we hear from James about how exceptional customer service has made him loyal to one particular brand. He explains the culture at the Leamington branch and how authority has been devolved to create a strong, enthusiastic and experienced team of over-achievers. Estate agency is changing. Make no mistake and forward-thinking agents such as James and his team become part of the solution to an industry that has it fair share of detractors. Listen in and we hope you enjoy.

One of the guiding principles that we hear from James is that they try to treat people as they, themselves, would wish to be treated. In the sometimes frantic and often disconnected process of selling and buying a home, James has orchestrated many, many sales over his twenty five year tenure at the Highgate office. "Your customer doesn't care how much you know, until they know how much you care" - Damon Richards.  Listen in as James shares his story of a North London estate agency that is an integral part of the local community.

  Could you have got more? There's no worse feeling than having a buyer agree to pay the asking price without them making any effort to achieve a reduction. It's human nature. We all want a bargain but it is frustrating  to think that, for some agencies, the art of negotiation has been lost. Online estate agencies have very little incentive to negotiate a better offer. They have been paid a fixed fee, in most cases in advance and besides, they have very little time to devote to a craft that requires both subtlety and insight to human nature..  Getting the right estate agency is not all about valuation, or the fee. Having an agency that you trust is paramount, but having one that excels at negotiating the best deal for you is a close second.  Choose wisely.  

  Todays guest is David Thomas, founder of Liberty Gate Estate Agency in Nottingham. After long service in the Royal Engineers, David brings his undoubted strengths of planning, attention to detail and execution to the estate agency sector. Like every estate agency, Liberty Gate know what they do. How they do it, differentiates them, but ultimately, David brings a sense of why to the agency that really sets them apart. Listen in: as Simon Sinek says " Our passion comes from who we are, not what we sell".

Todays' guest started out in estate agency straight from school and five years later, founded his own agency in Edgware. There is so much to gain in listening to this most enthusiastic and accomplished agent. An agency founder that firmly believes in doing things the right way: for his vendors, his landlords and his staff. Hope you enjoy.

Estate agencies are all the same" It's something you hear from many homeowners that are unable to differentiate between poor, mediocre, good and great when it comes to choosing an agency.   More passionate, better customer service & lowest fees are some of the reasons some agencies give when asked about how they are different. The vague promise that, if you choose their agency, all will be well - in the end! Today's show features an agency that is different. Listen in and find out how.

Look at many agency web sites &  glib adjectives such as passionate, dedicated and caring are often evident.  Melvyn Danes, one of the Uk's most experienced agents‎,however, epitomises what it truly means to have empathy and to care. A fascinating listen. One of our lengthier episodes, but, a great story does take time to tell. Enjoy.

Guest on this episode is long time Solihull estate agent, Simon Burt.  A  "sleeves rolled up" attitude and strong desire to look after vendors with outstanding customer service are just two of the characteristics we hear about from this award-winning agency. Any estate agency needs time to connect with vendors and often the first contact is through a valuation. Listen to this conversation and find out if you share similar values and beliefs with Simon and his team.