If you see a bandwagon, it’s too late!!

Like so many great and inspiring statements, I think the brilliance of this one by James Goldsmith is two fold. It’s memorable and it has a subtle message at it’s core. It underlines the importance of differentiating yourself and your business from the competition, taking the less trodden path, being bold, creative and innovative.

During an interval at a recent conference I was exchanging some interesting banter with a group of Estate Agents. I asked them about why their business was different to the competition. Needless to say the responses were mixed, but most were less than exciting. What was interesting however, was that if they were asked this question during an appraisal by a potential vendor, then most of the agents were convinced of their ability to overcome it. Not completely surprised by this I decided to probe a bit further. “So how many appraisal appointments are you getting during an average week”? I asked. “Not enough, it’s very quiet” came the reply. “That’s Interesting” I said, “what’s the point of having the answers if you are not creating the questions, the demand or the opportunities?” I asked.

And then there was silence, for a reflective minute or two!

So I come back to my earlier point about differentiating yourselves. Think about the activities that will generate the required result. For example, if you need more appraisal appointments then what is going to generate them, why should a potential vendor use your agency? What stands out? Why are you different?

Whether we like it or not people form a perception based on what they see, hear or read, it’s human nature. So do your future clients ‘see’ your business in a way they should see it, or is their perception of it different?

And as everyone talks about providing great customer service – what exactly is it, what does it look like and when does it start?  Because only when you know the answers can you start delivering it.

So if you really do want to see a bandwagon -make sure you got it rolling first!

www.madconsultancy.co.uk – Consultants to the Property Services Industry.

Alex Evans

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Housing Insight Report October 2025

The latest figures reveal a steadier, more confident property market, with committed buyers driving sales and rental arrears falling to their lowest level since 2022. In spite of slight dips in demand, rising stock levels and stabilising rents signal a sector gradually finding its balance. Residential sales Prospective buyer registrations dropped in October 2025 The…
Read More
Breaking News

9 luxury property features to impress Christmas guests

9 of the fanciest home features to impress your Christmas guests – And how much they’ll set you back As the festive season approaches and we prepare to welcome guests into our homes, Enness Global has identified nine of the most extravagant and fancy home features that define true luxury at Christmas. But impressing the…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

No acceleration in rental EPC improvements despite policy push

Rightmove’s 2025 Greener Homes Report reveals: Energy efficiency of homes continues to steadily improve, but slowly: Rental sector stock still more energy efficient than resale stock Both markets have seen a 3% year-on-year jump in proportion of homes with at least an EPC rating of C (58% of homes for rent, 46% of homes for…
Read More
Breaking News

London renters making it onto the ladder without a deposit

Developers helping London renters onto the property ladder without a deposit, when the Government won’t The latest insight from London’s largest lettings and sales estate agent brand, Foxtons, has revealed that despite the Government providing no new support in the recent Budget for first time buyers, a growing collaboration between developers and lenders is helping…
Read More
Breaking News

Prime London Sees Post-Budget Surge in £2m+ Listings

The latest research from prime London property experts, Jefferies London, reveals that, just two weeks on from the Autumn Budget and its newly announced prime property surcharges, an estimated 444 homes priced at £2m or more have been listed for sale across the capital. These new listings account for around one in 10 (9%) of…
Read More
Breaking News

2026 Will Test BTR’s Potential and Government’s Resolve

By Justine Edmonds, Head of Build to Rent / Leasing Strategies, LRG Throughout 2025 I have spent hours in meetings with and on discussion panels with institutional investors, developers and local authorities. And everything I’ve picked up on in the last year suggests that 2026 will be a crossroads for Build to Rent (BTR). The…
Read More