Industry Interview: Melanie Peters of Waterside Properties in Dorset

Is the way that Estate Agents engage with consumers changing? Is social media, apps and website having a greater importance than leafleting, local newspaper adverts and high street presence?

Social media is certainly a very important way of showcasing individual businesses.

We as an agency have devoted a great deal of time to our Twitter and Facebook profiles during 2016.

I myself have attended ÿ2 courses this year specifically aimed at the use of Twitter and Facebook for business.

We definitely find that most of our clients come to us via the major property portals, as well as our own website.

We still find that local leafleting is productive at getting our name out there.

We no longer advertise in the local press, but continue to advertise in specialist magazines.

We have a high street presence and on the whole I think clients still prefer to deal with agents on a personal level.

What makes a good estate agent and what makes for a good estate agency today?

I think that what makes a good agent is communication!

Active sales progression is required to see a deal through to the end.

Communicating with buyers, sellers, solicitors and other agents is crucial.

Good customer service is also paramount, this is the way to get repeat business and recommendation.

Online / Hybrid Estate Agencies, Brexit, Onthemarket, Trump – Is it still full steam ahead for the UK property industry despite so much changing and happening?

2016 has been a very strange year for estate agencies!

The market for family homes has remained buoyant, throughout the year.

However all the political changes we have seen this year, in particular the change to stamp duty in April, have had an effect on our market.

Our agency specialises in the sale of waterside homes, and it is the investment, second homes and luxury market that has been most effected in 2016.

 

Thank you Melanie Peters for answering our questions! Waterside Properties website can be found here.

 

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

can you drink tap water
Letting Agent Talk

What tenants really want from a HMO in 2026

By Allison Thompson, Chief Lettings Officer, Leaders part of LRG   Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), also referred to as multi-lets or room rentals, have come a long way in the past couple of decades. Once thought of as very much at the bottom of the accommodation pile, with a reputation for being sub-standard, many…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Rethinking Property Transactions Starts with Communication

By Cara Stanbridge, Head of Relationship Management at Nova Legal   Across the UK property market, transactions are in turmoil. Ongoing economic pressures are impacting house prices, mortgage deals, and overall demand, reflecting the uncertainty nationwide. In fact, a recent study found that for those who are taking the plunge to buy or sell this year,…
Read More
Breaking News

B2L mortgage costs climb 64% in a decade

The latest research from London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed that the average monthly cost of a buy-to-let mortgage has climbed by as much as 64% over the last decade, as landlords continue to face mounting financial pressure alongside sweeping reforms introduced via the Renters’ Rights Act.   Benham and Reeves…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 13/5/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Renters’ Rights Act: What Estate Agents Need to Understand About the Tenant Impact   Author Andrew Stanton Editor EAN   The Renters’ Rights Act represents the biggest structural shift to the private rented sector in decades, and while much of the conversation has focused…
Read More
Breaking News

First-time buyers bear the brunt of mortgage mayhem

Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report data reveals that despite mortgage turmoil easing in April, first-time buyers remain under pressure from reduced choice and stretched affordability. Mortgage product choice has contracted by around 10% since the start of March, with higher loan-to-value deals (10% or less deposit or equity) falling by 14%, a blow to…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 12/5/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Commercial real estate is entering a new era powered by artificial intelligence CRE is now powered by artificial intelligence, automation, smart data, and digital-first workflows. For decades, the industry relied heavily on spreadsheets, disconnected systems, and manual administration. Today, technology is becoming central to…
Read More