Marketing Trends for Estate Agency in 2017:

360 Drone Attack: I am sure that most readers will have at least seen one drone video online, be it via an agency listing or an update on social media. These videos are growing in popularity and becoming more and more an economical option for showcasing products and I would say one of the best they can show is property / land.

I would suggest that most property with over an acre of land to sell really must look at a drone video for an option in it’s marketing (for estate agents who offer this service it will increase their chances of gaining a listing over their competitor). A fine location can really be captured in a way no other form of marketing can achieve when using drones and it is not limited to showing just the property, if you have a wonderful surrounding location then capture it via drones.

Broadcasting live videos is now even quoted as old hat and taking over will be live 360 broadcasting enabling viewers to not only watch the subject the camera is focused on, but also their surroundings too – Imagine 360 broadcasting within properties where each room visited the watching audiences can look around the room or out in the gardens where they can study each corner as if they were virtually there themselves.

Mark Boyt of Drone Safe Register: “Drone photography is growing each year and now huge in the USA. We are normally 2 years behind the US so 2017 will be busier than ever! A few problems exists currently in that estate agents are using drones without correct insurance, training and CAA permission which is illegal. In 2017 the CAA are looking to prosecute for the very first time. As well as this, agents do not really offer the service as they won’t earn this money back until the home is sold.

Larger properties with land benefit massively from aerial photography being added to the listing. A simple fly over added to a listing will add the wow factor. Please see fly over link https://vimeo.com/195663426 – Aerial photography stands out without any doubt! All agents should considering using drone photography in 2017″.
Live Broadcasting: This is a big potential option here for estate / letting agents. We have come along way with video online where now Youtube sits as one of the Internets most popular search engines and near or enough every type of business uses videos to showcase their products and services. Not only have we videos we can watch online, we also can watch live broadcasting which have been adopted by many of the social media platforms to enable businesses to have their very own direct media channels to get in front of their target audiences – As basic as it may sound, you can now quite literally showcase a property live so next time you have an open house then why not make it an open house online too via video – Let us importantly not forget that we can live broadcast 360 style as mentioned above, so prepared to be wow’d with video in 2017 and beyond.

There will of course be certain security to be taken in to consideration, but for estate agents across the UK and internationally (especially those selling holiday homes), the chance to get a strong market share online is to provide their clients with the service of having their homes showcased online live to wider audiences.

Mobile phones now allow you to live broadcast and just using your business page on Twitter / Facebook then you have your very own ‘estate agency TV channel’ to air out to.

Shaun Esden of Aztec Films: “Over the last six years filming property for sale we have seen demand increase year on year, people lead very busy lives nowadays and to sift through the amount of homes for sale in their chosen area and price bracket can be tedious and time consuming. Sitting in the comfort of your own home watching films of properties available is a far easier way to pinpoint the ones you want to view. We find it’s a three point advantage to the vendor too, increased viewings, no time wasters (as they’ve seen a full film beforehand) and a memento to keep for the future.

We are certainly looking forward to a busy 2017 filming properties, and as we have already filmed in Portugal, France and Spain as well as the UK we are excited about the future of video marketing for Estate Agents and property developers alike”.

High Quality Content: 2017 will all be about content, content, content and also the quality of that content too. Quite simply by putting up / sharing any kind of content will now not be enough as content writers become cheaper and cheaper to source internationally and we also have technology to provide companies with auto generated content. Being smart with your content will be what achieves you success, your own written and researched content relevant to the current trending news and to your target audiences will be what strikes gold for you – Original images to accompany your updates and if you can adopt video footage too then you are certainly on the right road.

Social Media Savvy: Many in the estate agency industry will know that I have been raving on about social media for years, though less so recently as it has been speaking for itself as such. Just how important tweets, updates, shares, posts, groups, members, channels etc will become is now a highly trending topic across all industries and will show throughout the property industry also.

Those agencies who recognise the value of a target audience following on social media and have adopted current marketing trends that these social platforms offer such as the pre mentioned live video broadcasting and live 360 tours, will have the potential to grab larger market shares.

 

To read up on more key marketing tips for the Estate / Letting Agency Industry then join the UK’s largest property group on LinkedIn here: Estate Agency on LinkedIn

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Homebuyer demand returns following Autumn Budget

New research from Property DriveBuy reveals that Bristol, Tyne & Wear, and South Yorkshire emerged as the UK’s most in-demand areas of the housing market following the Autumn Budget, with as many as 61% of homes listed for sale successfully securing a buyer in Q4 2025. Property Drivebuy analysed residential listings data across the nation…
Read More
Breaking News

Economic uncertainty tops agents’ worries in 2026

“Make-or-break” 2026 looms for estate agents as costs, red tape and reform pile pressure on sector Agents warn of ‘survival year’ ahead as new Alto Agency Trends Report reveals deep fears over rising costs and regulation UK estate and letting agents are heading into 2026 fearing a make-or-break year, as soaring costs, economic uncertainty and…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Strategies to Boost Estate Agent Networking

In the competitive world of UK property sales, mastering estate agent networking can transform your business trajectory. For instance, agents who prioritize targeted connections often see a surge in referrals and listings. This article explores 7 proven strategies drawn from industry insights, helping you build lasting professional relationships without relying on outdated tactics.​ Introduction to Estate Agent Networking Estate…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

Why now is actually a great time to be a landlord

By Allison Thompson, National Lettings Managing Director, Leaders.  For the past few years, there has been a succession of reports in the media about landlords selling up and quitting the industry. And it’s true that as legislation has been tightened and renters’ rights have been prioritised, it now takes more time, effort and knowledge to…
Read More
Breaking News

Modest house price growth may offset easing mortgage costs for home buyers this year

Analysis of new data* from Moneyfactscompare.co.uk illustrates how easing mortgage rates may allow for a modest growth in house prices in 2026 without improving or worsening current affordability pressures on first-time buyers and homemovers. *Consumers comparing mortgage deals on moneyfactscompare.co.uk in 2025 and Moneyfacts Average Mortgage Rates. First-time buyers Typical first-time buyers borrowed around £236,000 in…
Read More
Breaking News

More than 428 homes repossessed every month

New analysis from Springbok Properties reveals that based on historic trends an estimated 428 homes could be repossessed each month in 2026, a fact which threatens to create stress and concern for any families starting the new year off under financial pressure. Springbok Properties’ has analysed property repossession data from the UK House Price Index*…
Read More