Why I love independent estate and letting agents

I love independent agents. I love you because you give your heart and soul to what you do. You miss parties and nights out; you stand in the rain on a Saturday watching your kids run around a muddy field, then go straight to a viewing. Your alarm clock always goes off too early; you miss your favourite tv programmes because you just need to send that last email. You see a chink of blue sky and rush off to photograph the front of a house, or bring washing in when you_re on a viewing, because your vendor is at work.

You shoo cats, stroke dogs, smile at unruly kids, pat the hands of worried pensioners, you can reel off the numbers of the best window cleaner, conveyancer, storage company, plumber, dog walker and computer repairer. You give hope when there seems to be none and kind words even when you_re angry. You make your clients your friends.

You_ve no idea what you_re doing on social media but you do it anyway. Even when your team have made the most atrocious mistakes: overslept, forgotten keys, lost paperwork and accidentally sent rude emails, you still bring them in cakes on a Friday, remember their birthdays – and give them time off for their kids_ assemblies.

You do Movember, Stoptober and half kill yourself on fun runs. You take your laptop to bed and then toss and turn over that house that just won_t sell. You smile when locals accost you in the street, the supermarket and the pub, and ask you for a _ballpark_ value of their home.

You_re the mavericks; the go-it-aloners; the differentiators; the disruptors. You_re stubborn and bloody-minded, but you_ll do anything for your clients: park down the street, bring flowers, make beds and wash dishes. You advise, cajole, persuade, reassure, guide, support and LOVE them. You have guts and grit; you climb a mountain every single day, and smile through each under-val, fall-through, gazump and gazunder, sharing unending pragmatism and optimism, whilst displaying courage and humility.

You are the true spirits of estate agency in our fine country.

You are the small and the brave.

You are amazing. And I love you.

Sam x

___________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to some of my wonderful clients featured here:

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Paul Rolfe

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Victoria Green

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿSacha Scott

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿAtif Javid

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿAdiel Arshad

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Sanjay Gandhi

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Alex West

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Melissa Shervington

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Anu Joshi

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Annabelle Jardine-Jones

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿJames Ryan

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿAndy Overman

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿRyan Woolfenden

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Ben Draper

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Charlie Perdios

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿLucie Wishart

ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Paul Murphy

And for all of my clients past and present that aren_t featured here, thank you for being brilliant x

What to do next:ÿIf you_d like to join my happy band of superstar independent agents who get my tips and tricks each week by email, just click here and sign up free

Sam Ashdown

Sam is an industry-renowned marketing strategist to estate agents. She helps agents grow and flourish, using her unique smart marketing techniques and strategies. Sam works with agents throughout the UK to help them gain more valuations, win more instructions and sell more properties.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Data and commentary from Rightmove on stamp duty reforms

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert said: “We’ve been calling for stamp duty reform for some time now, as it’s a significant barrier for many people moving home. Abolishing it completely would remove one of the biggest barriers to moving, unlocking more moves at all stages of the property ladder. “Our data shows that only 5%…
Read More
Breaking News

Second-time buyers dominate demand for longer term fixed mortgage deals

Second-time buyers are dominating demand for longer term fixed mortgage deals, fresh data from Moneyfacts Analyser can reveal. Of those looking for fixed term deals on moneyfactscompare.co.uk: Almost two-thirds (58%) of second-time buyers who compared mortgage deals using the moneyfactscompare.co.uk website were considering terms of three years or longer in the 30 days to 1…
Read More
Breaking News

59% Increase in First Time Buyers in Summer 2025

The summer of 2025 saw a 59% increase in first-time buyers getting on the property ladder compared to the same period in 2024, according to a report by Compare My Move who surveyed users purchasing a house with a conveyancing solicitor.       Average Percentage of First-Time Buyers  Year  Entire Year  Summer Months  2024  66% …
Read More
Breaking News

Living within 20 minutes of your local town centre could add £30,000 to your home’s value

The latest research from geo-location property platform, The Property DriveBuy, has found that homes within a 20-minute walk of their nearest town centre command a significant price premium, adding as much as £30,000 to property values. The Property DriveBuy analysed more than 24,000 homes currently listed for sale across England, comparing average asking prices for…
Read More
Breaking News

Most expensive homes sold so far this year

Most expensive homes sold so far this year revealed – where does your region rank? The latest research from global HNW finance brokerage, Enness Global, has found that whilst the wider UK property market may be treading water at present, high-end properties are continuing to change hands for eye-watering sums, with the top five most…
Read More
How to help out hoarders
Estate Agent Talk

Homeowner horrors that could wipe £54,000 off your property’s value

With Halloween on the horizon, nationwide cash buying company and quick sale specialists, Springbok Properties, has revealed the housing horror stories that could give sellers the biggest fright, with subsidence topping the list, knocking more than £53,000 off the value of the average UK home. Springbok Properties analysed 10 of the most common homebuyer turn-offs,…
Read More