Ignite Your Estate Agency

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Ignite Your Estate Agency

Sam Ashdown & Phil Jones

241 episodes

2 weeks ago

Sam sits down with Malcolm Prescott, Managing Director of Webbers Estate Agents, to talk about the shifting landscape of estate agencies, discussing what it takes to maintain market leadership across a wide geographical area and explore challenges around team training, client service, and adapting to changing market conditions. Hear Malcolm’s take on what the relentless Rightmove price increases mean for estate agency owners, and the impact technology and AI will have on the future of propert...

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Entrepreneurship

All content for Ignite Your Estate Agency is the property of Sam Ashdown & Phil Jones and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Sam sits down with Malcolm Prescott, Managing Director of Webbers Estate Agents, to talk about the shifting landscape of estate agencies, discussing what it takes to maintain market leadership across a wide geographical area and explore challenges around team training, client service, and adapting to changing market conditions. Hear Malcolm’s take on what the relentless Rightmove price increases mean for estate agency owners, and the impact technology and AI will have on the future of propert...

Show more...

Entrepreneurship

Episodes (20/241)

Ignite Your Estate Agency

"A banana skin around every corner" - and other agency wisdoms from Malcolm Prescott of Webbers

Sam sits down with Malcolm Prescott, Managing Director of Webbers Estate Agents, to talk about the shifting landscape of estate agencies, discussing what it takes to maintain market leadership across a wide geographical area and explore challenges around team training, client service, and adapting to changing market conditions. Hear Malcolm’s take on what the relentless Rightmove price increases mean for estate agency owners, and the impact technology and AI will have on the future of propert...

2 weeks ago

56 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

Estate Agents: You’re Doing Social Media Wrong (and How to Fix It)

Sam is joined by Liam and Tess from Hussell Up Social for part two of their interview about social media for estate agents. Why are most estate agents approaching digital platforms the wrong way? Liam and Tess reveal how to build an effective strategy that delivers results. Find out the optimum frequency for posting, why you should prioritise quality over quantity, learn about campaign planning, and what practical steps to take to nurture engagement. After roasting the AshdownJones Inst...

3 weeks ago

20 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

The Truth About Why Most Estate Agents Flop on Social Media

Sam is joined by Tess and Liam from Hussell Up Social on this week’s episode to discuss why most estate agencies struggle on social media, and what to do about it. The common pitfalls of estate agency content range from over-posting listings to neglecting team stories and engagement. Tess and Liam share practical steps for owners looking to improve their online presence, by auditing current content, defining strategy and empowering a dedicated team member to look after the social side of the ...

1 month ago

43 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

The Autumn Budget - what’s in it for us?

Sam and Phil look at what might be coming up in the autumn budget, breaking down the rumours and how they might impact buyers, sellers, renters, landlords and estate agency owners. Get insights on proposed capital gains tax changes and applying national insurance to rental income, and how these changes could influence seller and landlord behaviour. How are AshodownJones anticipating market shifts, and keeping the agency team resilient? Sam and Phil walk through practical considerations ...

1 month ago

37 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

Carrots and Sticks - Keeping your team motivated in a flat market

Sam shares her strategies for keeping your team engaged in a flat market, discussing the challenges of fragmented market conditions and why motivating teams is more crucial than ever for estate agency owners. What is the difference between “carrots” and “sticks” when leading a team? Learn why accountability systems, structured reviews, and recognition schemes matter for coaching performance. Get practical examples you can apply right away. Tools like the ‘Action Impact Report” can address mis...

1 month ago

32 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

Your First Year in Agency What No One Tells You (But Should)

This week Sam shares what goes unnoticed during your first year as an estate agency owner, why the early months can test your resolve, and how to manage the emotional roller coaster that comes with launching your own business. Sending letters consistently, focusing on valuations, and tracking numbers, have been the foundations of sustainable growth for Ashdown Jones, so do you need to shift your focus too? How do you fight imposter syndrome, why should advice from well-meaning outsiders (incl...

1 month ago

27 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

The 'F' Word - Who has Control of your Finances?

Sam explores who really holds the reins when it comes to financial control in your estate agency. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling to seven figures, Sam breaks down the core functions every estate agency owner should tackle, from financial planning and cash flow management to effective budgeting and tax compliance. Sam shares simple frameworks for tracking key financial numbers and maintaining oversight at every stage of your business and why accurate, up-to-date cashflow forecasts...

1 month ago

28 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

Why Your Sellers Feel Forgotten and What to Do About It

Why do many property sellers may feel overlooked during slower market periods and what can estate agency owners do about it? Sam and Phil review the growing communication challenges that surface when instruction numbers rise, but sales lag behind. How can staffing changes impact client experience and cash flow? Do you need a renewed approach to client contact using structured time-blocking, accountabilities, and clearer communication channels? Discover the systems you can put in place to supp...

2 months ago

22 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

Summer Mastermind Takeaways (and how to get your paws on the resources)

Sam and Emma reflect on the recent Summer Mastermind and unpack the key topics like effective lead generation, using AI tools for productivity, and practical accounting. Emma shares her recruitment and team-building practices, Sam discusses a framework for leveraging ChatGPT and explains why the right resources, support, and systems can provide a foundation that not only grows your agency but transforms your work-life balance. Take away practical advice on improving recruitment, optimi...

2 months ago

28 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

Roasting Phil Jones - by Noah and Rosie Jones, age 7 and 9

While Phil was out of the office, the Ignite Podcast was taken over by two of his kids, Rosie and Noah Jones! What do they want to be when they grow up? What do they think Phil actually does? And why wasn’t Noah allowed any pudding last night? You do not want to miss this episode (unless you’re Phil of course)... And if you want to see more of Noah and Rosie, check out ‘Trips with the Joneses’ on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TripsWithTheJoneses Some key takeaways: ➡️ Childr...

2 months ago

16 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

6 Agency Myths - Busted

Sam and Phil examine some of the most common myths holding back estate agencies. Is misinformation costing you time and money? Why do expensive websites and software packages rarely translate into more business? How can a simple shopfront outperform a glitzy online presence? Sam and Phil talk through their approach to lead generation and where agency owners should focus resources for genuine business growth. Discover the numbers that drive instructions and sales, and find out why priori...

2 months ago

39 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

100 Months of AshdownJones! - Sam and Phil riff on the journey so far (Part 2)

Sam and Phil continue to look back over 100 months of AshdownJones, reflecting on the evolution of the agency and what has or hasn’t changed since their journey began. You’ll hear about their early misconceptions, strategies that worked, marketing lessons they learned and why focusing on high-value homes was their key differentiator. They discuss risk, leadership, and the challenges of scaling a team while maintaining a distinct brand voice. Hiring decisions, market conditions, and relentless...

3 months ago

21 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

100 Months of AshdownJones! - Sam and Phil riff on the journey so far (Part 1)

Sam and Phil reflect on 100 months of AshdownJones, sharing the decisions that shaped their estate agency as they scaled from an idea with “a couple of laptops and a lot of confidence” to a thriving team. In eight years, they’ve moved from doing the work to leading and managing operations, making tough calls about market focus, growth principles, walking away from tempting deals, and coping through Covid. Some key takeaways: ➡️ Growth requires letting go of daily tasks and focusing on team le...

3 months ago

23 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

Buyer Drought or Just a Blip? Our AJ team's market reaction

Sam sits down with Tom, Hannah, and Edward from the Ashdown Jones team to discuss current conditions in the property market and what trends they’re seeing. What has changed for estate agencies lately? Reduced viewing numbers? Lower response rates from marketing campaigns? Challenges in getting homes sold? Tom shares insight into changing valuation patterns and why more homeowners are seeking advice without real plans to sell. Hannah covers practical retention strategies for keeping clients in...

3 months ago

44 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

Do you need an Ops Manager? Sam and Phil discuss

Sam and Phil break down when and why agency owners should consider hiring an Operations Manager, challenging misconceptions around the cost and value, and examining what an Ops Manager actually does day-to-day. The right operational structure can support you to focus on growth and strategy and this podcast addresses common mistakes and practical solutions. Some key takeaways: ➡️ The right operations support increases efficiency and lets estate agency owners focus on growth. ➡️ Hiring an ops...

3 months ago

13 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

THAT Panorama documentary - Sam and Phil discuss

Sam and Phil break down the recent Panorama documentary "Undercover Estate Agents," offering an insider's take on how estate agency practices were presented on TV. What was really uncovered? And what was missed? If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002fygs/panorama-undercover-estate-agent How are industry perceptions shaped by documentaries like this, why is upselling commonplace and what is the difference between business reality and med...

4 months ago

34 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

End of Q2 2025 - Where Are We? And What's in Store for Q3?

Sam and Phil reflect on Ashdown Jones’ Q2 2025 and look ahead as Q3 approaches. Find out why regular reflection shapes performance, and why you should prioritise planning, even during quieter market periods. Hear about the current market challenges, staffing adjustments, revenue targets, and the value of direct mail. Explore property sales trends, fee averages, and the impact of lost instructions, highlighting how estate agents can adapt to fluctuations and setbacks. There are six strategic t...

4 months ago

37 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

How to Create a Stylish Property Description Using AI

Are you using AI to help write property descriptions? Find out why you should be! Replace traditional property description clichés with a story-led approach to help your agency stand out from the crowd. Using the right prompts can give you more time to focus on growth while maintaining the quality vendors expect, especially in the high-value home market. Sam shares tips for building effective AI prompts to produce copy in your own style of writing. Whatever your AI platform of choice, you can...

4 months ago

28 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

How to Build an Overseas Team and Get 3 Employees for the Price of 1 – with Georges Verdis

In this episode, we discuss building an overseas team for your estate agency. Georges Verdis joins Sam to talk about digital assistants, especially those based in the Philippines, and how they can support agency operations while managing costs. Sam and Georges share their journey of hiring virtual (or digital) team members, with a transparent look at salary structures, recruitment sources, and integrating remote professionals into a UK-based team. The episode takes you through the process of ...

4 months ago

52 minutes

Ignite Your Estate Agency

The 5 Languages of Appreciation and How They Help You Build a Better Culture

Let’s examine the five languages of appreciation in the workplace and their direct impact on team culture and retention. Sam discusses how to recognise, motivate and support your staff using strategies backed by research and shaped by real-life experience. With reference to her upcoming book, Sam talks about understanding what makes each team member feel valued - from words of affirmation to acts of service, and how that translates to improved productivity, loyalty and stronger team bonds. Ma...

5 months ago

29 minutes