Property-Porn Stars

Property-Porn Stars

Welcome to Property-Porn Stars, the premium property podcast for property professionals who are either working in, or aspiring to work in, the premium home market, brought to you by your hosts David Lindley and Matt Giggs.  The 'Property-Porn Stars' are the guests joining us in the studio, each of them excellent in their own field when it comes to the premium property markets, while the hosts interview them about their approach, what they've learned, and what they would advise for others working in the premium market to add significant value to their businesses.  If the premium property market is a subject you want to learn more about, or even if it is to take some of the insights you will learn here into another market, you are sure to gain lots of value from listening.  On behalf of the show's hosts, David and Matt, we are incredibly grateful for everyone who gives up their time to listen, and we are always eager for feedback on subjects, guests and questions. Don't forget to the the subscribe button, and thank you for listening!

  1. 2D AGO

    Prejudice, Premium Property, and Proving Yourself... International Women's Day Special Episode.

    A different kind of episode to the 'usual programming', but one that has huge importance. Regardless of your gender, well worth listening to, but especially so if you are considering moving into the premium market. To celebrate International Women's Day, and recorded the day after the Women in Estate Agency Conference, David sits down with three brilliant By Design MD's, Katie Solaru, Marie Fritz, and Amanda Haworth, to get into the details of what impact their gender has had on their career, and what advice they can offer others who might be considering the premium market, too.  We cover a lot of ground, including:  Whether sexism and gender bias are actually better or worse in the premium property market. Real experiences of female estate agents dealing with sexism from clients and colleagues. Why women often feel they have to prove themselves more than men in estate agency. The surprising gender statistics in the industry: 56% of estate agents are women, yet only around 8% of self-employed agents are women. Why so few women start their own agency businesses despite making up the majority of the workforce. How traditional high street agency structures and promotion opportunities can limit female career progression. The impact of motherhood, childcare costs, and rigid working hours on women’s careers in property. Why the self-employed agency model can offer greater flexibility for parents. The safety risks female agents sometimes face when meeting clients and conducting viewings. The reality of building a personal brand on social media, including unwanted messages and harassment. The mindset required to succeed as a self-employed agent, including resilience, confidence, and entrepreneurial drive. Practical advice for women entering the industry: build confidence, expect rejection, find supportive networks, and learn as you go. Practical advice, experience, shocking stories, and much more - we hope you enjoy this very special episode.

    52 min
  2. FEB 18

    'Hook Them, or Lose Them!'... #47 Toby Martin

    In this episode of Property Porn Stars, David Lindley sits down with Toby Martin, Chief Content Officer at Unchained.Marketing, to unpack the real role of video in modern estate agency. Toby shares his journey from a 13 year career in lettings to stepping into the world of marketing consultancy, and explains why video is no longer optional for agents who want to win instructions. The conversation explores the concept of Google’s “messy middle”, why 70 percent of a client’s decision is made before you step through the door, and how agents can batch create six months of content in a single day. They also debate presenter led property videos, discuss whether agents should feature themselves in tours at all, and share practical advice on camera confidence, editing, AI tools and why most agents are sitting on a goldmine of untapped content. If you are serious about growing market share in the premium space, this episode is a masterclass in modern visibility, covering:  • From Lettings to Marketing: Toby explains his move from a stable employed role in lettings into consultancy and now Unchained, driven by a passion for helping agents market better.    • The Messy Middle: By the time you arrive at a valuation, vendors are already up to 70 percent through their decision. Clients research online, consume content and form opinions before meeting you.    • Video Is Where Attention Lives: Around 82 percent of internet traffic is video. If agents are not creating video, they are not meeting clients where they already spend time.     • Fast Forwarding Trust: Regular video content accelerates familiarity and authority. Vendors feel they already know you before you meet.    • You Are Sitting on a Content Goldmine: Estate agency is complex and fascinating to consumers. FAQs, market updates, process explanations and behind the scenes insights provide endless content opportunities.    • Batch Content Is the Answer: One focused filming day can produce 50 to 70 short videos, giving six months of evergreen content. Two days per year could power an entire annual strategy.     • Camera Shyness Is Discomfort, Not Fear: Confidence comes from repetition. Toby recommends a private daily 60 second diary for 60 days to build natural ease on camera.     • Hook or Lose Them: You have roughly three seconds to stop the scroll. Avoid introductions and filler language. Lead with a compelling statement or visual hook.    • Serious Often Equals Boring: Estate agents default to grave, formal delivery. Approachable, human and occasionally humorous content performs better.    • The Property Video Debate: The episode explores whether presenter led tours help or hinder premium marketing, and introduces the idea of seller led storytelling videos as a powerful alternative.    • Editing and AI Realities: CapCut remains a practical tool for in house editing. AI can assist but cannot yet fully automate quality video production.    • Video as Foundational Marketing: Educational and advice based content forms the core layer of modern agency marketing, with aesthetic property content layered on top.   [Side note - this episode was recorded many months ago, so Toby's 'new role' isnt all that new anymore!]

    54 min
  3. 11/24/2025

    Stop Doing Property Videos! And other controversial opinions... #44 Sam Ashdown, of AshdownJones.

    In this episode, David Lindley sits down with Sam Ashdown - Co-Founder of AshdownJones, a premium estate agency in the Lake District, who have enjoyed huge success since launch; doing things differently to conventional agency!  In this conversation we get in to some of those different strategies, including:   • From Kitchen Table to Premium Brand: Ashdown Jones launched with no premises, no investor funding and no big backing. It began at Sam’s kitchen table, proof that premium agency is built on strategy and mindset rather than budget.     • Selling the Unsellable: The first listing was a property that had been with multiple agents, with many failed attempts to sell. They succeeded without reducing the asking price, simply by transforming presentation and narrative.    • Brand Before Property: Sam believes the agent brand and feeling of trust come first. Clients need to believe in the brand story before they believe in the listing. It is not just about the home, it is about who is representing it.    • Marketing That Feels Premium: They focus on poetic property descriptions, lifestyle storytelling, magazine-level photography and bespoke brochures. Presentation is the differentiator in premium agency.    • Video Should Serve the Agency, Not the Listing: Sam does not believe property videos with agents presenting outside a house are effective. Instead, she uses video to build her agency brand and connect emotionally with the audience.     • Direct Mail Is Their Biggest Growth Lever: Their most successful lead generation channel is direct mail, sent with consistency, relevance and personality. It remains the most predictable and scalable method they use.    • Premium Clients Choose People, Not Portals: Vendors want to feel their home is valued, cherished and understood by the agent. They are not looking for a portal listing. They are looking for a steward of their asset.    • The Office Is Not a Shop Window: Ashdown Jones intentionally chose not to be on a traditional high street. Their rural location fits their brand, creates exclusivity and reflects a premium lifestyle experience.    • Not a Lifestyle Business: Sam speaks openly about the difference between a personal brand business and one that has true asset value. She believes in building something saleable, scalable and not dependent on a single individual.    • And lastly....47 Home Moves: Sam has moved house an unbelievable 47 times, which gives her deep empathy for sellers and buyers and a personal understanding of the emotional journey involved in moving.

    1h 7m

About

Welcome to Property-Porn Stars, the premium property podcast for property professionals who are either working in, or aspiring to work in, the premium home market, brought to you by your hosts David Lindley and Matt Giggs.  The 'Property-Porn Stars' are the guests joining us in the studio, each of them excellent in their own field when it comes to the premium property markets, while the hosts interview them about their approach, what they've learned, and what they would advise for others working in the premium market to add significant value to their businesses.  If the premium property market is a subject you want to learn more about, or even if it is to take some of the insights you will learn here into another market, you are sure to gain lots of value from listening.  On behalf of the show's hosts, David and Matt, we are incredibly grateful for everyone who gives up their time to listen, and we are always eager for feedback on subjects, guests and questions. Don't forget to the the subscribe button, and thank you for listening!

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