Episode 20 - Estate Agency Mastery with Alex Evans

Podcast Show Notes: Estate Agency Mastery with Alex Evans from Estate Apps

In this episode, we are joined by Alex Evans from Estate Apps. While Alex is a supplier, he's here to deliver some amazing insights on estate agency mastery that are both practical and actionable. We dive deep into topics ranging from leveraging social proof, personal branding, and innovative ways to drive listings. Whether you’re an agent in Birmingham, Belfast, or Bognor Regis, Alex shares tips that you can start implementing in your business tomorrow.

Key Takeaways:

1. Importance of Reviews

   • Ask for Google reviews early in the process, not just at the end.
   • Aim for reviews with detailed narratives, not just star ratings.
   • Don't be afraid of negative reviews—they add authenticity and allow you to demonstrate growth.
   • Tip: You can request clients to update their reviews throughout the process, which increases engagement and helps tell a continuous story.

2. Top Platforms for Reviews

   • Google is the most critical review platform for estate agents, followed by Facebook.
   • Ensure your Facebook reviews section is visible—hiding it can seem suspicious.
   • Personal branding: Start building personal reviews for yourself as an agent, especially with the rise of self-employed brokers.

3. Personal Branding and Visibility

   • In Australia, personal agent branding is much more common and prominent on property boards.
   • UK agents and agencies should put more focus on showcasing individual agents to build trust and connection with clients.
   • Build your personal brand and leverage social media to stand out.

4. Pre-Portal Listing Strategies

   • Launch properties on your website and social media before sending them to portals like Rightmove.
   • Increase exclusivity and generate interest with your own audience first, giving you an edge and creating higher value for your service.
   • Agents can reduce portal costs and gain more control over their listings by relying less on third-party platforms.

5. Innovative Agents Moving Away from Portals

   • Some agents are reducing their reliance on property portals altogether, focusing on social media, Google Ads, and other digital marketing methods.
   • While portals still offer significant ROI, agents should strive to increase their value proposition by building their brand and audience directly.

Resources Mentioned:

• Estate Apps: [Website Link]
• Review Tool by Estate Apps: [Link if available]
• Google Reviews & Facebook Reviews
• Australian Real Estate Conference (AREC)