Zero BS Estate Agency

John Savage
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Hi, I'm John and I'm on a mission to transform this industry from within. Every week, I sit down with elite level agents from all over the UK. No fancy talk, no nonsense - they spill the beans on their real experiences and show you how to supercharge your career in estate agency. Most hate what I'm doing. Others love it. You decide..

  1. 13H AGO

    EP079 - The Truth About Surveys: Why Deals Collapse (And How to Stop It) with Daniel Knight

    Most deals don't fall apart because of the property. They fall apart because of panic. In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Knight — better known as Dan the Surveyor Man — to break down what actually happens when a survey hits a deal… and why so many agents completely misread it. We get into: Why "bad surveys" aren't always the problem The truth about Level 2 vs Level 3 surveys How downvaluations really work (and why they're not personal) The biggest mistakes agents make before, during and after a survey And how to stop deals collapsing at week 8, 10, 12… when it's too late to recover Daniel's approach is simple — surveys are about risk, not drama. And if you understand that, you stop reacting… and start controlling the deal. If you're an agent who wants fewer fall-throughs, stronger negotiations, and more completions — this episode is a must-listen. No fluff. No excuses. Just the truth.

    44 min

  2. FEB 27

    EP078: Steve Backley OBE – The Olympic Mindset Behind Sustained Success

    What separates someone who peaks once… from someone who stays elite for decades? In this episode, I sit down with Steve Backley OBE. Olympic medallist, former world record holder, and one of the most consistent performers British athletics has ever produced. But this isn't a sports interview. This is a conversation about mindset. We break down: • Why "success is a decision, not a gift" • Thriving under pressure vs folding under it • The power of controlling the controllables • Why adversity should excite you, not intimidate you • How to set stretch goals that actually move you forward • The difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset • Why most people plateau — and how to avoid it Steve shares the mental framework that allowed him to perform on the biggest stage in the world (repeatedly) and how those same principles apply directly to estate agency, business, and life. If you're serious about stepping up… If you're building a self-employed model… If you want elite results without excuses… This episode will challenge you. Because average is a decision too. Listen now.

    37 min

  3. FEB 17

    EP077 – Discovering Fire: The AI Shift That Will Redefine Estate Agency with Mark Burgess

    "It Felt Like Discovering Fire." Last week, I attended the Iceberg AI Summit. And I don't say this lightly… It felt like discovering fire for the first time. Not another proptech demo. Not another "better CRM." Not AI bolted onto old systems. Something fundamentally different. In this episode, I sit down with Mark Burgess, CEO of Iceberg Digital — entrepreneur, and one of the few people in this industry who genuinely sees around corners. Mark has been in estate agency since the mid-90s. He's built multi-million-pound businesses. And now he's building what he calls an AI operating system for estate agents. Not software. An operating system. We talk about: Why most agencies are just sales departments pretending to be businesses Why AI won't replace estate agents — but it will expose weak ones What Lifecycle, Neuron and Uzair actually are (and why they matter) Why the next three years will define who survives The widening gap between agents winning record months… and agents blaming the market Here's the uncomfortable truth: In every town right now, there are agents thriving. And in the same towns, there are agents struggling. Same interest rates. Same Rightmove fees. Same buyers. Different operating systems. This isn't about hype. It's about leverage. It's about moving from chasing and guessing… to positioning and knowing. If you're happy running a traditional, effort-based agency and hoping consistency carries you through — this episode might irritate you. If you know there has to be a better way — you'll want to pay attention. 🔥 Watch the Full Iceberg AI Summit If this conversation felt big… If it made you think differently about how your agency runs… Then don't stop here. Watch the full Iceberg AI Summit and see the entire breakdown of what's coming — and what serious agents are already doing differently: 👉 https://iceberg-digital.co.uk/iceberg-ai-summit-2026-estate-agency-ai The next three years won't reward average operators. They'll reward the ones who adapt. Your move.

    39 min

  4. FEB 7

    EP076: Rowan Waller — Your Marketing Isn't Broken. Your Positioning Is.

    Most estate agents don't have a marketing problem. They have a clarity problem. They're posting regularly. They're trying different platforms. They're copying what seems to work for other agents. And yet… they keep attracting the wrong sellers. In this episode, I'm joined by Rowan Waller, and we strip estate agency marketing back to first principles — not tactics, not trends, not "post more" advice. We get into: Why "my client is everyone" guarantees average results How to define your ideal seller properly (and why this changes everything) Why most agents accidentally sabotage their best stories How to build authority without bragging The 5–5–5 framework that brings structure to your content Why likes and views are vanity — and what actually moves the needle What to do if you're starting from scratch with no budget and no reputation This episode isn't about algorithms or hacks. It's about identity, positioning, and intent. If you want sellers to recognise you as the right agent before you ever meet them — this conversation will change how you think about marketing. Less noise. More meaning. Better instructions.

    40 min

  5. JAN 30

    EP075: Why Estate Agents Sell Contracts (Not Houses) - Paul Childs

    Episode 075:  Why Estate Agents Sell Contracts (Not Houses) - Paul Childs Most sellers think they're choosing an estate agent. What they're actually buying… is a contract. In this episode, Paul Childs joins me for a brutally honest conversation about what really goes on behind valuations, long tie-ins, and "active buyer" promises. We get into: Why sellers default to high-street brands — even when it costs them money How overpricing isn't optimism, it's risk avoidance by agents The uncomfortable truth about long contracts and who they really protect Why price drops aren't a strategy — they're a symptom How self-employed agents are exposing the cracks in the traditional model Why collaboration, not competition, is the future of estate agency This isn't a recruitment pitch. It's not anti–high street either. It's a real conversation between two agents who actually carry the risk, do the work, and live with the consequences. If you're a seller, this episode will change how you choose an agent. If you're an agent, it will challenge how — and who — you're really working for. No fluff. No scripts. No contracts dressed up as certainty. Just the truth about how houses really get sold.

    45 min

  6. JAN 23

    EP074 — You're Not Selling Houses. You're Selling You with Samantha Cerrone

    There are only three things that decide whether a house sale succeeds or quietly goes wrong: The agent. The pricing strategy. And the marketing. Get any one of them wrong and the seller loses — often tens of thousands — without ever realising why. This episode digs into a truth most people only understand after a failed sale: buyers don't just judge the house — they judge who is selling it. Weak agents, weak questioning, weak positioning and weak marketing send the wrong signals to buyers. Strong agents do the opposite — they control perception, pricing psychology, and the narrative of the deal from day one. Samantha Cerrone is a real-world example of what happens when all three pillars are done properly. Not theory. Not branding fluff. Results. If you're a seller, this episode could save you from making a very expensive mistake. If you're an agent, it will force you to confront whether you're adding value — or quietly destroying it.

    33 min

  7. JAN 17

    EP073 - Most Estate Agents Don't Lose Deals on Price — They Lose Them on Discovery with Geoff Ketterer

    Most estate agents don't lose instructions because of fees, price, or the market. They lose because they don't know how to tell the truth — or don't have the skill to make that truth land without losing the deal. In this episode, John Savage is joined by Geoff Ketterer, an elite-level remote closer who has delivered tens of millions of dollars in high-ticket sales, to expose why most agents struggle to win instructions and why "I need to think about it" is usually self-inflicted. They break down why weak soft skills, poor discovery, and scripted conversations kill deals before they ever start — and how elite salespeople use structure, honesty, and pre-sale frameworks to sell homes long before a buyer ever walks through the door. This is not an episode about scripts, closing tricks, or sounding clever. It's about understanding the game, running the conversation properly, and winning by being the agent who can tell the truth — and still get paid. If you want to stop discounting, stop chasing, and start winning instructions on your terms, this episode is required listening.

    36 min

  8. JAN 2

    EP072 - Understanding the One Thing | Why Most Agents Market Instead of Sell with Ian Macbeth

    In this episode of the Zero BS Estate Agency Podcast, John Savage speaks with Ian Macbeth, founder of Avocado Property, about what truly maximises a seller's result — and why most estate agents get it wrong. Ian explains why homes don't sell because they're marketed harder, listed longer, or pushed across more portals. They sell when an agent identifies the one defining factor that matters to the right buyer and builds the strategy around it. This conversation covers: The difference between marketing a property and actually selling it Why portals like Rightmove are over-credited for results The shift from traditional estate agency to a consultancy-led model Why understanding the ideal buyer matters more than exposure How AI is changing estate agency — and where it genuinely adds value Why the real job is facilitating the move, not just agreeing a price Ian also shares how ultra-endurance running shaped his mindset around pressure, leadership, and long-term decision-making in business. This episode is essential listening for estate agents who want clearer thinking, better decisions, and accountability for results — and for sellers who want to understand what really makes the difference when selling a home. Ian Macbeth – Founder, Avocado Property 🌐 Website: https://avocadopropertyagents.co.uk 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-macbeth-5190a926 📧 Email: ian@avocadopropertyagents.co.uk

    34 min
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About

Hi, I'm John and I'm on a mission to transform this industry from within. Every week, I sit down with elite level agents from all over the UK. No fancy talk, no nonsense - they spill the beans on their real experiences and show you how to supercharge your career in estate agency. Most hate what I'm doing. Others love it. You decide..

Information

  • Creator
    John Savage
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Zero BS Estate Agency

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