Podcast
No More Waffle - Podcast
Hosted by No More Waffle - Property Podcast · EN
No More Waffle is the podcast that cuts the fluff and tells the truth about the property industry. Hosted by Ben Madden, each week we dive into the real conversations agents avoid, from why the public doesn’t trust estate agents, to the impact of acquisitions, training, AI, and service standards on buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants.
If you work in the property sector, or if you’re a consumer who just wants to understand how estate agency really works, this is for you. Raw, honest, and occasionally brutal, but always with the goal of making the industry better.
🎙️ New episodes every wee
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Episodes
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Why More Agents Are Finding Success Outside of Traditional Agency
Feb 26, 202500:47:23Tap to summarize🚀 Welcome back to Pass the Syrup!Today,we’re breaking down a huge shift happening in estate agency—agents are realising they don’t have to just be agents. 🎙️ Host:Ben Madden – Estate agency expert& industry commentator🎤 Guests:✅ Megan Eighteen – Senior Management at Swindon Home Finders,Consultant & President-Elect at ARLA Propertymark✅ Rowan Waller – Former estate agent turned full-time content& copywriting specialist (The Property Pen) This episode is all about thinking beyond the 9-5 estate agency model and unlocking new career paths withinthe property sector. 🎯 What We Cover in This Episode:⏰ Timestamps – Find What You Need Quickly:0:00 – Welcome to Episode Three!3:15 – Megan’s journey into consultancy & balancing multiple property roles10:45 – Rowan’s transition from estate agent to full-time content creator18:30 – Why estate agents should think beyond just selling houses25:15 – Is self-employment the answer to agent burnout?32:00 – How personal brand builds opportunities beyond agency40:00 – Advice for estate agents looking to transition into new career paths 🏆 Agents & Industry Experts Shouted Out in ThisEpisode:🚀 Sophie Lang – Independent Estate Agent (Cornwall)→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cornwall-property-professional/📢 Suzanne Smith – The Independent Landlord Blog →https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannesmithblogger/🔥 David Pratt – The Avenue (Wallingford) → https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pratt-b6866755/Know someone making waves in theindustry? Drop their name in the comments! 👇 🎟️ Thinking About a Career Shift? Don’t Miss ThisEpisode!✅ If you’re an estate agent wondering what’s next, this episode is a must-listen.✅ Whether you want more flexibility, higher income, or just a new challenge—there are options beyond the high street. 📌 Want More No-Nonsense Industry Talk?📺 Watch now & subscribe for more insider insights!💬 What’s YOUR take?Drop your thoughts below & let’sdiscuss! 👇#EstateAgency #PassTheSyrup#SelfEmployedAgents #PropertyCareers #EstateAgents #PropertyConsultancy#DigitalMarketing
Transcribe →The Truth About Women in Estate Agency – What Needs to Change?
Feb 19, 202500:41:57Tap to summarize🚀 Welcome back to Pass the Syrup!Today, we’re diving deep into the reality of being a woman in estate agency todaywith an all-star lineup: 🎙️ Host:Ben Madden – Estate agency disruptor & industrycommentator🎤 Guests:Liana Loporto-Brown (Founder, Woman in Estate Agency & Loporto Brown Residential)Verona Frankish (CEP, YPOA-One of the UK's leading hybrid agencies)Kirsty Franks (Director, Frank Marketing - Specialist in property & estate agency branding)✅ What We Cover in This Episode:Why Woman in Estate Agency Exists - The real person behind it CreationThe Confidence Gap - Why female agents hesitate to push promotionsIndustry Bias & Barriers - The challengers that still hold women back in estate agencyHow Men in Agency Can Support Equality - Without making it an 'us vs. them' debateWhy the Woman in Estate Agency conference is Unmissable - What makes it different from other industry events⏰ Timestamps – Find What You Need Quickly:0:00 – Welcome to Episode Two!2:30 – Why Women in Estate Agency was founded6:45 – What challenges do female agents still face?12:10 – How the Facebook group supports agents with real challenges18:45 – Why confidence is still a major barrier for women in agency25:20 – The role of men in supporting equality in estate agency32:30 – Why every agent should attend the Women in Estate Agency Conference40:00 – Our top advice for launching an estate agency today🔥 Standout Agents & Industry Leaders Mentioned inThis Episode🚀 Gillian Fleming – YOPA (Dundee & Angus)📢 Holly Price – eXp (York) 🔥 Alistair Trivett – Heywoods (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)🌟 Vicki Bibiris – Location Location 🏡 Ann Dekkers – Lettings SpecialistKnow someone who deserves a shoutout?Drop their name in the comments! 👇🎟️ Women in Estate Agency Conference – 6th March📍 The must-attend event for agents who care aboutdiversity, leadership, and industry change.✔ Inspiring speakers from across the property world.✔ Real talk, no corporate fluff—just valuable insights anddiscussions.✔ For men and women—because this affects the whole industry. 📌 Want More Real Industry Talk?📺 Watch now & subscribe for more insider insights!💬 Your Turn – Let’s Discuss: What's YOUR take on Women in Estate Agency?Do you think estate agency is finally changing, or is there still along way to go?Do you think estate agency is finally changing, or is there a long way to go?Drop a comment below & let's get the conversation started#EstateAgency #PassTheSyrup#WomenInEstateAgency #UKProperty #RealEstateMarketing #EstateAgents#IndustryTrends
Transcribe →Estate Agents Are Doing It Wrong! | Pass the Syrup Podcast S2E1
Feb 12, 202500:42:15Tap to summarize🚀 Welcome to Series Two of Pass the Syrup! In this episode, we break down:✅ The TRUTH about Rightmove’s 2024 predictions✅ Why Boxing Day property launches might be a scam✅ The state of conveyancing & why it’s failing estate agents✅ How estate agents should actually be using social media⏰ **Timestamps:**0:00 – Welcome to Series Two!2:30 – Is Rightmove’s data reliable?4:15 – The Boxing Day Listings Scam8:30 – Conveyancing: Why It’s Broken12:50 – Self-Employed Agents: The Harsh Truth14:45 – Why Estate Agents Need Social Media20:00 – Best Advice If You’re Starting Out 💡 **SUBSCRIBE for more estate agency insights!**👉 [Your Subscription Link]🎙 **Listen to Pass the Syrup on Spotify & Apple Podcasts:** 🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xyNfK5pK2GzSJbulmFqfQ?si=cVpL4IqsRsWRWfoEVFwXxg📲 **Follow on Social Media:**Instagram: @ThatBenMaddenLinkedIn: Ben Madden | LinkedInAgentsMentioned in the Episode:🚀 James White – Belong Estate Agents → @BelongEstateAgents📢 Steve Green – Simply Green Estate Agents → @SimplyGreenEstateAgents🔥 Mia Evans – The Agency UK → @mia.evans.estate.agency
Transcribe →Do agents need to learn to value or learn not to overvalue?
Mar 15, 202400:42:13Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode guests discuss the number of agents that still have no issue overvaluing homes, letting properties sit on the market for extended periods of time, and apparently, outright refusing to educate their clients on where correct pricing sits. Guests also discuss the pressure being felt by landlords affected by higher interest rates, as well as the leasehold costs doubling scandal, which is forcing many to sell. Digging deeper into this issue, guests discuss who is the buyer of a property that offers such poor terms, with Ben sighting one case of a leasehold property in Middlesex, West London, charging £1,000 per month as a service charge with very little offered in return. Finally, guests have a decent rant about would be buyers and their practices, and how most would be better served walking their local high street and registering with the best agents in town, dressed, of course, in their Sunday best. Ben is joined by Adam Mackay of Mackay Property Group, Sharron Kaur of Golden Acre Estates & Enzo Giardina of Via Properties Link to watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kYIeq2sHX_0 Follow Agents MVMT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agentsmvmt/
Transcribe →A wolf dressed in Sheep’s clothing, is it time for agents to start calling out Asset Managers?
Mar 10, 202400:41:22Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode guests discuss the obscene terms asset managers are trying to force on agents via their contracts, with Neil Robinson questioning why any agent in their right mind would agree to such terms. Guests also discuss a recent social post that had caused some confusion within the world of agency, specifically about where the law comes in, where the Ombudsman sits, and everything in between. Finally, this episode sees a decent dose of current market ‘chat’ as well as some predictions about the Spring Budget, due to it having been filmed last week - in true agency style, nobody anticipated the underwhelming performance from Mr Hunt. Ben is joined by Rowan Waller of College and County, Ed Taylor of Fine and Country & Neil Robinson of Neil Robinson Estate Agents Link to watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZYnY-HDVTH0 Follow Agents MVMT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agentsmvmt/
Transcribe →Buyer doctors surveyor report to down value property valuation by £150,000
Feb 29, 202400:57:31Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode guests discuss the extreme measures some people will go to gain a reduction on the price of the property they want to buy, with Jonathan Handford telling the story of a buyer that doctored a survey to the tune of £150,000, in a bid to gain a reduction on the purchase price. Steph Walker raises questions over the future direction of agency fees in the UK, pointing to the recent lawsuit in the USA, relating to fees and buyer representation. What could the UK learn from the American model of operation, and where could we increase our fees. Finally, Wendy Peterman discusses the lack of gratitude and respect, not just sweeping through agency, but it would seem society. The guests talk about their own experiences, and how best to handle, or perhaps how they would like to handle, some of the circumstances they have found themselves in. Ben is joined by Jonathan Handford of Fine & Country, Wendy Peterman of Petermans & Steph Walker of The Agency UK Link to watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZYnY-HDVTH0 Follow Agents MVMT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agentsmvmt/
Transcribe →Does the UK really have the best agents in the world?
Feb 23, 202400:56:40Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode guests discuss the varying degrees in quality of estate agency across the UK, compared with North America and Australia, as part of a wider conversation about coaching and training. The group has differing opinions on who agents could and should be listening to in order to learn, with some preferring home-grown talent and hearing from their peers, whilst others lean towards internationally recognised coaches such as Tom Ferry or Josh Phegan for their inspiration. Guests also talk about the apparent relentless selling and pitching they experience on LinkedIn and just how poor the delivery is, and finally, the R word, which made its first appearance in the media for some time, last week. Does the recession, in its current form and at such a low level, bear worrying about? Ben is joined by SJ Taylor from Preston Baker, Angi Cooney of C-Residential & Chris Buckler of The Estate Agency Follow Agents MVMT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agentsmvmt/
Transcribe →High Stakes, High Stress: It’s Time Men Started Talking About Their Mental Health
Feb 19, 202400:47:32Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode guests discuss The Boys Club, a new men’s mental health initiative launching on Wednesday 21st February. It’s widely agreed that men struggle to discuss their own mental health, and this is very likely a key reason that over three quarters of all suicides are male, as well as being biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK. The Boys Club will meet online once a month, via zoom, allowing attendees to mask their identity, should they wish to, or present themselves in any way they would prefer. During the first meeting attendees will hear from Reece Maddick, an award-winning agent from West Yorkshire who suffered with his own mental health in 2023, and has agreed to discuss his journey, in a bid to help others. Should you wish to take part in the inaugural meeting, please contact Ben directly and he will provide all details for attending. The meeting will take place at 7pm on 21st February, and is anticipated to last an hour. The guests also discuss the importance of a quality recruitment process to attract the right candidate for your business, as well as understanding your existing team, in order to best support them and ensure their success. Finally, the subject of digital media, and in particular, social media, are raised as areas with huge opportunity to win more business, as well as providing a fantastic platform learn the best agency practices in an ever-changing industry. As always, stories are shared, and Chris Watkins make his regular appearance. Ben is joined by Sophie Lang of Lang Llewellyn & Co and Alex Tan of Andrews
Transcribe →Why would an agent need an A level to do their job?
Feb 16, 202400:48:01Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode guests discuss the recent political point scoring exercise from shadow housing minister Matthew Pennycock, in which he explained that he would prohibit anyone from working as an agent without at least one A-Level, and that business owners and managers should be qualified to degree level. Guests also talk in detail about the current position of the market and the potential gap between buyer and seller expectations, based on the year beginning with such optimism. What could, and should, agents do to educate all parties and bridge the gap in order to successfully service their clients. Finally, can an agent operate across both sales and lettings, in this age of ever-increasing compliance? For many, it may well be essential, as the new self-employed model of agency continues to grow. Ben is joined by Liana Loporto Browne of Loporto Browne Residential, Kesha Foss-Smith of John D Wood and Jen Jamieson of Fine & Country
Transcribe →The High Street is dead, long live the High Street
Jan 31, 202401:01:15Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode guests discuss the changing landscape of Britain’s High Streets, and what the future of estate agency could be. How much longer will the local independent agent dominate the High Street for, will the corporates reduce their branch footprint and revert to hub models, and what part does the hybrid self-employed agent play? Guests also chew the fat over the extreme nature of agents and their views on the market, and whether their time may be better spent focusing on improvement and better servicing their clients, as opposed to worrying about house prices. Finally, in a Pass the Syrup first, commercial agent Paul Ratner sheds some light on commercial agency and the major differences with residential – very interesting indeed. As always, funny stories are shared and Chris Watkins make his regular appearance. Ben is joined by Clare Hughes of eXp UK, Spencer Lawrence of Paramount Properties & Paul Ratner of Ratner Capital.
Transcribe →