Starting your own estate agency with Chris Webb

Getting started in Self-Employed Estate Agency: Insights from Chris Webb

Introduction

In our latest podcast episode, we were joined by Chris Webb, a thriving coach in the estate agency world and the author of ‘How To Grow Your Estate Agency: Essential Strategies For Building Your High-Performance Estate Agency‘. Chris shared invaluable insights for self-employed agents, covering common mistakes, marketing strategies, and the importance of mentorship. If you’re considering starting your own estate agency business or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with actionable advice.

The Biggest Mistakes New Agents Make

Chris highlighted a crucial mistake: underestimating the business side of estate agency. Many new agents assume being great in the living room with clients is enough. However, estate agency is as much a sales and marketing business as it is about property transactions.

To succeed, agents must:
Master marketing – Get their name out there and generate leads.
Stay consistent – Avoid the trap of easing off marketing too soon.
Balance their time – In the early days, most of their time should be spent on lead generation.

How can you get support for your business?


Building a Strong Foundation Before You Start

Before taking the leap, agents should:
📌 Research the competition – Understand what other agents offer, their strengths, and weaknesses.
📌 Plan ahead – Have a clear business plan, including a marketing strategy and financial projections.
📌 Develop a personal brand – Since clients recall only a handful of agents, standing out is key.

Chris emphasised that success isn’t just about industry experience. Some of the highest-earning agents are those without prior estate agency experience because they aren’t limited by traditional industry pricing models.


The Role of Coaching & Mentorship

Chris stressed the importance of continuous learning. Even with years of experience, he still works with a business coach. Why? Because having someone hold you accountable can be the difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it.

A great coach provides:
🔹 Accountability – Helping agents stay on track.
🔹 Perspective – Offering an outside view on business challenges.
🔹 Support – Estate agency can be a rollercoaster, and having a mentor can help navigate tough times.

How to Stand Out in a Competitive Market

Chris advises agents to focus on omnipresent marketing – being visible everywhere their potential clients are.

✅ Use multiple channels: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, direct mail, emails, YouTube, and more.
✅ Show up consistently to build brand recognition.
✅ Leverage social proof through testimonials and case studies.


Final Thoughts & Where to Find Chris Webb

Chris has built a successful coaching business by applying these principles himself. He advises agents to focus on what they can control, keep marketing efforts consistent, and seek mentorship to accelerate growth.

If you’d like to learn more from Chris, you can find him on:
🔗 LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and his podcast. Search for The Estate Agency Consultancy to connect.

Find his website here

Interested in starting your own business in estate agency?

With iad You are in control of your own time and can develop your business as you wish and at your own pace. You are free to create your own work/life balance. 

Being an iad property consultant means you can lead your own business with the support of a full network of other agents and a full support team: accompanying, guiding and advising on all things property.

Interested in finding out about how you can start your own business with our support?