Sometimes, in the estate agency world, it can feel like we’re all pulling in different directions – but every now and again, something happens that reminds us just how powerful we can be when we come together.
That’s exactly what we saw recently in the run-up to the stamp duty deadline – estate agents, mortgage brokers, conveyancers, and solicitors across the country pulling together in an unprecedented way.
It wasn’t just about transactions – we were on a mission to beat the clock. And despite the government’s refusal to extend the deadline – something many of us argued for – we got the job done.
Across Spicerhaart’s national network alone, we completed thousands of deals in that final push. Our figures showed a remarkable 54% increase on exchanges in March compared to the same period last year – an incredible testament to the determination and grit of our teams.
When you extrapolate that across the industry, the impact was huge. I’ve spoken to our team at Just Mortgages, part of Spicerhaart, and they confirmed a significant uptick in mortgage completions – the ripple effect of this united effort was felt far and wide.
There’s no doubt that many people burned the midnight oil to make sure buyers could complete on time. Considering how archaic some of our systems are, this level of coordination was nothing short of heroic! Just imagine if our processes were fully digitised the way they should be, think how many more transactions we could have completed. How many more buyers could have avoided missing out?
Even with deals that couldn’t quite get over the line in time, we’re not yet seeing buyers and sellers pulling out. That speaks volumes.
Our industry doesn’t always get the best press. We’re often seen as the villains, not the heroes. But this was a moment where we showed what we’re really made of – making things happen when it really counts.
Yes, the government should have done more. Yes, the deadline could and should have been extended. But we rolled up our sleeves and got on with the job.
To every agent who worked late, every conveyancer who went the extra mile, every mortgage broker who chased down approvals – I salute you. This was a team effort of epic proportions.
Let’s bottle that spirit. Because if we can collaborate like this under pressure, just imagine what we can achieve when we’re not racing the clock.
Paul Smith is founder and chairman of Spicerhaart.
“Let’s bottle that spirit. Because if we can collaborate like this under pressure, just imagine what we can achieve when we’re not racing the clock.” Hear, hear Paul.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Most established EA’s have seen an increase year on year as well……yawn
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register