Nothing says balance like securing a major distributor deal and a floating **** in a week.
Monday – Holiday Efficiency Mode
The week began with the realisation that I was heading away for ten days on Saturday. There’s nothing quite like the looming threat of a family holiday to supercharge efficiency. Admin was flying (excuse the pun), we explored new auction opportunities for Fine & Country, particularly relevant for some of the properties we handle, they’re often in an asset-rich but cash-poor position. Digital Sparks had a great call with one of the UK’s major compliance suppliers about bringing their marketing to life through video. Add in some prep for my own studio day (a rarity), and it was a solid start.
Tuesday – Studio Lock-In
I started the day with back-to-back F45 sessions, each one partnered with a world championship athlete. It was brilliant, but not the sort of warm-up you’d usually recommend before a long day of filming. Then it was into the studio, something I rarely allow myself a full day for, to film a new batch of content for The Property Spark, our Instagram education channel. The current series is “30 things I learned selling £1bn of property in 10 years”. Next up will be a series focused on digital marketing. We also filmed some more light-hearted pieces, which felt truer to the fun and energy we bring to shoots.
Wednesday – Donuts & Data
Midweek started with a review of the new content. We’d tried outdoor shots and a lighter tone, and even the British weather played along. At the Fine & Country International breakfast meeting, which I attend as National Advisory Council Chair, it was fascinating to hear how August behaves so differently across the world: London slows to a crawl, while the south of France and Spain are booming. Meanwhile, we decided to send donuts to our Digital Sparks clients as a thank-you. Of course, three didn’t arrive, service levels being what they are. Then came the news that one of our newest non-property clients had collapsed, with the business partners falling out just as we were about to launch their content. All the work done, no fee incoming. The joys of business. Thankfully, the day ended on a high: Digital Sparks secured a distributor partnership, our Chiswick office was confirmed as No.1 for £1m+ conversions, and most importantly, I was rugby-tackled at the airport by my three daughters as they returned from visiting their grandad.
Thursday – Pre-Holiday Shuffle
Thursday was the inevitable pre-holiday admin blitz. Accounts signed off, tax sorted, projects approved, and strategy calls crammed in before disappearing for ten days. The glamorous life of entrepreneurship is often less about champagne and more about spreadsheets, signatures, and Zooms.
Friday – Best Six Months Yet
Friday took me to Fine & Country HQ for a full training day and a review of Q2. It’s officially our best six months yet, which is exactly where we should be after six years of building. We also celebrated the exchange of a shaky Chiswick chain that had been teetering for weeks. The day wrapped with a team dinner in London – a reminder once again that service is increasingly optional in the capital. High prices, low standards, and still packed restaurants.
Saturday – Ants, Fuses & Complaints
Holiday day. The girls are finally at an age where flying isn’t chaos, which is progress. But the relief didn’t last long. We walked into our hotel room to find ants streaming through an exposed plug socket, and the fuse board wide open. Not ideal when you’ve got a three year old in tow. The first complaint was ignored, but the second, slightly less polite, was taken seriously, and suddenly we were upgraded to a much better room. Which does make you wonder why they didn’t just do that in the first place.
Sunday – Pools, Parents & Perspective
The first full day abroad should have been all about the pool and slides, and for the kids it was. For me, it was a tougher one. My dad’s memory played up again, he got lost between the bar and the restaurant, ended up eating alone while I scoured the hotel trying to find him. It’s a hard thing to see, and it puts all the other noise into perspective. Still, as if to lighten the mood, the afternoon brought a different sort of drama. The pool was shut early because someone had decided to do a **** in it, I just hope it was a child. Family holidays: all about the memories.
Same time next week. Probably (definitely) after bedtime.
Read the orginal article: https://propertyindustryeye.com/confessions-of-an-estate-agent-week-2/
