Even worse, misleading headlines forecasting a dramatic rise in the property market are damaging the credibility of the profession whilst undermining the confidence of good agents who are working incredibly hard but failing to see the same results in their business. We've been trying to raise the alarm for several months, but it appears no-one is listening (check out this FT article here).
And here's the main concern – the property market – and the people working within it – are already at breaking point. Their very mental wellbeing is at stake as they brace themselves for what is likely to be a very challenging year ahead.
What Are The Main Pain Points?
Simply put, here's the challenges agents are facing as we enter 2025:
Look, the easy days of the property market are over and the strategy of "hopium" – hoping that interest rates fall to stimulate the market – just isn't going to work for all the reasons we've already covered. The smart thing to do is protect your business against the strong headwinds that are unfolding and work towards a better way of doing things.
And here's the main concern – the property market – and the people working within it – are already at breaking point. Their very mental wellbeing is at stake as they brace themselves for what is likely to be a very challenging year ahead.
What Are The Main Pain Points?
Simply put, here's the challenges agents are facing as we enter 2025:
- Rising Costs: Platforms like Rightmove are charging 10X more than they did in 2006 while delivering essentially the same service. Worse still, independent agents are paying more than corporates - helping to prop up Rightmove's outrageous profit margins of 74%!
- Inefficient Sales Processes: Transaction times have ballooned from 6-8 weeks to now over 20 weeks. Delays in getting to completion costs time, money, and even the very deal itself. An average of one-in-three sales still falls through and we think that's unforgiveable in 2025!
- Lack of Control: Agents are forced to rely on multiple disconnected (software) systems whilst also wasting hours every week chasing updates in an attempt to try and manage their property transactions.
- Increased Stress Levels: Estate agents and other property professionals have some of the highest stress levels of all professions, yet often feel totally undervalued and underappreciated for the vital work they do.
- Lack of Trust: The 2023 Voracity Index ranked estate agency as one of the least trusted professions in the country and the ranking for the profession is getting worse year-on-year. Not many realise this provides an almost insurmountable barrier to being able to increase their fees and win high-quality listings.
- Falling Transaction Volumes: As our recent article in the Financial Times highlights, transaction volumes have fallen hugely since interest rates increased throughout 2023. It's taking time for the full effects of this to be felt across the industry, but it's worth noting that 2023 was a worse year for selling homes than 2008. The common misconception is that there's around one million homes sold every year, but that's only been true for one year since 2008 (2021).
- Falling Consumer Confidence: Many agents know that the main driving force behind most property sales is confidence in the economy and job stability, yet it seems increasingly likely the UK economy is now in recession. And with AI on the scene, it appears job security will be a thing of the past. All this impacts a buyer's confidence in moving home and taking on a new mortgage. Confidence which diminishes in a recession and gets worse the longer things go on for.
We could go on, but you get the point. Costly portals, delayed sales, and inefficient tools & processes are draining profits and causing estate agents a lot of stress. And after a record-breaking year in 2021, many agents are expecting a fall in interest rates to stimulate the market again. Unfortunately, the dark days of yesteryear are long-forgotten when properties could sit on the market unsold for years! Is it possible the same circumstances could unfold again? Absolutely and with falling consumer confidence, it seems like it could unfold sooner rather than later.
What's The Solution?
If there's one problem in the property world right now, it's that agents are absolutely sick to death of false promises from the latest "game-changing" all-singing-all-dancing technology that's been built to solve just a tiny part of the problem but actually doesn't resolve some of the fundamental issues they face. Or worse, something comes along like Boomin – backed by millions and promising the earth yet failing spectacularly to deliver – which erodes trust even more.
If there's one problem in the property world right now, it's that agents are absolutely sick to death of false promises from the latest "game-changing" all-singing-all-dancing technology that's been built to solve just a tiny part of the problem but actually doesn't resolve some of the fundamental issues they face. Or worse, something comes along like Boomin – backed by millions and promising the earth yet failing spectacularly to deliver – which erodes trust even more.
But what if there was a better way?
One that's been carefully crafted over a number of years to bring you not just one, but many solutions at once? And all perfectly designed to support agents in the toughest market they've faced in decades?
One which not only reduces their costs, but also helps them promote their business, increase client trust, foster reliable and consistent communication and builds bridges between many property professionals who are currently operating as insular islands? And one that's backed by property professionals with decades of experience across multiple professions, all aimed at one task – making property sales fast again!
You see, when we set out to build WiggyWam, we really didn't want to build just another portal. It had to be something radically different and one which would help our estate agent clients stand out from the rest. In doing so, we took every problem estate agent's face – low fees, increased competition, lack of trust, a disjointed sales process, changes to material information, poor-quality conveyancing, falling transaction volumes and the multitude of other possible solutions that agents could employ in their business.
The result is WiggyWam - the property platform built for estate agents – not against them. And whilst that's an easy claim to make, here's what makes WiggyWam different:
One that's been carefully crafted over a number of years to bring you not just one, but many solutions at once? And all perfectly designed to support agents in the toughest market they've faced in decades?
One which not only reduces their costs, but also helps them promote their business, increase client trust, foster reliable and consistent communication and builds bridges between many property professionals who are currently operating as insular islands? And one that's backed by property professionals with decades of experience across multiple professions, all aimed at one task – making property sales fast again!
You see, when we set out to build WiggyWam, we really didn't want to build just another portal. It had to be something radically different and one which would help our estate agent clients stand out from the rest. In doing so, we took every problem estate agent's face – low fees, increased competition, lack of trust, a disjointed sales process, changes to material information, poor-quality conveyancing, falling transaction volumes and the multitude of other possible solutions that agents could employ in their business.
The result is WiggyWam - the property platform built for estate agents – not against them. And whilst that's an easy claim to make, here's what makes WiggyWam different:
- Unlimited Property Listings: No costly per-listing fees. List as many properties as you need without worrying about escalating costs.
- Private Property Workspaces: Coordinate the whole process between different professionals effortlessly; from listing to completion – it's all in one place - saving you and your team hours every week.
- Learning Centre and Tools for Success: Access strategies, training, and resources that help you win more listings and sell more homes, faster, whilst also brining transparency to the process so your client knows what to expect along the way, without you having to endlessly repeat yourself.
- Marketplace: Advertise your business to interested parties or find those who need your services – all at no extra cost.
- Social Media Profile: Build your local business referral community and become the go-to agent in your local area.
- Material Information Compliance: Keep on the right side of the law with comprehensive material information compliance.
- Access to Datarooms: All documents related to the sale of a property stored in one place. Provide access to solicitors, buyers, sellers and others to speed up the transaction.
- Digital TA Forms: Super fast online completion of seller's information.
- Affiliate Program: Get paid to refer other agents. Instead of spending our money on expensive advertising, WiggyWam rewards YOU for helping us to grow.
WiggyWam doesn't just help you survive – it helps you thrive by saving time, reducing costs, and speeding up your completions.
But at the end of the day, we know that talk is cheap, and the proof of the pudding is in the eating. That's why it's important for you to start getting results from any new system you buy into, so its also why we've decided to offer an incredible 90-day free trial to help you experience the benefits risk-free.
Why Act Now?
Look, the easy days of the property market are over and the strategy of "hopium" – hoping that interest rates fall to stimulate the market – just isn't going to work for all the reasons we've already covered. The smart thing to do is protect your business against the strong headwinds that are unfolding and work towards a better way of doing things.
Register now for your 90 Days FREE Trial. Please use the following discount code on checkout:
WWzG459oP11789