BOPP Solihull · Business ownership & property
A Room Full of Doers. An Industry I Still Love.
An honest conversation about the property market, the reality of building an estate agency and why I still love the industry.
A room full of doers
On 4 November, I had the pleasure of joining the Business Owners Property Panel (BOPP) in Solihull as a guest expert. Sharing the stage with John Howard was a real privilege. Just as enjoyable was being in a room full of property investors, developers and business owners who aren't simply talking about property — they're out there doing it.
I was asked to give my view of the property market, drawing on years spent building an estate agency, working with homeowners and investors, and experiencing property development firsthand. I decided to be open, honest and transparent. Not to talk the market up, but to explain what I believe is happening on the ground.
The market isn't broken. Expectations are.
For years, exceptionally cheap borrowing helped underpin property prices and confidence. Buyers, homeowners and investors became accustomed to mortgage rates around 1% and 2%. Today's borrowing environment is very different, yet some asking prices still reflect yesterday's assumptions.
I shared examples of properties whose asking prices had been reduced significantly. A reduction in an asking price is not always a fall in market value. Sometimes it is the correction of an unrealistic starting point.
Good homes still sell and good investments still exist. But affordability matters. Pricing matters. Presentation matters. And agents have a responsibility to give evidence-based advice, even when that advice is uncomfortable.
The business behind the experience
I also spoke about founding DM & Co. Homes in 2013 and the journey of building an established independent estate agency in a highly competitive market. I stepped back from the Managing Director role in November 2025.
I'm proud of the business we built and of the people who helped build it. But the journey was never simply about the outward signs of success. There were challenging markets, difficult decisions, personal sacrifices and lessons that no textbook could teach.
Success is measured in many different ways. Some people assume stepping back means selling a business. Others assume a growing business automatically makes its founder wealthy. Those who have owned an agency know the reality: the responsibility, the pressure and the persistence it takes to keep moving forward.
The feedback that stayed with me
Afterwards, several attendees spoke to me about something other than market forecasts or business performance. They commented on my passion for estate agency.
“The industry needs more agents like you. It would be a shame if the industry lost you.”
That was a lovely thing to hear. I don't share it as a compliment to myself, but because it reminded me why I started. I still love the entrepreneurial energy of agency, the people, the negotiation and the chance to make a difference. I also believe the industry can do better.
Lived it. Loved it. Loathed it. Learned from it.
Those words capture my experience. I've enjoyed the successes, learned from mistakes and lived through the frustrations that come with running an agency.
Stepping back from day-to-day management has given me perspective — and the opportunity to put those lessons to work for other owners.
Through my estate agency consultancy, I help independent agency owners look closely at their businesses: pricing and fees, conversion, profitability, accountability, leadership and ultimately the freedom their businesses should create for them.
Not every agency needs another branch, another hire or more turnover. Sometimes it needs a clearer plan, better decisions and someone willing to ask the difficult questions.
Thank you, BOPP
Thank you to the BOPP team for the invitation, to John Howard for sharing the stage, and to everyone who attended, questioned and contributed. It was a pleasure to spend time with a room full of doers.
And to the lady who made that comment: thank you. I haven't finished with estate agency just yet.
Could your agency benefit from an outside perspective?
I work with independent agency owners to identify opportunities, challenge assumptions and develop practical plans for stronger, more profitable and more resilient businesses.