Send us Fan Mail

In part three of Open the Gates to More Listings meets The Complete Agent, Simon Gates, James Kendall, Dave Warburton and Ian Storey unpack the journey from low-fee, high-volume estate agency to consistently commanding 2% plus fees, five-figure commissions and upfront payments.

The episode explores the mindset shift required to move away from “cheap and cheerful” agency towards a premium, value-led model. The discussion highlights that higher fees are not just about confidence, but about building a brand, service, and client experience that justifies them.

Key themes include learning from better operators, surrounding yourself with higher-performing agents, improving marketing quality, and creating a consistent, high-end client journey from the first phone call through to completion. They also break down how to present value properly, how to position upfront fees as a commitment rather than a cost, and why better service naturally leads to better instructions.

The overall message is clear. You do not jump to premium fees overnight, but with the right belief, structure, and delivery, any agent can move upmarket and charge what they are truly worth.

Send us Fan Mail

In part two of Open the Gates to More Listings meets The Complete Agent, Simon Gates, James Kendall, Dave Warburton and Ian Storey break down how estate agents can use direct mail properly to win better instructions, higher fees and more trust with homeowners.

The episode explores why direct mail still works, especially at the mid to higher end of the market, and why the quality of the envelope, handwriting, paper, content and consistency all shape how an agent is perceived before the homeowner ever picks up the phone.

The conversation covers quarterly market updates, on-market letters, withdrawn property campaigns, VIP buyer letters, and why direct mail should educate rather than simply advertise. The key message is that prospecting works best when it feels like a service, not a sales pitch.

They also discuss how direct mail links with social media, why older high-end homeowners often respond better to print, and how agents can use handwritten, highly targeted communication to separate themselves from generic leaflet drops and AI-generated content.

Send us Fan Mail

Full video live on YouTube and Spotify.

In this episode, Simon Gates is joined by James Kendall, Dave Warburton and Ian Storey to break down exactly how estate agents can transition from low fee, high volume business into the mid to higher end of the market.

The conversation centres around a core principle most agents struggle to commit to: selectivity. Rather than taking on everything, the panel explains how deliberately turning away lower quality stock early on helps shape brand perception and attract higher value homes.

They explore the reality of starting out, including the pressure of cash flow, the role of confidence, and why many agents fail because they try to “ease into” the higher end rather than fully committing to it.

A major theme throughout is how you look as a business. From branding and websites through to brochures, boards and even business cards, the discussion highlights how perception drives instruction at the top end of the market. Poor alignment between marketing quality and target client will immediately undermine credibility.

The group also dives into:

* Why branding often needs a full reset, not a tweak

* The importance of consistency across every listing and touchpoint

* How better quality marketing directly influences the type of client you attract

* Why most agents’ marketing strategies last weeks, not months, despite properties sitting on the market for far longer

* How to generate higher-end listings through direct mail, social media, and on-market prospecting

* The opportunity sitting in unsold, overpriced stock

* Why price, not marketing, is often the real issue when properties don’t sell

* And ultimately, why you are the USP, not just your marketing

The episode finishes with a clear message: breaking into the mid to higher end isn’t about one tactic. It’s about clarity of brand, consistency of execution, and the discipline to do the basics better than everyone else.