Sam and Phil reflect on Ashdown Jones’ Q2 2025 and look ahead as Q3 approaches. Find out why regular reflection shapes performance, and why you should prioritise planning, even during quieter market periods.

Hear about the current market challenges, staffing adjustments, revenue targets, and the value of direct mail. Explore property sales trends, fee averages, and the impact of lost instructions, highlighting how estate agents can adapt to fluctuations and setbacks.

There are six strategic thinking questions AJ uses in their review which has been a useful tool for agency growth and clarity, finds out what they are as well as getting insights into new revenue streams, recruitment, and how to sharpen operational focus to maintain momentum.

Quarterly reviews and goal-setting contribute to transparency, team alignment, and measurable results, so listen out for strategies to navigate tough quarters and keep your team engaged.

Some key takeaways:

➡️ Quarterly reviews and transparent planning help your agency handle changing markets and team challenges.

➡️ Tracking KPIs, like valuations, listings, and revenue gives estate agency owners the tools to adjust quickly.

➡️ Streamlining operations and exploring new revenue streams supports consistency and growth.

Some great moments:

✅ "If you're listening to this and you never do reviews, then this is probably the bit that you need to listen to because I think they're really important to review and plan."

✅ "When revenue is good, that's when most people don't look at costs. They take their eye off the ball."

✅ "Every time we come to planning, we're like, well, we could do this or this or this or we can just buy properties."

Want to grow your agency with confidence?

Book a free strategy call with Sam
Get clear on what’s holding your agency back — and what to do about it.
https://www.samashdown.co.uk/call

Catch up on more episodes of Ignite Your Estate Agency
Smart, straight-talking strategies from the front line.
https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure
Call 015394 40892 or email emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Join our private Facebook group
Connect with growth-minded agency owners like you.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Have a question?
Email Sam: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk
Email Phil: phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Don’t miss our next live event
Find out what’s coming up:
https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events

Are you using AI to help write property descriptions? Find out why you should be! Replace traditional property description clichés with a story-led approach to help your agency stand out from the crowd.

Using the right prompts can give you more time to focus on growth while maintaining the quality vendors expect, especially in the high-value home market. Sam shares tips for building effective AI prompts to produce copy in your own style of writing.

Whatever your AI platform of choice, you can streamline your workflow just by following Sam’s advice.

Read the BLOG POST that Sam wrote about this topic

Get hold of Sam’s 5 ESSENTIAL AI PROMPTS

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Key takeaways:

➡️ AI can reduce your copywriting workload but needs precise prompts to work effectively.

➡️ Evocative, story-led property descriptions attract both vendors and buyers and set your agency apart.

➡️ Estate agency coaches and mastermind communities provide proven growth strategies and support.

Notable moments:

✅ “Great property descriptions are more than room lists, they’re about painting a picture of life in the home.”

✅ “The results you get from AI are only as good as the instructions you give it.”

✅ “A great description not only brings in buyers but also shows the vendor how well you understand their home.”

Blog post: https://www.samashdown.co.uk/ai-property-descriptions/

5 Essential AI Prompts You Need in Your Agency, and How to Use Them! :

https://ajmastermind.co.uk/5-ai-prompts-video-series-free-access

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

In this episode, we discuss building an overseas team for your estate agency. Georges Verdis joins Sam to talk about digital assistants, especially those based in the Philippines, and how they can support agency operations while managing costs.

Sam and Georges share their journey of hiring virtual (or digital) team members, with a transparent look at salary structures, recruitment sources, and integrating remote professionals into a UK-based team. The episode takes you through the process of recruiting, training, and managing overseas staff, highlighting the logistical details and mindset shifts required. Find out why clarity in role descriptions, cultural understanding, and ongoing coaching lead to better retention and productivity.

Georges also champions productivity tools like Asana and Slack, while discussing the impact of work culture on loyalty and motivation, and why offering a competitive salary in the local context can transform both your business and the lives of your remote team.

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ Remote recruitment can double agency output and sustain high standards while being cost-effective.

➡️ Transparent processes, cultural adaptation, and communication tools are vital for integrating an overseas team.

➡️ Estate agency growth often depends on coachable team members and leadership willing to implement new ideas.

Some great moments:

✅ “The digital team can literally run the office. The only thing they cannot do is let contractors in to pick up keys or do viewings.”

✅ “You cherry pick the best of the best of the best.”

✅ “Hiring your first digital assistant is exactly the same journey as hiring your first person in the UK. Countdown 5, 4, 3, 2,

Want to grow your agency with confidence?

Book a free strategy call with Sam
Get clear on what’s holding your agency back — and what to do about it.
https://www.samashdown.co.uk/call

Catch up on more episodes of Ignite Your Estate Agency
Smart, straight-talking strategies from the front line.
https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure
Call 015394 40892 or email emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Join our private Facebook group
Connect with growth-minded agency owners like you.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Have a question?
Email Sam: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk
Email Phil: phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Don’t miss our next live event
Find out what’s coming up:
https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events

Let’s examine the five languages of appreciation in the workplace and their direct impact on team culture and retention. Sam discusses how to recognise, motivate and support your staff using strategies backed by research and shaped by real-life experience.

With reference to her upcoming book, Sam talks about understanding what makes each team member feel valued - from words of affirmation to acts of service, and how that translates to improved productivity, loyalty and stronger team bonds.

Matching your appreciation style to the individual can reduce staff turnover, enhance morale, and lead to a more harmonious workplace environment.

The 5 Languages of Appreciation is based on ‘The Five Love Languages’ by Gary Chapman, which can be found on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Love-Languages-Secret-Lasts/dp/0802473156

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ Team members receive appreciation in different ways; understanding their preferences can lead to higher retention and engagement.
➡️ Performance reviews and open communication make a team feel valued and clarify roles in your estate agency.
➡️ Approaches like quality time, tangible gifts and appropriate physical touch need to be applied with care and awareness.

Some great moments:

✅ “You can only be as happy as your unhappiest team member… A happy team is a happy you.”
✅ “If you show your love and appreciation to them in the way that they prefer, it resonates much more clearly and deeply.”
✅ “What we're trying to do is help people be the best form of themselves they can possibly be. And that is going to take time and effort from you.”

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Here is part 2 of the AI for Agents webinar that Sam and Phil wanted to share with you! If you missed part 1, go and check out the previous episode.

This podcast will help you understand the difference between SEO and GEO (That’s Generative Engine Optimisation), find out why clear, extractable website text is now essential, how listings on third-party sites like Rightmove can influence AI recommendations and learn how to construct prompts that improve your visibility and reach.

Why is PR going to become even more valuable, how AI is changing search habits and which areas of your agency can you automate with AI integration tools?

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ AI is rapidly shifting the landscape for independent estate agency marketing and search visibility.

➡️ Getting your website and content AI-ready is now vital to capture new leads and referrals.

➡️ Third-party profiles, comparison pages, and clear, extractable text make a difference to how AI recommends your agency.

Some great moments:

✅ “At the moment AI is using our own website to feed back towards that information, but it's also using third party and it prefers third party websites.”

✅ “Language needs to be simple, straightforward and extractable...It doesn't go into videos... it's going to go to the most easily extractable text.”

✅ “Create comparison pages...you can put yourself at the top of that ranking and AI will take that as fact and then report that back to a searcher.”

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Recently Sam and Phil hosted a webinar called ‘AI for Agents - 5 Easy Ways to Use AI in Your Estate Agency TODAY’ and they wanted to share it with you on the podcast, so we’ve split it into two parts and you can listen to part 1 this week and part 2 next week.

You’ll hear practical examples of how to use AI for property descriptions, summarising complaints, market analysis, and automating everyday admin. Sam shares how AI helped structure an entire action plan for a client, while Phil highlights the impact of AI on consumer behaviour and how this could shift the way agencies are chosen.

Which AI tool should you choose? ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini? We take a look at the strengths and limitations of the most popular AI assistants and demonstrate how to craft better prompts, making AI outputs more human, and developing templates that save time for busy agency teams.

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ AI can streamline core business operations and free up time for agents to focus on higher-value tasks.

➡️ Prompt engineering is essential! How you ask determines the quality of AI output.

➡️ Keeping updated and open to new AI tools enables you to stay ahead in a changing industry.

Some great moments:

✅ “All the information that it's collated is available on the web, but AI has found it, amalgamated it and put it into a list form which, which would take hours or days.”

✅ “It’s the consumer’s attention that’s going towards AI, which is where your changes will need to be made.”

✅ “Treat it like a child, be very accurate in what you ask for. If it gives you the wrong answer, tell it what you need.”

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Sam and Phil tackle the ongoing challenge of hiring and recruitment, from feeling stretched too thin and hitting financial ceilings, to making key decisions about when and who to recruit to enable growth.

Many common business obstacles come back to recruitment but planning your agency’s structure ahead of time can also help break plateaus and prepare for long-term progress.

Why should you prioritise recruitment, even when time or finances feel tight, and how can you step back from frontline agency work to drive success?

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ Recruitment is often the answer when your estate agency hits a ceiling or the owner is overwhelmed.
➡️ Building a future-focused Org chart helps clarify hiring needs and unlock the next stage of business growth.
➡️ Investing time in recruitment—even when it feels impossible—prevents bottlenecks and prepares your agency for opportunity.

Some great moments:

✅ “As soon as you drop down to a level that is paid less than you want to take as a salary, you’re costing your business the opportunities that you would create otherwise.”
✅ “If you don’t have time to recruit, it’s because you didn’t recruit when you were supposed to recruit. The best time to recruit is right now.”
✅ “No successful business ever has one person bank access ever. That will definitely slow you down.”

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Pack your bags because we’re going on holiday with Phil! How do holidays shape your business growth, motivation, and agency operations? Regular breaks can impact your mindset, family dynamics, and agency performance.

Phil shares his holiday schedule and discusses the practicalities of balancing agency demands with time away. Sam and Phil reflect on how lifestyle goals, including travel, serve as drivers for income and business structure.

How can you have more freedom while delivering exceptional service and running your business to support your personal priorities, whether that’s travel or something else entirely?

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ Designing your agency around your personal goals is both possible and impactful.
➡️ Creating business systems allows owners to step away without sacrificing client service.
➡️ Motivation and agency progress can be fuelled by having clear lifestyle rewards in mind.

Some great moments:

✅ “What it allows me to do is go full speed for a period of time. And I'm sure there's people out there that can go full speed for the full year, but my head doesn't work like that.”
✅ “It gives me headspace and clarity. It gives me motivation to come back and earn money because I want more experiences like that.”
✅ “So what's important to me is lots of holidays and time in the family. I'm not interested in watches at all or anything like that.”

Want to grow your agency with confidence?

Book a free strategy call with Sam
Get clear on what’s holding your agency back — and what to do about it.
https://www.samashdown.co.uk/call

Catch up on more episodes of Ignite Your Estate Agency
Smart, straight-talking strategies from the front line.
https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure
Call 015394 40892 or email emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Join our private Facebook group
Connect with growth-minded agency owners like you.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Have a question?
Email Sam: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk
Email Phil: phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Don’t miss our next live event
Find out what’s coming up:
https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events