Property-Porn Stars

Here is everything you need to know about the premium property market in October 2026, a lot of change, and a lot to be aware of...

Is the premium market actually quiet, or not!? 

Lets find out. 

All stats courtesy of Simon Gates, as always. 

See you next month for another premium property market update! 

In this episode with Alison Noble, the MD of By Design in Northern Lincolnshire, we get into some fascinating topics; perhaps most controversially of all, succeeding in the premium property market with out experience...! You'll have to listen to find out more.

Plus, we cover:

- Bad experiences as a buyer that changed everything
- From litigation lawyer to financial services to premium property
- Stifled creativity in corporate life
- Why Alison switched careers into premium homes
- Netflix-style property videos and storytelling with purpose
- Vendors moved to...

Everything you need to know about the premium property market right now, in a few minutes...

A lot of this is worth sharing in conversation with homeowners, as well as considering for your own business, especially when taking on new listings. 

All stats are thanks to the man in the know, Simon Gates 🙏

In this episode, we sit down with Katie Solaru, MD of By Design in Cheshire's 'Golden Triangle', who stepped into the premium market around 6 months ago. We find out how she has grown so quickly, both in terms of market share, and team members, in such a short space of time. 

We cover: 
- Growing to a team of four partner agents in six months without ever setting out to recruit anyone
- A first market appraisal at £2.75m, off the back of one hand-written and hand-signed letter
- How margins match markets
- T...

Slightly longer than usual... but hopefully for good reason, there are some eye opening figures in this months market report which might be useful when in conversation with homeowners... 

So, here is everything you need to know about the premium property market in 5 minutes (🤥😂), thanks as always to the man in the know, Simon Gates for the stats. 

A link to his (very comprehensive) full report is here, if you wanted a deeper dive into the numbers as well https://bydesignhomes.com/blogs/uk-premium-property-market-update-july-2026

We speak to a lot of agents in the premium market here on the podcast, but often like to engage with those in closely related industries as there's lots that can be learned from their perspective on the same market. 

In this episode, Nicholas Illingworth of Abels shares his insights, from what is arguably the most 'premium' removals company in the UK. We get into: 

- The Royal Warrant, demystified

- How discretion is the product

- What "white glove" actually means

- The "too cheap to trust" story

Everything you need to know about whats going on in the premium property market right now, plus, a summary of what has happened so far in the first half of 2026. 

Stats supplied, as always, by the man in the know Simon Gates. 

Back next month with another update! 

Everything you need to know about the premium market in 4 minutes...

PLUS some good news (😮), the most important thing for premium agents to consider right now, and a dangerous foray into politics (Simon Gates sent me the stats 3 days ago, so I had to wing that bit 😂). 

Back next month with another market update 😁

PRIME CUT 2026 is here. In this special episode, David Lindley is joined by Simon Leadbetter, Simon Gates and Elaine Penhaul to break down the Voice of the Agent Survey and what it really means for the premium property market. We get into what premium sellers actually want from their agent (spoiler: it's not the lowest fee), why the biggest brands are losing market share, how AI should and shouldn't be used at this level, and why emotional intelligence is becoming the rarest and most valuable asset an agent can have.

This conversation covers: 
- What premium s...

There's a fair bit going on in the world right now 😅

But how has that affected the premium property market? You might be surprised.

Everything you need to know about the current state of the market, and whats happened so far this year, in 4 mins.

Thanks as always to Simon Gates for the stats - and his full report is available at the following link: https://bydesignhomes.com/blogs/april-2026-uk-premium-property-market-update

Here is everything you need to know about the premium property market for March '26, as well as the year to date (and what a year it has been!) in around 4 minutes. 

The results might surprise you... 

Thanks as always to the stats-man Simon Gates for providing the information for this update (and apologies for my croaky voice!)

David is joined by Amanda Haworth, the Managing Director of By Design Horsham and Haywards Heath. 

In this episode, we cover:

Why Amanda fell out of love with estate agency entirely: The struggle to find a role that matched her experience while also working around family life, and why stepping away from the industry was actually the best thing she could have done.

How this podcast helped bring her back. Amanda was listening to Property Porn Stars while out of the industry, and hearing from other agents who'd made the move into premium w...

Everything you need to know about the premium property market so far this year, in 4 minutes or so.

All stats provided by the man in the know, Simon Gates! 

A different kind of episode to the 'usual programming', but one that has huge importance. Regardless of your gender, well worth listening to, but especially so if you are considering moving into the premium market.

To celebrate International Women's Day, and recorded the day after the Women in Estate Agency Conference, David sits down with three brilliant By Design MD's, Katie Solaru, Marie Fritz, and Amanda Haworth, to get into the details of what impact their gender has had on their career, and what advice they can offer others who might be considering the premium market, too. 

Everything you need to know about the premium property market so far this year, in 3 minutes...

And its an interesting one - encouraging numbers in some aspects, and a clear divide emerging for which homes sell, and which don't!

Stats provided as ever by the man in the know, Simon Gates, and I'll leave a link to his full market report below which is well worth a read for a deeper dive into whats going in the market. 

Back with another update next month!

Simon's full p...

In this episode of Property Porn Stars, David Lindley sits down with Toby Martin, Chief Content Officer at Unchained.Marketing, to unpack the real role of video in modern estate agency.

Toby shares his journey from a 13 year career in lettings to stepping into the world of marketing consultancy, and explains why video is no longer optional for agents who want to win instructions.

The conversation explores the concept of Google’s “messy middle”, why 70 percent of a client’s decision is made before you step through the door, and how agents can batch create six mont...

How did the premium property market fare over 2025, and whats it got in store for 2026?

Some highlights from Simon Gates' latest premium report here, with (pretty much!) everything you need to know in 4 mins. 

So far...so good? Seems like lots more activity in the market after the budget/Christmas double whammy, so long may that continue! 

Also, some interesting stats on which months to list homes, to get the highest chance of selling...👀

Link to Simon's full report is here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c...

What will the future of property portals, of agents websites, and the industry look like when AI changes the way we live and work?

What should agents be doing now to prepare for the change and keep ahead of their competition, and what shouldn’t they be doing?

How do agents get ‘found’ on LLM’s like ChatGPT, how do their listings show up, and where does that leave agents websites and the mainstream property portals?

I am very interested in the ‘front facing’ side of AI, and wanted to ask Mark what he thought a...

Never one to shy away from a controversial opinion, Charlie shares his opinions (and the outcome of his testing with an estate agency business) of a new method of bringing properties to market WITHOUT conducting a valuation. 

Certainly a though provoking proposition, we'd love to know your thoughts on this? 

In this episode we cover: 
 • Why traditional property valuations may be harming both agents and consumers
 • Whether estate agents should stop giving valuations altogether
 • How true market value is actually discovered, and why offers matter more than opinions
 • What agents should talk about if t...

What does the budget, the premium estate agency market, a life lesson from Mariah Carey, and a questionable Christmas jumper all have in common? 

I'm glad you asked...

All of which feature in this festive Premium Market Update of course! 

As always, to read Simon Gates' full market report get subscribed to Premium Estate Agency News here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c5289dd2935b2fe&id=88ec3e34bc

In this episode, David Lindley sits down with Sam Ashdown - Co-Founder of AshdownJones, a premium estate agency in the Lake District, who have enjoyed huge success since launch; doing things differently to conventional agency! 

In this conversation we get in to some of those different strategies, including: 

 • From Kitchen Table to Premium Brand: Ashdown Jones launched with no premises, no investor funding and no big backing. It began at Sam’s kitchen table, proof that premium agency is built on strategy and mindset rather than budget. 

 
 • Selling the Unsellable: The first listing was a...

The premium market is NOT doing what you might think...! 🤔

Simon Gates kindly sent through his premium market report for the latest month's data, and even he labelled it as 'surprising'...

So see what you think, and let me know 🙂

Click here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c5289dd2935b2fe&id=002db01c01 to subscribe to receive Simon's full report (plus an unorthodox top tip coming into the winter period), plus some cracking content from Elaine Penhaul and Simon Leadbetter (and myself!) to boot...

In this extraordinary episode of Property-Porn Stars, David Lindley sits down with Andrew “Diesel” Bennett, a former police officer whose life was turned upside down when he suddenly lost his entire memory at the age of 30.

Andrew shares the unimaginable story of rebuilding his identity from scratch, relearning who he was, rediscovering his family, and rebuilding his life through sheer determination. From there, he found purpose in the world of performance psychology, going on to work with Olympians, Paralympians, business leaders, and Formula 1 champions, including Fernando Alonso.

Together, David and Andrew explore what “high performance” really m...

Is the premium market struggling with pre-budget nerves?

The answer might surprise you - find out in this month's premium market update in 3 minutes.

(OK the video is longer than that, but I threw in some brucey bonuses from Simon Gates full report, which you comes out tomorrow, subscribe in the link below)

Also, did you get the answer to the 'cliff hanger' right?

Read last months, and subscribe to receive October's edition, here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c5289dd2935b2fe&id=b4ba42...

In this episode of Property-Porn Stars, David Lindley and Matt Giggs sit down with Sarah-Louise Fairburn, Founder and MD of Imp & Maker, the luxury hamper and gifting company shaking up the food & drink market.

Sarah-Louise shares her journey from running one of the UK’s biggest farming businesses to starting again with a disruptive new brand. We discuss the challenges of building a luxury business, the sacrifices behind the glossy exterior, and the importance of resilience, vision, and surrounding yourself with the right people. She opens up about balancing entrepreneurship with being a single mother of four, le...

The usual monthly premium market update, but featuring the stats man himself Simon Gates! So instead of the usual 3 or 4 minute long summary, we analyse the premium markets performance this year so far, and how August fared, in light of political turmoil affecting the market. 

What all this means to you, your sellers and your buyers? Find out here!

In this episode of Property-Porn Stars, I am joined by a hugely successful premium agent, with arguably the most incredible story in the industry.  

Alice Watson-Smith, Managing Director of Fine & Country French Riviera & Provence shares her story, and her insight, grit and determination needed to succeed in a hugely competitive market. 

Alice’s story is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Zimbabwe, her family lost everything overnight when their farm was seized during Mugabe’s land reforms. Forced to flee to South Africa with only suitcases in the car, they eventually rebuilt their lives in Europe...

In this episode of Property-Porn Stars, host David Lindley speaks with Mark Breffit, a leading figure in London’s premium property market.

With over £1 billion of property sold, Mark shares his journey from working at Dexters, Knight Frank, and Hamptons Private Office in prime central London, to launching his latest venture — KnokKnok, a prop-tech platform aiming to reshape how buyers and agents connect.

We cover:
•Life inside corporate agency vs the independent mindset
•Mark’s early career experience with Airbnb and what he learned about innovation
•Why tech, personal branding, and consumer behaviour are...

In this super-short episode, we cover the headlines of what is going on in the premium property market (spoiler, there is lots of activity!) for July 2025. 

All stats provided by Simon Gates, whose full report will be out on Friday as part of Premium Estate Agency News - you can read last month's episode and subscribe for free here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5b588c5289dd2935b2fe&id=dd3de8a355

Is your business worth what you think it is?? 

This is crucial listening for agents, in order to avoid a nasty surprise down the road, and to set their business up for future success if and when they look to exit. 

This month’s guest is Adam J. Walker, who is a Business Transfer Agent (or, put another way, he is an agent for Estate Agencies!). With decades of experience and having accomplished over 700 agency sales in his career, he shares with us the pitfalls, traps, and value-reducing mistakes agents make… as well as how to set...

Welcome to the next instalment of our, super quick, premium market reports. 

This month we review the headline stats for the first half of 2025 and how the premium property market has performed, and it's some particularly interesting listening! 

All stats provided by Simon Gates, and you can read his full market report (as well as his top 5 Google Chrome extensions tips, newly updated!) in his article for Premium Estate Agency News, out on Tuesday 22nd July. 

Subscribe for free, and catch up on last mon...

Hosted by David Lindley, with expert insight from Simon Leadbetter, Elaine Penhaul, and Simon Gates.

Join four leading voices in the premium property sector for a candid and thought-provoking discussion on the state of the UK’s high-end housing market. In this special episode of Property Porn Stars, we dive into the findings of the 2025 Voice of the Agent Survey—with over 1,000 agents contributing their views.

📈 In this episode, we explore:
 • What agents across the country really think is happening in the premium market
 • Why understanding market sentiment is crucial when dealing with homes at the...

Welcome to the second instalment of our new feature, a (super quick!) monthly update on the premium market. 

Perhaps you're curious, thinking strategically about the premium market, or are on your way to see a client - hopefully there is some useful information here to help. 

All stats collated by the numbers man, Simon Gates, and his full in depth market report is available on our monthly newsletter, Premium Estate Agency News. You can check it out, and subscribe for free to receive it directly to your inbox, here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5...

It has been 10 years (!) since Andrew and I last saw each other, but it was great to reconnect and share his story about how to succeed in the rural premium market in Yorkshire, and the urban prime central London market, too.

Surely thats something for everybody!?!

Andrew shares his story, from selling ‘back to backs’ in Yorkshire to Mayfair penthouses, and even beyond our shores…

Andrew’s career is very unique, so this is a fascinating listen, covering topics like:

“It’s different where I am”…is London exception, or no...

Welcome to the first instalment of our new feature, a (super quick!) monthly update on the premium market. 

Perhaps you're curious, thinking strategically about the premium market, or are on your way to see a client - hopefully there is some useful information here to help. 

All stats collated by the numbers man, Simon Gates, and his full in depth market report is available on our monthly newsletter, Premium Estate Agency News. You can check it out, and subscribe for free to receive it directly to your inbox, here: https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=db74f5...

In this episode we are take a (virtual) hop across the Irish Sea to speak with Regina Mangan of Liberty Blue estate agents in the beautiful town of Waterford. Regina is a big character in the Irish property market, a successful entrepreneur, best selling author and exceptional estate agent. 

In this episode we cover: 

How to use values to run a business

Knowing your numbers

Succession planning

Growing pains

The value of mentorship

Why attending industry events is so important

Ho...

Customer identification, targeting your niche, standing out and a modern approach to building a rural-orientated business… just some of the subjects we discuss in this cracking episode with Ross D'Anielo, the co founder of Chartwell Noble. 

We get into the detail of how Ross started his business, why, and what the future holds for Chartwell Noble.

Rightmove vs Social Media, Ross’ most controversial opinion on the industry, how the exclusive/countryside market is different to the volume market, and the importance of specialisation in your chosen field.

Plus, what a ‘schoffel’ is, and why its s...

For well over the asking price (breaking local records), quickly, and at 2%+ fees...

This is genuinely a masterclass (a bit of a controversial word!) but there is so much to take away from this for agents, regardless of the market you're in. 

In this episode, David sits down with Simon Cowie, MD of By Design in Warwickshire and Sutton Coldfield, and Alex Wilcocks, Co-Founder and MD of Burbeck Interiors, to share their strategies for a huge success for a special property in the midlands. 

What went well, what didn't, what they'd do again, an...

Industry veteran David Brierley has enjoyed a fascinating and varied career throughout the industry so far; agent and supplier, high end and 'online', independent and corporate, and from trainee to mentor, to name only a few. 

On a non-industry related note, David is an adventurer, and an avid sailor - accomplishing things that frighten me just to think about... sailing the crocodile (and humungous oil-tanker!) ridden Panama canal in a catamaran, and voyaging across an ocean where the nearest landmass is 400 miles away, 6 miles of ocean beneath you, and the nearest humans to you...a...

Mark Burgess, CEO of Iceberg Digital, is focussed is on applying the future of technology to the estate agency industry. After the last few years of exponential advances in tech, this is a crucial conversation for agents to hear, regardless of whether you are on the front lines or in a strategic role. 

What the future of technology in our industry will do, and how the best agents leverage it today

How consumers make decisions over which agent to invite to a Market Appraisal

The fallacy of touting strategies