On the 26th March 2000, I walked into Dixons Estate Agents in Stratford-upon-Avon for my first day in the job as an estate agent I had no idea then that 26 years later I’d still be doing the same job —  just in a different way, under my own company, with my own team. Since that day, I’ve worked in a few different offices in the Midlands and more importantly worked with some incredible people, some of who are still estate agents or linked to estate agency. I must say that those days where i was learning to be the best estate agent that i could be was so much FUN!! In 2011, I moved back to Swansea and worked at Dawsons estate agents and that is when i decided that i wanted to set up on my own. In 2013, I opened SA Property — just me, working from a small office in the back of a solicitor’s. In 2014 we moved into a small shop in Gorseinon, and in 2016 we moved into the office many people will recognise today. Today, we are a family-run sales and lettings agency with a small, dedicated team: Cheryl, who has been with us for 10 years, Sophia who works in sales and lettings, Megan who looks after rental maintenance and inspections, and Gail who keeps everything running behind the scenes with accounts, rents and invoices. - Take a look at our reviews here - Reviews But the biggest thing I’ve learned in 26 years is this: This job has never really been about property — it’s about people. What Has Changed (And What Hasn’t) The biggest change in estate agency since I started is technology. When I first started, everything was pen and paper.  We had a box of applicants and we had to go through it and find the people who were most likely to buy and call them one by one. Now we have portals, social media, CRM systems, property s, online signatures, drones, video tours —  technology has transformed how we market property. But what hasn’t changed is the most important part of the job: Sellers still worry if their house will sell Sellers still worry if they’ll get the price Buyers still fall in love with houses Chains still fall apart ***And deals still need someone to hold them together Technology helps — but it doesn’t replace relationships, communication and experience. What Actually Sells a House After 26 years and thousands of agreed sales, I can tell you that houses sell when you get a few things right, and these are what i think will get you SOLD: Trust - you as the seller or landlord, have to trust the agent that you have chosen, you are giving them your largest financial asset, you need to believe that they will take care of it properly Realistic pricing – The right price attracts the right people, the wrong price attracts, well... nobody Marketing – Proper marketing that makes people want to view, and this is key, lots of different agents have lots of different ways of doing this, and there is no right or wrong in my opinion, its what works for them, however it is no just putting it on a property portal and hope for the best Access for viewings – If people can’t see it, they can’t buy it. Most people work during the days, so there needs to be flexibility in evening viewings and weekend viewing, if agents don't do this, then your already marketing to a limited market It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often one of these is wrong. By the way, if you are looking to sell your home, book a FREE appointment with us here - Book Valuation The Biggest Mistake Sellers Make The biggest mistake I see sellers make is not reacting to the market. If your property isn’t getting viewings or offers within the first few weeks,  the market is telling you something. The worst thing you can do is leave it and hope something will happen. The best sellers — and the ones who achieve the best prices — are the ones who listen, react and work with the market, not against it. The Biggest Mistake Estate Agents Make Overpricing a property to win the instruction. It might win the instruction at the start, but it almost always leads to: Price reductions Frustration Loss of confidence Longer time on the market And often a lower final sale price ***A good agent should tell you the truth, not just what you want to hear. The Part of the Job People Don’t See The hardest part of this job is the part people don’t see: Getting properties ready for market Chasing solicitors Chasing mortgage brokers Managing chains Dealing with maintenance issues Keeping everyone calm when things go wrong A lot of estate agency happens after a sale is agreed, not before. Why I Started SA Property When I started SA Property in 2013, I had a real urge that i wanted to do things better, or maybe not better but MY WAY. That might sound cheesy, but it was true. I had a 100% belief that if i was doing things myself then i could work how i wanted to do things and more importantly work when and where i wanted to. The driving force behind it was FREEDOM, earning my own money from sales and lettings and working my own way - What could possibly go wrong?!? We don’t have shareholders. We don’t have targets set by head office. We just have to sell houses and look after our clients and build a business around results and reputation And when your business depends on results, you approach things differently. My Advice If You’re Selling in 2026 Get 2 or 3 agents out to value your home Don’t automatically choose the highest price Don’t automatically choose the cheapest fee Choose the agent you trust to do the best job for your situation Because once your house is on the market, the agent you choose really does matter. Final Thought After 26 Years In 26 years I’ve seen: A market crash A global pandemic High interest rates Low interest rates Booming markets Slow markets And the one thing I can tell you is this: Experience isn’t about how long you’ve been in the job — it’s about how many problems you’ve solved. And in this job, there are always problems to solve. Thinking of selling or renting? If you’re thinking of moving in the next 6–12 months and want some honest advice on price, marketing and how the process works, feel free to get in touch.

It’s Not the Market. It’s the Marketing. When a property isn’t getting interest, the default assumption is usually the same: “It must be the market.” But that’s not always true. On 23rd February, Brynawel Road came to market. Within days, an offer was accepted. Not because the market is booming. Not because it was dramatically underpriced. But because it was seen. 36,372 Views in Days Across our social media platforms alone, Brynawel Road generated a combined 36,372 views within the first few days of launch. That’s 36,372 chances for someone to: 1. Notice it 2. Share it 3. Message about it 4. Tag a friend 5. Book a viewing Visibility drives attention. Attention creates urgency. Urgency creates offers. It’s not complicated — but it does require intention. A Listing Is Not a Launch Uploading a property to a portal is not a strategy. It’s the minimum. A launch should create momentum. Here’s what that looked like: 1. Professional Presentation Strong photography. Clear description. Compelling headline positioning. No rushed uploads. No “we’ll tweak it later.” 2. Coordinated Social Media Push Simultaneous promotion across platforms. Designed posts — not screenshots. Immediate engagement monitoring. Because algorithms favour fresh, active content. 3. Local Audience Targeting Your buyer isn’t always searching Rightmove at 9pm. But they are scrolling Facebook. They are watching Instagram. They are consuming content passively. Social exposure reaches buyers before they’re actively searching. 4. Early Momentum Creation The first 7–10 days are critical. If a property launches quietly, it becomes background noise. If it launches with visibility and engagement, it builds traction. And traction attracts serious buyers. The Result High engagement. Strong viewing activity. An offer accepted within days. Not luck. Not coincidence. Execution. The Question Many Sellers Should Be Asking 1. If your property has been online for weeks with little interest, it’s worth asking: 2. Is it genuinely the market? 3. Or has it simply not been seen enough? 4. Because in today’s environment, attention is currency. 5. And without attention, even well-priced homes struggle. Final Thought Every property deserves more than a portal listing. It deserves: 1. A launch plan 2. A visibility strategy 3. Active promotion Measurable exposure 36,372 views didn’t happen by accident. And neither did the result. If you’re feeling underwhelmed by the response to your home, it may not be time to reduce the price. It may be time to rethink the marketing.

Why It Matters That Your Agent Handles Both Sales and Lettings Property journeys rarely run in a straight line. Most people start with a clear plan — to sell, to let, or to release some equity and move on.  But markets change, personal circumstances shift, and sometimes the “right” decision at the start no longer feels like the right one a few months down the line. This is where the type of agent you choose can make a bigger difference than many people realise. When plans change — and they often do A sale might take longer than expected. A chain might collapse late on. Interest rates, lending criteria, or buyer sentiment can shift. Equally, a landlord may plan to sell, only to discover that renting for a period makes more financial sense — or a rental property may suddenly become a strong candidate for sale due to rising values or changing personal priorities. None of these situations mean something has gone wrong. They simply reflect the reality of owning property. The limitation of single-service agents Many agents operate in just one lane — sales only or lettings only. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but it does create a limitation: when circumstances change, the advice can become narrow. A sales-only agent can only suggest adjusting the price or waiting longer. A lettings-only agent can only look at rental options. When an agent only offers one route, every solution naturally points in the same direction — whether or not it’s the best option for the owner. The advantage of a dual-service approach An agent who genuinely handles both sales and lettings is able to advise more broadly and more honestly. It means: One property can be assessed from both a sales and rental perspective Decisions can be made based on live demand, not assumptions A property can pivot quickly if circumstances change Income, capital growth, and timing can all be considered together This isn’t about pushing someone to rent instead of sell — or sell instead of rent. It’s about ensuring the advice reflects all of the available options, not just one. Flexibility without pressure One of the biggest benefits for property owners is flexibility without urgency. Knowing that a rental option exists can remove the pressure to reduce a sale price too far. Knowing that a strong sales market exists can give landlords confidence to release capital when the time is right. Good advice should create clarity, not force a decision. A more rounded view of the market Agents working across both sales and lettings see the market from multiple angles every day: buyer demand rental demand pricing sensitivity affordability pressures local movement trends That wider view leads to more balanced, realistic guidance — particularly during uncertain or shifting markets. Final thought Property decisions don’t need to be rushed, and they don’t need to be boxed into one outcome. The real value of an agent who handles both sales and lettings isn’t convenience — it’s options. And when plans change, having options can make all the difference.

Thinking of Selling in 2026? Here’s What Swansea Homeowners Need to KnowIf you’re considering selling your home this year, you’re not alone.We’re speaking to more homeowners across Gorseinon, Swansea and surrounding SA postcodes who are asking the same question:“Is now the right time to sell?”The honest answer? It depends on your position — but the market is moving.The 2026 Market RealityThe days of instant bidding wars are behind us. Buyers are more considered. Mortgage rates have stabilised, but affordability still matters.That means:✔ Pricing correctly from day one is critical✔ Presentation matters more than ever✔ Marketing needs to reach serious buyers — not just generate clicksThis is where strategy matters.Overpricing Is the Biggest RiskOne of the biggest mistakes we see is pricing based on optimism rather than evidence.An inflated price may win you an instruction — but it won’t win you a buyer.The right strategy is:Analyse comparable local salesConsider buyer demand in your postcodeLaunch stronglyGenerate early momentumFirst impressions online now determine whether a property sells in weeks — or sits for months.Local Knowledge Still WinsNational online agents rely on algorithms.Local agents rely on experience.At SA Property, we work across all SA postcodes and understand:Which areas are performing strongestWhere buyer demand is coming fromWhat price points are movingWhen to pivot strategyThat local insight makes a difference.What If It Doesn’t Sell?This is where having both sales and lettings under one roof becomes a major advantage.If market conditions shift, we can advise whether renting could be a better short-term option — protecting your position rather than forcing a sale.Very few agents offer that flexibility.No Long Tie-InsWe operate without lengthy tie-in contracts.We believe service should retain clients — not paperwork.Why Sellers Choose SA PropertyEstablished in 2013, we’re an independent high street agency based in Gorseinon covering Swansea and surrounding SA areas.We combine:Professional photography & floorplansPremium portal exposureTargeted social media marketingProactive sales progressionStraightforward adviceAnd 99% of our business comes from recommendations.That only happens when you look after people properly.Thinking of Selling?If you're even considering a move this year, an honest conversation costs nothing.Book a free, no-obligation valuation and we’ll talk you through:What your property is worthWhat strategy would work bestWhether now is the right timeSA Property – Local. Modern. Results-Driven.