How Estate Agencies Can Unlock a Wider Talent Pool
Recruitment is rarely simple — but sometimes the decisions made can highlight wider trends worth reflecting on. This isn’t about criticising the industry, but about strengthening it for the future.
Estate agency has long been one of the most dynamic and rewarding career out there. It’s an industry where personality, drive and resilience can really be rewarded with success, often without the traditional barriers to entry we see in other professions. For many people, it offers genuine earning potential, clear progression, and the opportunity to build a long-term, people-orientated career.
However, moments arise that deserve some reflection…
Over the last week or so many of us have read the widely shared story of an 18-year-old aspiring, estate agent who was refused an interview simply because her car, a 2014 Citroën, was considered too old for the role. The position required reliable travel, and the hiring company policy states vehicles below a certain age are unsuitable for the job.
For some, this is a practical decision, a way of managing potential issues with reliable transportation and ensuring consistency across a team. For others, it raises a wider question: how accessible is our sector to new talent, and do some hiring expectations need to evolve with the times?
The Estate Agency Dilemma
Estate agency has always attracted ambitious, driven individuals, and rightly so. It’s an industry where hard work, drive and personality can genuinely be rewarded with success.
But like many industries, there is a growing need to adapt:
- Some candidates are put off by perceptions of high pressure or instability within certain brands
- Staff turnover can be a challenge, often linked to salary structures, culture, or stifled progression opportunities
- Requirements such as strict car policies can unintentionally narrow an already limited talent pool
Individually, these may seem like small considerations. Together, they can influence how accessible the industry feels to those looking to get their foot in the door.
Is the Industry Losing Its Appeal?
While estate agency continues to offer strong earning potential and career progression, there are areas where candidate expectations are shifting and things like the below may be making people think twice:
- Lower basic salaries with a strong reliance on commission in some businesses
- Long or inflexible working hours — with 6-day weeks still expected in some parts of the sector
- Statutory minimum holiday allowance and limited additional benefits in some cases
At the same time, many other industries are evolving, offering greater flexibility, clearer progression pathways, and increased stability.
As candidate expectations change, particularly alongside the rising cost of living, estate agency can sometimes feel slightly out of step with what today’s candidates are looking for.
The Impact
There is a growing perception among some candidates that the industry can be high-pressure, with less certainty around long-term stability or progression.
The result? A smaller talent pool entering the sector and experienced individuals thinking more carefully about their long-term future within it.
It’s Time to Pivot – Small Changes, Big Rewards
None of this takes away from what estate agency truly is: a fast-paced, people-driven industry full of passionate and talented individuals.
If the goal is to attract and retain that talent, small changes in approach can make a meaningful difference:
- Remove unnecessary barriers — focus on potential, not possessions. Skills can be taught; attitude, resilience, and drive are what truly matter
- Provide financial stability — strong basic salaries create a foundation and a level of security for your employees, with commission then being able to act as a genuine reward for performance
- Modernise working expectations — balance matters. Teams perform best when supported and given the appropriate time off to recharge.
- Invest in long-term careers — clear progression pathways and professional development build loyalty and retention. If you are a small business then progression is not always easy to offer so instead invest in your teams professional development. It will enhance loyalty and retention in your team.
Let’s See This as an Opportunity
Turning away a candidate because of the car they drive may seem like a small decision.
But it can reflect a wider opportunity for the industry to evolve its thinking.
Estate agency has always been about people and that remains its greatest strength! As the sector looks to the future, attracting and retaining the next generation of talent will depend on how accessible, supportive, and forward-thinking it chooses to be.
Because ultimately, it’s not just policies that shape the future of estate agency.
It’s the people we choose to let in.