Tackling misconceptions about agents head on

In our recent poll, you told us about some of the common misconceptions you face and that you’d like our support in dispelling some of the public’s negative beliefs about agents and the value of your services.

And we’d love to discuss how we can do this together.

This is an opportunity to do just that – in an open forum with our Director of Agent Partnerships, Christian Balshen. He’ll be joined by Katie Griffin, Director of Sawdye & Harris, who’s also passionate about the people at the forefront of our industry. Together, we’ll take a deeper dive into the misconceptions you face and how Rightmove could support you in tackling them head on.

What to expect from this session:

• NEW data insights – we’ll share some pivotal insights from our latest home-mover research about how the UK public feels about estate and lettings agents today.
• Live Q&A – to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and misconceptions you face. This is your opportunity to tell us what we can do to support you in improving the general perception of agents by home-movers and the public at large.
• Uncover solutions together – let’s set clear expectations of what you want from portals and professional bodies. Whether that’s supporting the recruitment and retention of people in our industry, helping with training and qualifications, or something else; together we can set some clear actions for Rightmove to support your success.

We look forward to discussing your challenges further. This is your chance to share your ideas and help shape the future of our partnership.

About the panel

Katie Griffin BSc (Hons) MRICS FNAEA MARLA, Director of Sawdye & Harris

Katie is a qualified Chartered Surveyor, past President of the NAEA and has extensive experience in all aspects of sales and lettings. Sawdye & Harris is a well-known and successful estate and lettings agency in the South-West. Katie is the driving force behind the business and her passion for customer service is evidenced by the fantastic reputation which the company enjoys. Katie is also co-host of a popular weekly podcast about the life of estate and letting agent at the coalface of the property industry.

Christian Balshen, Rightmove Director of Agent Partnerships

Christian has many years of experience in the property industry and ran a successful small business, Van Mildert Landlord & Tenant Protection, before joining Rightmove in 2019 as part of its acquisition. Since 2009, Christian has worked with thousands of agents of all sizes, in all regions of the UK, as well as a wide range of suppliers to the industry. His enjoyment of founding and running Van Mildert means that he loves nothing more than talking to agents and sharing stories and experiences about the highs and lows of growing a business.