Self-employed agents thrive - if they work harder than before

A leading enthusiast of the self-employed agency business model says even in these challenging times people can make a success of ‘going it alone’ - so long as they’re willing to work harder than ever before.

Rollo Miles, who in 2018 set up the Agent and Homes agency operating with a fleet of freelance agents working from home or a serviced office in London, says it’s unreasonable to assume many agents with regular financial and family commitments can survive on the income provided by a basic agency salary and commission from a High Street business.

In a video interview with Estate Agent Today, Miles - who is a former manager at Marsh & Parsons and Countrywide’s John D Wood brand - says self-employment isn’t for those agents who like to play it safe.

But it is, he says, perfect for entrepreneurial estate agents. 

“Entrepreneurs take risks … if you’re the type of person prepared to work harder than even before, you’ll make a success of it.”

He says his company competes directly with a number of other self-employed agencies seeking commissions in parts of central London. 

“There’s Agent and Homes, Harding Green, London Broker and Keller Williams. They’re all great, all slightly different but they all work with agents that have the same spirit” he says.

Miles - who is interviewed for EAT by Chris Buckler, himself an agent with Keller Williams - says there are plenty of different and useful business models in the industry, including the traditional High Street one and budget onliners. 

“Why have just one way of working?” he asks.

You can see the full six minute video interview below.