Episode Details

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 was the catalyst that made her think "if they can do it, why can't I?"

The real differences between mainstream and premium agency. Fewer properties, higher fees, more demanding clients, 24/7 availability, and why it's fundamentally a different job rather than just a more expensive version of the same one.

Getting your first 2-3 premium instructions (and why they're everything). How to break into a market where you haven't yet got the track record, and why marketing, storytelling, and testimonials from those early deals build the platform for everything that follows.

Fees in the premium market. Why percentage fees are higher at the top end and how that changes the economics of your business, enabling a completely different level of service.

Gender in the premium property market. An honest conversation about whether being a woman in this space is an asset or a barrier, how you prove yourself, and what Amanda would say to the version of herself two years ago who was wondering whether to go for it.

Imposter syndrome and "faking it till you make it". Amanda's brilliant reframe: she's not faking the job, she's faking the confidence before walking into situations that feel uncomfortable. A subtle but important distinction that most agents will relate to.

Dealing with the bad weeks. Lost instructions, fallen-through sales, numbers not where you want them. How Amanda manages her mindset when things aren't going to plan and keeps coming back to "I do know what I'm doing."

Why referrals are the ultimate compliment. When a client puts their personal relationship on the line to recommend you, that tells you more about the value you're delivering than any metric ever could.
What's next for Amanda and By Design. Growing market share, potentially growing the team, and where she wants to take the business over the coming years.

And a lot more besides. This is a great conversation with a brilliant agent, and a lovely person, we hope you take away shed loads of value from this one... Enjoy!