For years, the agents with the most boards and the biggest patches were seen as the ones winning. If your name was everywhere, you must have been the best, right? That used to be the game everyone tried to play.
But things have changed. Sellers don’t just want an agent who’s everywhere. They want one who feels right for them. Someone who understands their road, their home, and their move. Someone who sounds real, not like every other agent in town saying the same thing.
That’s why the “do it all” approach doesn’t work anymore in my eyes. Being a bit of everything spreads you too thin. It’s harder to stand out when your marketing, your pitch and your service sound like everyone else’s. And when that happens, the only thing a seller can compare is your fee. And is that really a conversation you want to get into?
The agents who are winning now aren’t trying to be everywhere. They’re picking a lane and owning it. They’re the go-to person for one type of property, one patch or one kind of client. They talk about it, they show it, and before long, everyone knows what they’re about.
And here’s the key part. When you’re known for something, you don’t have to sell anywhere near as hard. People come to you already trusting that you’re the right fit. You don’t need to convince them. They already believe it from what they have seen and experienced.
A lot of agents worry that narrowing their focus will mean less business. It doesn’t, trust me. It just means better business. The kind that pays properly, runs smoother and doesn’t drive you mad. Because you’re working with the clients who fit you best.
If you’re not sure where to start, look at your past year. What kind of homes sold fastest? Where do you know the area better than anyone else? Which clients did you actually enjoy working with? That’s your clue. Build around that.
The days of being all things to all people are over. The agents who try will fade into the noise.
The ones who win in 2026 will be the ones who pick a lane, double down, and make it theirs.
Chris Webb is the founder of The Estate Agent Consultancy.
