Pass the Syrup

In the final part of our three-episode run with Angi Cooney , we tackle the question every mover secretly wants answered: why does it take so long to buy or sell a home, and can it actually be faster? Angi and Ben dig into slow timelines, broken systems, political apathy, and why nobody seems brave enough to simplify a process that should be so much easier for the people living through it. In this...

In the second part of our three-episode run with Angi Cooney, we dig into what she believes is the property industry’sbiggest failure: it serves itself before it serves the people whoactually rely on it. From clunky conveyancing and faceless processes to referral fees and dodgy communication, Angi and Ben explore how we ended up here, why it still hasn’t changed, and what “being the parent, not th...

In the first of a three-part run with Angi Cooney, Ben sits down with a lifelong agent who says the quiet part out loud: estate agency is not about property, prices or portals, it’s about people. From vision boards and “pointing north” to why only a small percentage of agents truly get this, Angi and Ben unpack what great agency really looks like when the client is the hero of the story.   In this...

In the final part of our three-episode run with Matt Baldock , we tackle one of the property industry’s biggest frustrations, the painfully slow sales process. From outdated data to never-ending conveyancing, Matt and Ben break down why the system keeps failing the people who rely on it, and what needs to change to make moving home faster, fairer and far less stressful. In this episode: Why slow c...

In this second episode with Matt Baldock , we dig into one of the property industry’s biggest failings - overvaluing. From unrealistic pricing to pressure-driven targets, Matt explains how chasing numbers over people can cause chaos for buyers, sellers and agents alike, and what needs to change to fix it.   In this episode: Why overpricing property damages real lives, not just sales figures. How s...

Estate agency veteran Matt Baldock joins Ben to kick off a three-part run by challenging one of the biggest myths in the industry: that this business is about property. It’s not, it’s about people . Matt shares 24 years of perspective on why empathy, honesty and integrity matter more than square footage, and how emotions, training and trust define the client experience.   In this episode:  Why gre...

In this fiery final episode with Rowan Waller , Ben Madden tackles one of the most uncomfortable questions in UKestate agency: what if agents weren’t paid like businesses at all? Rowan suggests that the industry’s biggest conflicts of interest come from its commercial nature, the constant pressure to list, sell, and profit, often at the consumer’s expense. Together they unpack how over-valuing, lo...

In this explosive episode of No More Waffle , Ben Madden is joined again by Rowan Waller ( The Property Pen ) to tackle one of the most divisive topics in the UK property industry - regulation. With talk of ROPA (Regulation of Property Agents)resurfacing again, Rowan argues that it’s a red herring : estate agents are already regulated by law, and the real issue isn’t the lack of rules, but the lac...

In this episode of No More Waffle , Ben Madden sits down with Rowan Waller , also known as The Property Pen , a former estate agent turned property copywriter with 20 years’ experience in the industry. Rowan brings a completely fresh perspective to one of the property world’s biggest identity crises: what exactly is anestate agent? Are they marketers, salespeople, or project managers helpingpeople...

In the third and final part of her No More Waffle series, Jackie Quinn , owner of Jackie Quinn Estates & Lettings in Surrey, and Regional Executive for Propertymark, joins Ben Madden to talk about transparency, trust and value in estate agency. Jackie argues that consumers still don’t understand what agents actually do, and that better communication, clearer education and more honest conversat...

In this week’s No More Waffle , host Ben Madden sits down with Jackie Quinn , owner of Jackie Quinn Estates in Surrey, and Regional Executive for Propertymark, to tackle one of the biggest frustrations in UK property - why the home-moving process takes so long . From the average five-month transaction time to conveyancers bogged down in ID checks and onboarding delays, Jackie explains how a system...

In this episode of No More Waffle, Ben Madden is joined by career estate agent Jackie Quinn, owner of Quinn Estates in Surrey and Regional Executive for Propertymark. With over 30 years in the industry, Jackie brings hard truths and first-hand insight into why estate agents have one of the worst reputations with the public. From overvaluing homes to win instructions, to corporate cultures that rew...

In her third and final appearance,  Dani Nash  joins Ben Madden on  No More Waffle  to tackle some of the industry’s biggest challenges - from why most agents still operate with a “scarcity mentality” to how AI is reshaping the future of estate agency. Together, they debate whether copying ideas is theft or progress, and why the industry needs to move from guarding “secret sauce” to embracing coll...

In her second appearance on  No More Waffle ,  Dani Nash  joins Ben Madden to dive deeper into the hard truths about estate agency. This episode focuses on the one thing Dani says could transform the consumer experience overnight: communication. They discuss why honesty between agents and clients so often breaks down, whether consumers sometimes “get the service they deserve,” and how trust is dam...

In the very first episode of  No More Waffle , Ben Madden sits down with industry veteran  Dani Nash  to ask the questions estate agency usually avoids. They dive into the uncomfortable truth about why the public still doesn’t trust estate agents and how much of that reputation is deserved. From overvaluing to win instructions, to poor communication, to the 1% fee race-to-the-bottom, Dani shares b...

Ben Madden returns alongside co-host Ellis Malizi for another chaotic, sharply judged round of property industry bluffing, banter, and bizarre dream teams. From co-founding Zoopla top itching MJ’s mum as your agency MVP, this episode rings major silliness with just enough truth to hurt. What’s Inside The biggest bluffs guests have pulled in their careers Cornwall coastal bungalow guessing game (19...

This episode is total carnage (in the best way). We’re back with the brilliant Angie Cooney and a cast of industry legendsfor a fast-paced, slightly unhinged tour through property, marketing, and everything in between. We cover…👉 Dodgy Facebook Lives 👉Leaflet drops turned Strava challenges 👉 Dream agency teams (feat. Zac Efron & vodka) 👉Burglars, broken bones & baby food scandals …and...

This week, Ben Madden and co-host Harry Truman return with three brilliant guests, a whole lot of chaotic quiz energy, and some very hot takes (and cold pancakes). From £700 hairdryers to imaginary estate agency dreamteams, it's estate industry banter at its best, with just enough real talk to keep you grounded. What’s Inside Five-star reviews for weird and wonderful reasons How much was a council...

In this episode, Ben Madden and co-host Harry Truman are joined by a superstar cast from the property world and beyond for another round of wild stories, suspect trivia, and high-stakes nonsense. From a client haunting to a fake funeral, firewalking instructors, and a showdown over dream teams, it's a gloriously chaotic ride. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: "The clients that haunts me..."- re...

In this wonderfully weird and refreshingly honest episode, Ben Madden and co-host Harry Truman wrangle four property pros through three rounds of games, gripes, and glorious nonsense. From Hackney house prices in the '70s toAttenborough-themed saunas, this episode has it all. Yes, even gay dinosaurs.    This Episode’s Guests   Harry Trueman President of ARLA Propertymark & Group LettingsDi...

In this chaotic and laugh-out-loud episode of Pass the Syrup , host Ben Madden kicks off a new four-part co-hosting arc with Harry Truman. Joined by a cracking panel of property legends, the gang dives into everything from embarrassing first dates to dodgy stag dos, all while battling it out in estate agency-themed games. It’s part chat show, part game show, part total madness, andit’s glorious....

🚀 Welcome back to Pass the Syrup ! Today, we’re breaking down a huge shift happening in estate agency—agents arerealising they don’t have to just be agents.   🎙️ Host: Ben Madden – Estate agency expert& industry commentator 🎤 Guests: ✅ Megan Eighteen – Senior Management at Swindon Home Finders,Consultant & President-Elect at ARLA Propertymark ✅ Rowan Waller – Former estate agent turned...

🚀 Welcome back to Pass the Syrup ! Today, we’re diving deep into the reality of being a woman in estate agency today with an all-star lineup:   🎙️ Host: Ben Madden – Estate agency disruptor & industrycommentator 🎤 Guests: Liana Loporto-Brown (Founder, Woman in Estate Agency & Loporto Brown Residential) Verona Frankish (CEP, YPOA-One of the UK's leading hybrid agencies) Kirsty Franks...

🚀 Welcome to Series Two of Pass the Syrup! In this episode, we break down: ✅ The TRUTH about Rightmove’s 2024 predictions ✅ Why Boxing Day property launches might be a scam ✅ The state of conveyancing & why it’s failing estate agents ✅ How estate agents should actually be using social media ⏰ **Timestamps:** 0:00 – Welcome to Series Two! 2:30 – Is Rightmove’s data reliable? 4:15 – The Bo...

In today’s episode guests discuss the number of agents that still have no issue overvaluing homes, letting properties sit on the market for extended periods of time, and apparently, outright refusing to educate their clients on where correct pricing sits.     Guests also discuss the pressure being felt by landlords affected by higher interest rates, as well as the leasehold costs doubling scandal,...