Why Working from Home Doesn’t Work for Estate Agents – Especially in Kensington
In a world where working from home is still hotly debated, I’ll say it straight: for real estate professionals – it sucks. And it’s counterproductive.
At Jeremy Jacob Letting Specialists, based in the heart of Kensington, we’ve seen firsthand that our work simply can’t be done properly behind a screen.
Real Estate is Emotional – and Human
Estate agents are “feely” people – not literally – but we operate in a business built on human connection. It’s why our industry has resisted full automation and why I remain sceptical about AI’s ability to replace us anytime soon.
Estate agency is psychology. It’s customer service, diplomacy, salesmanship, and trust – all wrapped into one. These aren’t skills best delivered over Zoom or Teams. They need presence. Eye contact. The ability to read a room and pick up emotional cues.
The Importance of Showing Up – In Kensington, and Beyond
That’s why we ask our team to come into the office every day. Yes, we introduced flexibility during the post-COVID period – we listened to the market like everyone else – but face-to-face work remains non-negotiable at Jeremy Jacob.
And especially in Kensington, where our clients expect a premium, attentive service, being physically present allows us to:
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Open doors (literally) for viewings.
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Keep close watch on our Landlord's properties.
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Accurately qualify tenants by reading their reactions, not just listening to words.
You don’t get that nuance over a webcam or, a reliance of text based messaging.
The Real Cost of Remote Work
Let’s be honest. Loneliness-combat Zoom check-ins? They’re often just micromanagement in disguise. I’ll take the good old-fashioned watercooler chat in the office over that any day. It builds morale – not anxiety.
There’s also value in transitioning from “work mode” to “home mode” – something that vanishes when your desk is next to your bed.
A Kensington Standard of Service
At Jeremy Jacob Letting Specialists, we pride ourselves on delivering a human, hands-on service that reflects the high standards expected in Kensington’s lettings market. And that means being present, every day.
