To celebrate this amazing milestone of 20 years of making customers in Levenmouth and East Neuk property dreams come through, owner Stewart discusses some of the key ways estate agency has changed over the last 20 years.
When a branch hits a significant birthday, the reminiscing begins - the first instruction, the first sale, and for Stewart it also includes remembering his now, grown up daughters playing in the branch before it opened. It’s time to appreciate just how much the day-to-day of estate agency has transformed since Stewart opened the doors in 2006.
Here Stewart chats to us about five of the biggest changes he has seen over the last 20 years.
1) The Property Portal Revolution
Just how big has the introduction of property portals to selling properties been?
“Massive. In 2006, the branch window and the local paper were front and centre. People would come in, pick up details, ask questions, and maybe book a viewing. Now, most buyers and tenants have already done a full lap of the market online before they even speak to you.”
Today, the first ‘viewing’ often happens from someone’s sofa - or in bed - sending links to a partner with a message like: ‘What about this one?’
“Portals changed the pace. Things move quickly now. Properties can get a lot of attention very fast, and people expect instant information.”
The shop window still matters - but the biggest window is now in everyone’s pocket.
2) From local newspaper deadline panic to publishing everywhere with one click
The stressful and manual submission to the local newspaper property pages is a thing of the past.
“Looking back, it was quite stressful, actually. You’d spend hours getting everything ready: picking which properties made it in, getting the copy right, making sure the photos were usable, hitting deadlines… and then waiting to see how it landed.”
Back then, marketing wasn’t just marketing - it was production. Lots of manual steps, lots of chasing, and the constant worry that one small mistake would mean the wrong price or the wrong photo went out to thousands of readers.
“Nowadays, we can publish everything through the CRM with the click of a button. One set of images and property details feeds multiple places, including our own website, your-move.co.uk. Faster, more accurate, and you can update instantly.”
It’s one of those changes that sounds simple until you remember what came before: entire chunks of time reclaimed from admin and turned back into customer service.
3) Photos then vs now: from “a few snaps” to breathtaking drone photography and footage
Photos remain the key driver to attract buyer interest, and they have come a long way in the last 20 years.
“It really is night and day. Back then you might have a handful of photos, and they did a great job. Now, sellers, rightly so, expect so much more - and it makes a real difference.”
Today, the standard is higher because the first impression is almost always digital. Buyers and tenants decide whether to enquire in seconds, and the imagery is what stops the scroll.
“Now property marketing often includes cinematic tours, high quality photography, and my favourite, drone photography and footage. You can show a property - and the location - in a way you just couldn’t back then, and in this area the drone footage can really take your breath away.”
It’s not just about being glossy either. It’s about being clear. Good visuals help people understand the home properly before they step through the door, which means better-quality viewings and more confident decisions.
4) No more forms, folders and faxing: welcome to digital signatures and ID checks
So many people working in estate agencies today won’t remember a time without email and the internet…never mind know what a fax machine is or how to use it.
“Paperwork used to be a physical event. Printing, signing, scanning, posting, filing, and yes - faxing. And if anything went missing, the whole chain could slow down.
Now, so much is digital. Digital signatures, digital ID checks - it speeds things up and keeps everything more secure.”
The best part isn’t just the convenience; it’s the momentum. Faster admin means fewer delays, clearer communication, and a smoother customer experience - which matters when people are already juggling removals, mortgages, and the emotional chaos of moving house.
5) Smarter ways to promote properties and understanding what actually works
Marketing properties is so much more than ‘just’ appearing on the big property portals. Boards still matter, and technology enables teams in branches to be so much more proactive - emailing customers property matches, automating property matches and social media also play a part.
“One of the biggest changes in property marketing is how measurable it is. Customers can see how many views their property has had on Rightmove or your-move.co.uk or even what has come through social media. All our customers have access to MyMove, which enables them to see how their property is performing. Vendors and I can see what’s working and what’s not and adjust quickly — and branches can promote properties in a way that reaches the right people locally, and with all the other Your Move branches across the UK, our customers benefit from a national reach as well. Not all buyers and tenants come from the local area.
So what hasn’t changed in 20 years?
“Selling or buying and letting or renting, is such an important part of people’s lives. If buying, it’s likely the biggest purchase of their lives and, in many cases, making their property dream a reality. Customers still want reassurance. They want someone local who knows the market, who’ll be honest with them, and who can guide them through what is still one of the biggest decisions they’ll ever make.”
The platforms have changed. The marketing has changed. The paperwork has (thankfully) changed.
But at the heart of it? It’s still about people - and helping Levenmouth and East Neuk move.
Happy 20th birthday, Your Move Leven.
The Your Move Content Marketing Team
