![\"\"](\"https:\/\/propertyindustryeye.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Paul-Smith-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>Sometimes, in the estate agency world, it can feel like we\u2019re all pulling in different directions \u2013 but every now and again, something happens that reminds us just how powerful we can be when we come together.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s exactly what we saw recently in the run-up to the stamp duty deadline \u2013 estate agents, mortgage brokers, conveyancers, and solicitors across the country pulling together in an unprecedented way.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t just about transactions \u2013 we were on a mission to beat the clock. And despite the government\u2019s refusal to extend the deadline \u2013 something many of us argued for \u2013 we got the job done.<\/p>\n
Across Spicerhaart\u2019s national network alone, we completed thousands of deals in that final push. Our figures showed a remarkable 54%<\/strong> increase on exchanges in March compared to the same period last year \u2013 an incredible testament to the determination and grit of our teams.<\/p>\n When you extrapolate that across the industry, the impact was huge. I\u2019ve spoken to our team at Just Mortgages, part of Spicerhaart, and they confirmed a significant uptick in mortgage completions \u2013 the ripple effect of this united effort was felt far and wide.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt that many people burned the midnight oil to make sure buyers could complete on time. Considering how archaic some of our systems are, this level of coordination was nothing short of heroic! Just imagine if our processes were fully digitised the way they should<\/em> be, think how many more<\/em> transactions we could have completed. How many more buyers could have avoided missing out?<\/p>\n Even with deals that couldn\u2019t quite get over the line in time, we\u2019re not yet seeing buyers and sellers pulling out. That speaks volumes.<\/p>\n Our industry doesn\u2019t always get the best press. We\u2019re often seen as the villains, not the heroes. But this was a moment where we showed what we\u2019re really made of \u2013 making things happen when it really counts.<\/p>\n Yes, the government should have done more. Yes, the deadline could and should have been extended. But we rolled up our sleeves and got on with the job.<\/p>\n To every agent who worked late, every conveyancer who went the extra mile, every mortgage broker who chased down approvals \u2013 I salute you. This was a team effort of epic proportions.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s bottle that spirit. Because if we can collaborate like this under pressure, just imagine what we can achieve when we\u2019re not racing the clock.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Paul Smith is founder and chairman of Spicerhaart.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A month of property completions in five days<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n