The Property Industry Is Going Remote — But Is It For The Better?

11 February 2026

Toby Patrick

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Let’s face it, the world is going remote. Remote jobs, remote companies and even remote industries are quickly becoming the norm in business. There are both challenges and opportunities that come with this, which will differ from one case to the next. Today, we’re going to take a look at the property industry, an industry that is going nowhere but one that is certainly evolving. A large part of this evolution is seeing the property market become increasingly remote; it’s even possible to go through the whole process of buying a property without any human contact. In this article, we’re going to explore this shift and discuss whether this change is for better or for worse.

Red brick apartment building with black railings and small balconies. Potted plants line the front. A clear sky and lampposts in view.

A Quiet Shift

Some industries’ move to operating remotely has happened quite drastically, brought about by the need to work from home during the pandemic. But in the case of property, it’s been heading this way long before lockdown. Online-only estate agents emerged over ten years ago, and virtual viewings grew in popularity prior to them becoming the norm during COVID. While some industries are shifting towards virtual because it’s “on-trend”, the property industry’s move is one that offers genuine benefits in the form of speed, cost and convenience.

The Dangers Of A Remote Property Industry

Where there’s opportunity, there is often danger too. The convenience of using a remote agent or conveyancer is balanced out by the rise of remote providers who hide behind faceless personas to offer substandard services. If we travel back to the start of the 21st century, buyers had to meet with their solicitor, estate agent and so on. Nowadays, deals can be done over the phone or via email, and while this offers convenience, it also creates ambiguity around the work being completed and who is to be held accountable when mistakes occur. It must be said that in most cases, remote service providers do offer efficiency and convenience, but the small selection of bad actors in the industry is preventing remote workers from gaining 100% trust over those who still deal face-to-face with clients.

The Case for Hybrid Approaches

If physical environments provide trust and remote ones offer convenience, then the ideal solution possibly lies in a combination of the two, which is probably where we’re currently at. A hybrid offering in the property industry combines technology with human judgment, providing both speed and accuracy. Take a property valuation for example, AVMs have allowed us to get near instant valuations for properties, but often fall short in terms of accuracy when compared with a RICS valuation, which is carried out by a chartered surveyor. A RICS desktop valuation however offers the best of both worlds, using vast quantities of data but also the expertise of a qualified human.

Remote Isn’t The Problem

Ultimately, just because something is remote doesn’t mean it should be avoided. That includes services within the property sector, and we’re not saying you should avoid remote agents or advisors. However, when there is a lot to lose, like there is when buying or selling a property, it’s imperative that you do your due diligence. And remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is!

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Old Marketers

Diane Hall
Feb 2, 2023
3 min read

According to the ONS, three-quarters of the people employed in the marketing industry are under 45. Typically a sector at the forefront of new ideas, products and technologies, it’s perhaps not surprising that young people are attracted to working in the field. The technology element is particularly important…the majority of this age group has grown up with computers, smartphones and other technologies, and it’s little wonder that they know every aspect and function of devices the humble microchip supports.

As someone in the remaining 25%, given that I’m pushing 50 years of age, I may be a little slower (only a little, mind) when it comes to mastering the most popular technological advances and sought-after software. I emphasise that word: necessary. That word can be interpreted differently, depending on the user. For instance, at my age, I can effortlessly get through my day without posting image after image on Instagram, and I’m definitely not someone excited by Snapchat streaks nor the filters the platform constantly churns out. I am a TikTok fan, which makes me feel down with the kids, and I’m of the right age to be a Facebook user—another social media platform to which I dedicate some of my downtime. In this regard, I probably embody the average person my age, whether they work in the marketing industry or not.

I don’t mind that I’m the oldest one in the marketing agency I work for by a generation (well, most of the time I don’t). I enjoy bantz with the team and having young adult offspring means I can join in most conversations about trends and celebrity shenanigans.

My thoughts on the ONS statistics are that they represent a missed trick. Only a portion of products and services marketing teams of the UK advertise is for consumption by consumers aged 20-45.

Yes, young marketers are proficient at knowing all about new stuff, but only us oldies know about times gone by, and this can be relevant from time to time.

Not to mention the wisdom we bring, after years of being in the workplace. The experience from working in different roles and sectors, and enjoying a network that’s much bigger and more solid than someone who only graduated a few years ago. We know of things that worked first time round. Nostalgia can be lucrative, and the best ideas never go out of fashion.

I don’t think this imbalance is solely down to narrow-minded employers within the industry. Some of it, I think, is that the sector doesn’t appeal to people coming back to work after early retirement or those who are looking to retrain in their fifties and sixties. The assumption that older people wouldn’t be able to keep up with the fast-paced life of a marketing agency exists—from those working in it AND from jobseekers over 45 considering a career change.

Other sectors welcome older employees—such as within our judicial system, in government /the Lords, in finance and economics, and as top-tier university lecturers. Younger people in the same roles wouldn’t have the same credibility. It could be that marketing represents the opposite—that older people in the marketing sector may be seen as less credible, outdated, slower and uninformed.

I’ve always enjoyed being an ideas person, which, to me, is unrelated to my age. Following years of child-rearing and putting someone else’s needs before my own, it’s also easier for me to look at something from alternative points of view, rather than from where I sit in the universe. Having been on this earth for double the time of my colleagues, I have seen lots of scenarios play out. I’ve something to say on most subjects. These are assets to a marketing company, aren’t they?

Statistics show that a proportion of retirees are returning to the workplace, due to heightened living costs and diminishing pension values. Some of these could have been expert marketers in their day, or people who have successfully run their own brand; would they be overlooked by employers due to their age?

Age discrimination is easy to prove when you’re in a workplace, but it’s not such a doddle to demonstrate if it pops up during the hiring process—you may feel that your age worked against you, but how can you be sure? It’s not like the potential employer will tell you.

Young marketers are fantastic at what they do. But so are those twice (or three times) their age.