From High Street to Home Office: The Rise of the Self-Employed Estate Agent

Estate agency is changing. 

While the high street isn’t going anywhere, more agents are trading in desk jobs for self-employment.

Platforms like YOPA Associates, TAUK (The Agency UK), and eXp UK are leading the way, helping agents build personal brands with professional support. 

In fact, eXp are the largest, with 700+ agents and now crowned the UK’s top Online/Hybrid agent and the largest for New Instructions in Q2 2025, overtaking Purplebricks. Yopa sits in third.

A Market on the Move

Although Online/Hybrid agency market share has dropped from 8.2% in 2019 to 4.8% in 2025, self-employed agents now account for nearly half of that (2.3%), and they’re growing fast.

Put simply: traditional online agents are shrinking, but self-employed models are growing, and the sector’s also maturing, with consolidation and mergers on the rise.

• eXp’s new instructions rose 48% YoY; Purplebricks dropped 25%.
• The self-employed sector grew 31% between 2023 and 2024.
• By 2030, self-employed agents could cover 10% of the market.

How Can Traditional Agents Keep Up?

You’ll hear the argument that self-employed agents offer:

• A more responsive, personal service
• One point of contactfrom valuation to completion
• Bespoke marketingtailored to the property and audience

But... why can’t traditional agencies deliver the same thing?

Some absolutely do! Others don’t. 

Remember, just because you’re not a “personal agent” doesn’t mean you’re unable to offer a personal touch. Don’t be a faceless organisation. 

If traditional agencies don’t want to risk losing talent and market share to more client-focused competitors, they must rethink their customer journey, agent autonomy, marketing creativity, and brand messaging. 

Why Change?

For many agents, the appeal of self-employment lies in the freedom (and money). 

The dream is that you choose your hours, build your own brand, and work the way you want. This is all with the bonus of potentially higher earnings.

✅ More autonomy
✅ Flexible work-life balance
✅ The ability to market yourself, not just your agency

It’s particularly attractive to seasoned agents with a robust network who believe they’ve “outgrown” the traditional high-street model or those seeking a change of pace.

Self-Employment Isn’t Easy

What worries most agents is the wording of “Potentially higher earnings”...

Let’s not sugar-coat it: being a personal agent is tough. You're not just an agent; you're a negotiator, marketer, administrator, and business owner.

The most successful self-employed agents will tell you that the hardest work often goes unseen.

• Approximately 40% of new self-employed agents will fail.
• The more popular this model becomes, the more competitors you’ll have to outshine.
• The market may grow to 10%, but that still leaves 90% of sellers choosing other options.

The High Street Still Matters

Many sellers still prefer the familiarity of a local branch, especially in higher-value or complex sales. The value lies in:

• Brand recognition and foot traffic
• Admin, compliance and progression taken care of
• Local reputation that’s taken years to build

While the self-employed model is growing, most of the UK’s 62,400 estate agents and auctioneers still operate within traditional firms. 

For new agents, the benefits of daily support and a consistent flow of leads can be immensely valuable.

So, Which Model is Better?

Only you can answer that question. The truth is: it depends. 

Both models can thrive and fail, depending on your personality, goals, and stage of career.

The key difference lies in support vs autonomy:

• High street: you’re part of a team, with structure and shared resources.
• Self-employed: you’re your own brand, with flexibility and responsibility.

This isn’t the death of the high street, it’s the rise of choice. Self-employment adds new routes to success for agents and better options for clients.

Whether you’re sticking with a trusted team or striking out on your own, the important thing is delivering value, building trust, and staying adaptable...

No matter where your desk is.

Have you worked in both models? Considering the switch? Drop us a message or share your experience. We’d love to hear your take.

For more information: https://www.kerfuffle.com/suppliers/bid