Building a Premium Agency at Speed... #52 Katie Solaru

In this episode, we sit down with Katie Solaru, MD of By Design in Cheshire's 'Golden Triangle', who stepped into the premium market around 6 months ago. We find out how she has grown so quickly, both in terms of market share, and team members, in such a short space of time.  We cover:  - Growing to a team of four partner agents in six months without ever setting out to recruit anyone - A first market appraisal at £2.75m, off the back of one hand-written and hand-signed letter - How margins match markets - The social media system behind it all: three B-roll folders, local followers over vanity numbers, and how to reach the 97% who aren't moving - Favourite or fool, and why being visible long before the valuation decides who wins the instruction - The only canvassing she still does, and why the open house postcard brings her more business than the listing does - Networking that actually works in the premium market, from weekly breakfast clubs to Pilates at the Porsche Centre - The accidental staging and styling business that started with one client going on holiday - Person-centred planning and how therapy training makes the price conversation easier - Choosing to be the least experienced person in the room, and what made her move to By Design - Imposter syndrome when the problem isn't your own self-belief but what everyone else might think - Twelve years in the NHS as a speech and language therapist, and the first property investment that went badly wrong And a lot more. This is a brilliant, open and honest conversation, and I promise you will come away with a lot of insights from Katie. Enjoy!