In this powerhouse episode of The Viking Chat, Kristjan Byfield sits down with one of the UK property sector’s most authentic and disruptive voices - Simon Gates, co-founder of Opening The Gates and a man who has made it his mission to rewire how estate and letting agents think, speak and serve.

This isn’t just another industry chat. It’s an unfiltered, high-energy deep dive into what’s broken, what’s exciting, and what’s next for the UK agency landscape - all through the lens of a man who’s spent the last 20+ years learning by doing, leading by example, and lifting others as he climbs.

From estate agency culture to personal branding, CPD to content creation, vendor communication to mental health, nothing’s off the table in this honest and often hilarious hour of real talk, hard truths, and big ideas.

🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why trust is the only KPI that really matters
Simon breaks down why brand voice, tone and delivery beat logos and leaflet drops every time - and how agents can build real connection by being themselves, not sales machines.

✅ The problem with '80s estate agency in a TikTok world
We talk about the legacy problems in property: command-and-control leadership, “numbers over nuance” mindsets, and the chronic lack of investment in personal development. Spoiler: your people aren’t just tools - they’re your brand.

✅ Why CPD needs CPR
Simon’s take on continuing professional development is anything but corporate. It’s about real-world learning, daily discipline, and ditching the idea that compliance is a checkbox rather than a culture.

✅ LinkedIn is the new market appraisal
Simon shares how he turned casual posts into genuine business - not by pitching, but by positioning. If you’re not showing up online, in your voice, with real insight and vulnerability, you’re missing the biggest free tool in the modern agent’s arsenal.

✅ Mental health in agency: enough pretending
From burnout and breakdowns to personal boundaries and growth, Simon gets candid about the emotional toll of the job - and why vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s leadership.

✅ The long game of letting (and why quick wins rarely stick)
We explore why patience, consistency and purpose-led strategy always outperform the agents chasing fast fees and short-term metrics - especially in lettings, where trust compounds over time.

🧠 Why This Episode Matters

The property industry is at a crossroads. Consumer expectations are rising. Talent is leaving. Fee pressure is up. And trust in the agency profession? Still not where it should be.

Simon Gates is part of the solution. Not because he’s reinventing agency, but because he’s helping people reconnect with why they got into it in the first place - and how to do it better, smarter, and more sustainably.

For letting agents and estate agents alike, this episode is a masterclass in modern relevance: the tools, tactics and truths that actually move the needle in a noisy, distracted, post-pandemic marketplace.

It’s also a reminder that being good at this job isn’t about saying the right thing. It’s about being the right person - for your clients, your team, and your future self.

💼 Who Should Tune In?

• Letting and estate agents looking to future-proof their personal brand
• Branch managers trying to inspire (not just instruct) their teams
• Agency owners who want to build legacy, not just listings
• Industry suppliers rethinking how to engage the sector meaningfully
• Anyone who believes the best agents are more than just dealmakers

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