That job you think is a safety net? No, it’s a trap 🙂‍↔️

In this episode of The Gavel Drops, I sit down with Steve Bell from Commercial Property Experts, and we go all in on the uncomfortable truth most people in property don’t want to face:

🔓 Your “safe” job in agency isn’t actually safe.

💸 Overpricing isn’t “tactical”, it’s killing deals.

💭 And if you’re building someone else’s brand, you’re capping your own future.

Steve’s got 25+ years in property, residential, commercial, petrol stations, the lot. He’s gone from salaried employee to self-employed, written a book called “The Loyalty Lie”, and helped other agents leave the traditional model behind and build a future of their own.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

The UK property market has the foundations for Auctions to be successful, so why aren't we utilising them more? 🔨In this episode, I sat down with the legendary Tom Panos, the man who helped turn entire markets in Australia into auction-first powerhouses. What he shares here? It’s the wake-up call the UK property world desperately needs.From selling homes in 28 days instead of 128, to eliminating fall-through, to creating real competition, real transparency and real confidence for buyers and sellers.Tom breaks down exactly why auctions transformed Australia, and why the UK is perfectly positioned for the same shift.𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗮𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲.

In this week’s episode of The Gavel Drops, the tables turn as Ray Purchase — MD of The Auction Company and The Auction Experts — takes the hot seat. 🔨

Go behind the scenes of property auctions with Jo and Helen, as they interview their Managing Director. Hear surprising insights, auction tips, and the strategies that shape success from the auctioneer’s perspective.

Ray also opens up about the challenges and breakthroughs of scaling a team, why self-belief is the key to success, and how leaders can inspire others to step out of their comfort zones.

From growing to a team of ten (with sights set on 30+), to encouraging colleagues to get on camera for the very first time, this episode dives into the mindset, resilience, and leadership needed to build the UK’s best auction brand.

💡 Expect honest insights, pinch-me moments, and practical lessons for anyone looking to grow a team and a business they truly believe in.

📺 Watch on YouTube

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

#TheGavelDrops #RayPurchase #TheAuctionCompany #TheAuctionExperts #Leadership #SelfBelief #ScalingBusiness

In this week’s episode of The Gavel Drops, Ray sits down with Mark Moffat, who has just completed his first year as a self-employed estate agent.

Mark opens up about the big leap from the “safety net” of a 9–5 into running his own business — sharing the reality of leaving long office hours behind to take back control of his time and family life.

You’ll hear:

🎤 Why Mark ended his podcast with a surprise karaoke moment

🏡 How an auction sale turned into a family holiday (in just 12 seconds!)

🐶 The hilarious story of the day he lost a seller’s dog mid-viewing

🚀 His advice for anyone on the edge of launching their own business

⭐ The strategies he uses to stand out — from personal branding to one-to-one client service

📱 His honest take on social media (and why he’s learning to embrace it)

This episode is packed with laughs, lessons, and the kind of honesty you rarely hear in property.

👉 Subscribe to The Gavel Drops for real stories, real business, and the moments that change everything.

What does it really mean to build a business that gives you freedom?

In this episode of The Gavel Drops, Gareth — The Mortgage Man — shares how he balances leadership, business, and real life — from quick Teams calls abroad to afternoons on the golf course.

We dive into:

⛳ The freedom self-employment can bring

🌍 How to truly work from anywhere

💡 Why balance matters more than “hustle”

🤝 The power of surrounding yourself with the right people

🍷 Lifestyle and business, working side by side

This isn’t just about making money — it’s about creating a life you don’t need to escape from.

📲 Listen now and see how building the right business can transform not just your income, but your lifestyle.

When the gavel drops, everything changes.

In this episode of The Gavel Drops, Vicky & Mark open up about their journey through property, the leap from employment to self-employment, and why auctions are the one role they wish they’d started with.

From the rollercoaster highs and lows of auction day, to the mindset shifts needed to go from a salary to building your own freedom, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone looking to take control of their career.

They share:

✅ The dream of running UK property from a Dubai balcony

✅ The reality of auction day nerves (and why it’s worth it)

✅ Why consistency beats quick wins on social media

✅ The confidence shift you must make to succeed as a self-employed

If you’re ready to stop wasting time, back yourself, and build a business on your terms — this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

From being pranked into counting squirrels in Formby Pinewoods 🐿️ to selling homes with lakes (or was it just a big pond?) — Helen’s story is as entertaining as it is inspiring.

In this episode of The Gavel Drops, we sit down with Helen to unpack:

✅ Her leap from employed to self-employed — and how it felt watching her first sale go through knowing she’d earned it
✅ The moment she realised auction wasn’t just for “wrecks” — but also for stunning properties with motivated vendors
✅ Why auction day gives her a buzz like no other
✅ The emotional side of helping sellers in sensitive situations — and why empathy is her superpower
✅ Her love of walking around houses (even the less glamorous ones) and the joy of seeing buyers' dreams come true
✅ And of course… the famous quick-fire round: rosé wine, Twirls, and Bernie’s Thai green curry 🍷🍫🍛

Whether you’re in property or just love a story about grit, growth, and doing what’s right — this episode is packed with golden moments and heartfelt insights.

🎧 Tune in now to The Gavel Drops — because when the gavel drops, everything changes.

In this episode of The Gavel Drops, Jo Bradford gets raw and real about what it takes to go from employed to self-employed — and the mindset shift required to truly thrive.

💬 From battling the fear of failure to embracing discomfort and showing up on social media, Jo opens up about the personal growth that’s come from building a business on her terms.

We talk:

• Breaking the stereotype of auctions being a “man’s world”

• Why mindset is everything in business

• The buzz of delivering results for sellers and agents

• How to build your income — without letting others’ opinions limit you

• Going from “terrified” to totally in control

🎯 Whether you’re in property or just chasing your own goals, Jo’s story will hit home.

🛠️ Sponsored by The Auction Company

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms

This is the truth behind Direct-to-Vendor marketing that most people won’t tell you.

In this powerful episode of The Gavel Drops, we sit down with Keith Firmin — property investor, DTV expert, and all-round straight talker — to explore how genuine connection, problem-solving, and integrity lead to long-term success in the off-market world.

💬 Keith shares:

The mindset shift that changed everything in his business

Why trust and empathy beat cash offers every time

How to build relationships that turn into deals — even years later

What fear of failure is really costing you

This isn’t a guru script.

This is real experience, real lessons, and real results — straight from the frontline of UK property.

🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Thursday

🎙 Brought to you by The Auction Company

👇 Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear it.

Keith’s Direct-to-Vendor training is now live! Get 15% off all our packages with the code THEGAVELDROPS15.

https://www.directtovendor.com/

In this episode of The Gavel Drops, we sit down with Sean Newman — the visionary entrepreneur behind one of the UK’s most ambitious property networks.With over 30 years of experience, Sean has transformed the traditional estate agency model by launching a collection of expert-led brands that empower self-employed agents to build real businesses and live life on their terms.🔥 What you’ll get in this episode:🧠 How Sean built a multi-brand property empire🚀 The mindset required to scale successfully🤝 Recruitment strategies that build high-performing teams🏡 What makes his self-employed model so powerful📱 How content, consistency, and confidence fuel success💼 Featuring the brands:Fine & CountryThe Property ExpertsThe Auction CompanyThe Auction ExpertsThe Commercial ExpertsThe Lettings ExpertsThe Travel ExpertsThe Mortgage ExpertsThe Recruitment ExpertsThe Marketing ExpertsThis isn’t just about property — it’s about vision, freedom, and creating something bigger than yourself.👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful conversations with leaders in business, property, and beyond.When the gavel drops… everything changes.

🎙️ Welcome to The Gavel Drops — the podcast where the property world gets real.

Hosted by Ray Purchase, this show dives into the untold stories behind the deals, the journeys of those breaking the mould, and the mindset it takes to succeed in auctions, estate agency, and self-employment.

🔥 What to expect:

🎤 Raw, unfiltered conversations with real people

🏡 Tips for buyers, sellers, and agents making bold moves

💬 Lessons from self-employed pros changing their lives

🚀 Real talk on business, mindset, and personal growth

New episodes drop every Thursday on Spotify. Hit follow — and don’t miss a thing.

The Gavel Drops.

Real Stories. Real Deals. Real Results.

When the gavel drops… everything changes.