Inside the Life of an Essex Estate Agent

In this edition of our Life of a Self-Employed Estate Agent series, we sit down with Lara Bradley, a dedicated and experienced estate agent operating across Basildon, Billericay, and Wickford in South Essex. With over 15 years in the property industry, Lara shares her journey from admin assistant to associate level, and how self-employment has transformed her work-life balance.

From Employed to Empowered

Lara’s story is one of growth. After climbing the ranks in the property world, she leapt into self-employment to take control of her time and career. Now running her own residential sales and lettings business, Lara reflects on the freedoms that come with this new way of working.

“Weekends can still be busy with viewings,” she says, “but I now manage my own diary. That means I never miss a nursery drop-off or pick-up. That simply wasn’t possible in an employed role.”

Balancing Business and Family

For Lara, the ability to be present for her two young sons is priceless. Whether it’s trips to Canvey Island’s funfair, visits to Bali Land’s petting farm, or playtime at ‘Wat Tyler Country Park‘, self-employment allows her to be the mum she wants to be—without sacrificing her business.

“I’m a workaholic by nature,” she laughs. “But the difference now is I fit work around my family. I might not be at my laptop at 9am daily, but I’ll be online later once the boys are asleep.”

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Navigating the Transition

The move to self-employment wasn’t without its challenges. Lara admits the early days were tough, especially adjusting from a steady income to the unpredictability of commission-based earnings.

“It was really exciting at first,” she explains. “But then the novelty wears off and it gets tough, and lonely. Joining networking groups with other self-employed professionals really helped me get through that phase.”

Support Makes the Difference

Lara highlights the importance of community within iad. With a national and international network of agents, she knows she’s never alone.

“We’ve got a WhatsApp group where agents help each other out every day. If I face a challenge, someone else has usually been through it already and can help me navigate it. It’s been a lifesaver.”

Advice for Aspiring Agents

If you’re considering making the move to self-employment, Lara has some words of wisdom:

Have some savings behind you, it can take time to earn. Get out there and network. Lean on your support system. And know that yes, it’s hard, but it’s absolutely worth it.

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Thinking about making the leap to self-employment in estate agency? Take a page from Lara’s book and embrace flexibility, prioritise service, and make your business work for you.