As the end of the year approaches, estate agents are gearing up for a busy festive period, but new research from eXp UK suggests that some agents could be pushing themselves to the limit, with one in five planning to work straight through Christmas.
The survey, commissioned by eXp UK, revealed that many estate agents are preparing to keep working through the Christmas period, with 20% of respondents planning to take no time off at all.
While the majority of agents (80%) plan to take some form of a break, it seems the holiday season will still be hectic.
Of those taking time off, 44% said they would continue working right up until Christmas Eve.
Many agents are also planning to return to work between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, with 45% expecting to be back at their desks between the 26th and 27th of December.
Interestingly, 85% of those surveyed stated they would take New Year’s Day off, but 63% of those would be back to work on January 2nd, pushing through the festive period to manage their workload.
‘11% of agents said they plan to fully switch off’
Despite the busy period, only 11% of agents said they plan to fully switch off, disconnecting from work emails and calls during the festive season
For those who can’t entirely unplug, the focus will be on progressing ongoing transactions, completing sales, and hosting viewings.
Adam Day, Head of eXp UK, commented on the demanding nature of the job, “Estate agency can be a round-the-clock business, and whether agents are burning the midnight oil or starting early in the morning, many work incredibly hard to ensure that the sales they oversee make it through to completion.”
Burnout due to stamp duty deadline
This year, estate agents could face an even busier period due to the upcoming stamp duty relief deadline in spring 2025.
With more sales in progress than usual, agents are increasingly motivated to continue managing transactions over the Christmas period.
However, Adam Day cautioned against pushing too hard, “For many, this year’s likely increased workload could lead to burnout, especially with such high demands around the holidays. For those who celebrate Christmas, it’s important to take a breath, even if it’s only for a day or two, to avoid exhaustion.”