Stilettos, lipsticks & catfights: Forget Selling Sunset, the really ruthless sales girls are in Glasgow
With alpha women, rich clients and homes we can only dream of, it’s the most binge-worthy boxset on Netflix. But the UK has its own ace squad…
Few of us could ever afford the homes, but fans of the latest reality show on streaming service Netflix can’t get enough of the estate agency glamazons of Selling Sunset.
Whether you love Christine’s cattiness, have a secret crush on Jason and Brett (surely that’s not just us?) or are simply there to ogle the multi-million pound properties, there’s no denying we’re all addicted to the Oppenheim Group and its extravagant employees.
But while buying and selling real estate in the hills of LA seems a million miles from our reality, one all-female UK
estate agency insist it isn’t...
‘When Selling Sunset came out, my colleague, Jane, told me I just had to watch it,’ says Sandra Hill, founder of Manor Estate agency. ‘I devoured it – not only because it was a feast for the eyes (I think they call it ‘property porn’) but because there were so many similarities to my own business.’
And it’s true. Because while Manor Estate Agency in Glasgow, Scotland, might not be showing homes to rival those in the Hollywood hills, there are still some striking similarities.
Sandra, 43, and her powerhouse of agents – Claire Hart, 39, Jane McCluskey, 42, and Linda Benson, 52 – have sold properties for a whole host of celebrities.
And with their figure-hugging dresses, sky-high heels and immaculate hair and make-up, these women could easily fit in with the glamorous Selling Sunset cast. And they’re willing to go the extra mile for a sale.
‘I can truly understand the agents’ drive and desire to do whatever it takes to close a sale and make their clients happy,’ says Sandra. ‘ When we’re showing someone a property, we aren’t just selling a house, it’s a lifestyle.
‘And whilst the job may look glamorous, it’s not all canapés at open houses and clinking glasses to celebrate a sale. We enjoy glamming up in dresses, heels and make-up – you want to look professional.
‘But we also get our hands dirty and go above and beyond for our clients, whether that’s cleaning a bathroom, letting the dog out, being a shoulder to cry on when it all gets too much – or, as I found myself doing the other week, sticking crinkle-cut chips in the oven for a homeowner’s dinner!’
Mum-of-two Sandra was inspired to set up her agency in October 2017, after separating from her husband.
‘I had to sell our family home, which was a horrendous experience. I’d been taking responsibility for the viewings, picking up the phone and pushing the estate agent.
It was overwhelming.
‘The agents would prefer to speak to my husband about viewings and offers. It felt very male-dominated. I found the whole experience deflating.
‘I was working 60-70 hour weeks with my banking job, barely seeing my two children, who were just two months and four at the time. When I was approaching 40, I took stock and asked myself if that was what I really wanted. It wasn’t, so I took redundancy.
‘ When my house finally sold, I thought to myself, “I could do this and I could do it better.” So, I sat my exams and decided to make the process easier and less stressful for others.’
Sandra set about starting an agency with a difference. ‘The value of the property isn’t the most important factor – whether they’re worth £75k or £750k, we treat them both equally. Every home belongs to a person or family – and we can find the perfect buyer who wants to make it their own.
‘ We’re empathetic and want to help people regardless of their circumstances – whether they’re moving due to a divorce or need to find a bigger home for their growing family. If it’s important to them, it’s important to us.
‘ We do all of the things they do on Selling Sunset – declutter spaces, re-arrange furniture, hang art on the walls and dress the property. We’ve hosted open houses and drafted in celebs to help with marketing.
‘It’s not quite as glamorous as the TV show – if I’m selling a flat on the sixth floor of an up-and-coming block of flats in the West End of Glasgow, I’ll definitely be leaving my heels at home – but the premise is the same. We do whatever it takes to sell the property.
‘ When we watched the show, it was funny as Jane – in our office – is a bit of a Christine,’ Sandra adds. ‘She has no filter and says it as it is.’
But whilst there were lots of things Sandra and her team could relate to, there were also some pretty big differences too.
‘There’s no bitchiness, cat fights or arguments. Of course, we don’t always agree but it doesn’t result in blazing rows and drinks being thrown.
‘ We enjoy working together and spending time outside of the office – we all get together on a Thursday lunchtime.’
And sadly, their wages don’t quite match up, either. ‘The commission they earn in the show is in excess of anything we could hope to achieve,’ Sandra laughs. ‘ What they make from one house sale, we’d be happy to make in a year. Our properties range from a £60k flat in East Kilbride – perfect for a first-time buyer – to a £1m mansion fit for a celeb. The biggest we’ve sold was £1.1m.’
But Sandra hasn’t failed to use the show to pick up tips. ‘In one episode, two agents were vying for the same client and they took different approaches – one went for a dog walk with her and the other took her out for drinks.
‘And that really is so important, finding out what appeals to that person and making that the priority, as well as thinking outside of the box – although we’ll be steering clear of Botox and burgerthemed open houses!’
‘I decided to make this process easier and less stressful’