Estate agents are being deluged with cold sales calls at a higher rate than before the pandemic, according to new figures.

Data from a leading call-handling service shows that cold calls to property firms have increased by 10% compared with pre-Covid levels, and by 15% in the past 12 months.

Cold sales calls accounted for 22,000 calls to Moneypenny’s property clients in 2019, dipping to 20,000 in 2020 and rising to 26,500 in 2021 – compared with 28,000 in 2022 from January to September alone.

Cold sales calls to all business sectors are up 23% in the past three months alone over the same period last year.

‘Agents focus’

Sharon Boyle, head of the property sector at Moneypenny, said: “With cold calls on the increase it can be difficult for agents to handle current volumes as well as filter out the noise so they can focus on the calls that really matter – those from buyer and sellers.

“With economic uncertainty ahead, these calls are likely to increase further as businesses work harder to drum up new business and forge new connections.

“Property agents need measures in place so that even when phone lines are busy, customer care is not compromised.”

The company handles two million property calls and chats each year for 16,000 property professionals – including 2,500 estate agents and 250 housebuilders.