Dakin Property Group

01/09/2026

A personal update from Ashley

Many of you will not know that, for nearly three years, I have been living with Graves’ disease—an autoimmune condition that affects the thyroid and can have a significant impact on both physical and mental health.

Over the past year, my health has deteriorated considerably. In February, I experienced a frightening complication called thyrotoxic periodic paralysis, which left me conscious but unable to move my arms or legs for several hours.

This ultimately led to me very recently undergoing a total thyroidectomy—the complete removal of my thyroid.

Although the operation is now behind me, my recovery is only beginning. My body can no longer produce thyroid hormones naturally, so I will need lifelong replacement medication. It can take time to establish the correct hormone levels and for the body to adjust, and I must now give my recovery the attention it requires.

After a great deal of thought and conversations with my family, I have made the extremely difficult decision to take a temporary step back from Dakin Property Group.

Anyone who knows me will understand how much this business means to me. Building Dakin Property Group has been one of the proudest and most rewarding things I have ever done, which is why this decision has not come easily.

Throughout this year, I have tried to continue working while struggling with my health. I now have to accept that pushing through is no longer the right thing to do. I need to listen to my body, allow myself to recover properly and adjust to the medication I will depend upon from now on.

This is only a temporary pause. I remain incredibly proud of Dakin Property Group, and I fully intend to return when my health allows me to give the business and its clients the energy, dedication and standard of service they deserve.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Dakin Property Group and me personally. Your understanding during this period will mean an enormous amount.

For now, I need to concentrate on my health, my recovery and my family.

Dakin Property Group will be back. But first, I need to get Ashley back.

10/08/2026

16 to 24 weeks tied into an estate-agency contract—followed by another four weeks’ notice if you want to leave.

Some gym memberships are easier to escape.

I’ve never understood it. If an agent is doing a brilliant job, why should they need a contract designed to stop their client from going elsewhere?

Unfortunately, the routine is becoming fairly familiar:

Promise the highest valuation.
Secure the instruction.
Tie the homeowner into a lengthy agreement.
Upload the property to Rightmove.
Wait.
Then, several weeks later, blame “the market” and ask the seller to reduce the price.

By that point, the owner is stuck—and the agent still has their board up, their listing online and plenty of time left on the contract.

Rightmove is a property portal. It is not, by itself, a marketing strategy.

This is exactly why I created Dakin Property Group.

I genuinely love estate agency—which still surprises me, because it’s the first job I’ve ever been able to say that about.

I love meeting homeowners, carrying out valuations, working out how to position a property, creating the listing, writing the description, using the portals and finding the right way to bring a home to market.

I even love Rightmove. I just don’t believe pressing “publish” and hoping for the best counts as the entire job.

Dakin Property Group may not be the biggest name in estate agency, but every property matters here. I won’t inflate a valuation simply to win an instruction, and I won’t ask someone to sign away half a year while I work out what to do next.

No lengthy tie-in period.
No unnecessary charges.
No fee unless your sale completes.

Just honest advice, a considered and structured marketing approach, and an agent who genuinely loves what he does.

Based in Rockbeare and covering Exeter and the surrounding areas.

If you’re thinking of selling and would prefer honesty over a flattering figure followed by six months of excuses, feel free to get in touch.

10/08/2026

Why on earth are some estate agents still tying sellers into 16, 20 or even 24-week contracts?

And then, after all that, expecting another FOUR WEEKS’ notice?

I genuinely cannot get my head around it.

Over the last few weeks I’ve had several vendors contact me who are stuck with agents on exactly these sorts of agreements.

Their home hasn’t sold.

They’re unhappy with the service.

They’ve lost confidence in the agent.

But they still can’t leave.

Why?

Because the agent made sure they were tied in.

To me, that says far more about the agent than it does about the seller.

If you are genuinely confident in your valuation, your marketing, your exposure and your ability to sell a home, why do you need to lock somebody in for months?

We don’t.

We DO NOT tie our vendors into lengthy contracts because we are confident in what we do.

We are confident in our marketing.

We are confident in the exposure we give your home.

And we are confident in our ability to get the job done.

If we haven’t sold your home and you feel we are not good enough, why should you be forced to stay with us?

You shouldn’t.

In fact, if we genuinely felt we weren’t the right agent to sell your home, we would be the first to admit it.

Because keeping somebody trapped in a contract does not suddenly make you a better estate agent.

It just protects the agent.

And I think that is exactly why this industry gets such a bad name.

Too many agents overvalue to win the instruction, lock the seller into a ridiculous contract and then spend the following months chipping away at the price.

And when the seller finally decides they’ve had enough?

“Sorry, you’re still tied in.”

It’s lazy.

It’s outdated.

And frankly, it’s not good enough.

A good estate agent should keep your business because they are delivering for you.

Not because a contract says you’re not allowed to leave.

So if you’re inviting agents out to value your home, don’t just ask them what price they think they can achieve.

Ask them this:

“How long are you going to tie me in for?”

Because if an agent needs 16 to 24 weeks plus a notice period just to stop you leaving…

I’d be asking why they’re so worried you might want to.

07/08/2026

Is the housing market really in “suspended animation”?

Today’s Financial Times reports that UK house prices were virtually unchanged in July, with affordability and mortgage rates continuing to hold buyers back.

But national headlines only tell part of the story.

There are significant regional differences across the UK, and even within individual towns and neighbourhoods the picture can vary considerably. Well-presented homes, realistically priced for their local market, can still attract serious buyers.

One encouraging sign is that some lenders are beginning to reduce mortgage rates. If borrowing costs continue to ease, that could give confidence — and purchasing power — back to buyers who have been sitting on the sidelines.

For sellers, this isn’t necessarily a market to fear. It is, however, a market where pricing correctly from the outset matters more than ever.

If you’re considering selling and would like an honest assessment of what your property could achieve in the current market, we’d be happy to have a conversation.

Lloyds’ data shows house prices were unchanged in July as higher mortgage rates stretch affordability

07/08/2026

HOW IS THE EX5 PROPERTY MARKET PERFORMING?

We often hear headlines about what’s happening to house prices nationally — but property markets can behave very differently at a local level.

So, how is EX5 comparing with Devon as a whole?

According to the latest Rightmove sold-price data:

EX5
Average sold price: £350,159
Prices broadly similar to the previous year

DEVON
Average sold price: £321,766
Prices 3% lower than the previous year

That means the average property sold in EX5 has achieved around £28,000 more than the Devon average over the last 12 months.

Looking at individual property types:

Detached
EX5: £524,032 | Devon: £483,242

Semi-detached
EX5: £315,300 | Devon: £304,926

Terraced
EX5: £259,312 | Devon: £250,746

Perhaps the most interesting figure, though, isn’t the average price.

While Devon’s overall sold prices are around 3% lower than the previous year, EX5 has remained broadly level.

It’s a good reminder that national and even county-wide headlines don’t always reflect what’s happening in your local market.

If you’re thinking about selling in EX5, understanding what’s happening in your particular village, street and property type can be far more useful than relying on a national house price headline.

Want to know where your property sits in the current EX5 market? Get in touch.

Source: Rightmove sold-price data / HM Land Registry. Figures based on sales over the last year. Land Registry data last updated 9 July 2026.

04/08/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbaqUO0TJju/

Life has a funny way of reminding us what’s important.

We spend so much time worrying about making the wrong decision, saying the wrong thing or taking the wrong path that we forget we’re only here for a short while.

There will be highs that you’ll never want to end and lows that make you question everything. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll lose people you love. You’ll have moments that change you forever.

But that’s life.

None of us own tomorrow. We’re simply borrowing our time here, so make the phone call, book the trip, start the business, tell people you love them, forgive, laugh more and stop waiting for the “right time” to live.

One day, all we’ll leave behind are the memories we created and the lives we touched.

So make them count.

31/07/2026

I’m intrigued… 🤔

When you walk through the front door of a house for the first time, what’s the very first thing you notice?

Is it the smell?
The kitchen?
The natural light?
The garden?
Or simply the feeling the house gives you?

I always find it interesting how quickly people make their minds up. Personally, I know within a few moments whether a house has that feeling… then I usually catch myself deciding where the sofa would go.

What’s your answer?

30/07/2026

This is exactly why I recommend Frankie to our clients. He genuinely cares about the people he advises, and this post says it all. Protection isn’t just another monthly payment—it’s about making sure your family is looked after, your home is secure, and your loved ones have one less thing to worry about if the unimaginable happens. That’s a level of peace of mind that’s priceless. Brilliant post, mate ❤️

Protection,

Whats it all about?

For me, this photo is what it's all about.

Knowing that if something happened to me, the most precious little people in my life get to stay in their home with no pressure of losing it.

My partner doesn't have to take another job to pay the bills.

The next time you look at paying for insurance, look beyond the cost. Look at who you look after when you aren't here.

🙏🏻

If you need to review your protection, reach out to me 0752584252 or [email protected]