Meet the estate agent who sells houses on TikTok and goes the extra mile for clients - by helping them to move in
- last year
Tanya Baker, 29, has worked as an estate agent for around nine years, before she went independent 18 months ago.
She grew up in Eltham, south east London, and focuses on homes in the area, making videos to show prospective clients around, which are intended to feel cosy.
Footage of a stunning five storey town house in SE14 reached 1.4 million TikTok views and 267,000 likes - but Tanya also goes the extra mile for clients and has helped with cleaning and moving house.
A home listed at £1.75m was recently sold through Instagram, after Tanya started up in February 2021 under Keller Williams.
Tanya gained experience at Hampton, and even does the key handover at the property rather than asking clients to come to her, and gives them a celebratory gift.
Despite the reputation estate agents have for being unethical, Tanya said her work doesn't keep her awake at night because she goes out of her way to help people.
She recently sold a house through Instagram and believes social media is making her career path, which is male dominated, open to younger women.
And she believes being female in a public-facing job is her biggest asset, and she encourages buyers and sellers to meet so they know who they are dealing with.
She also promotes the history of the area by comparing old photographs with the current day – including Greenwich Park or the old fire station in Blackheath Village.
Tanya said: "A woman recently said doing the videos was like being shown around by a friend.
"It looks cosy and homely.
“People spend about two and a half hours a day on social media, but only eight minutes a day on Rightmove.
"I get to see some incredible houses, and only take on two to four clients at a time.
"Often I am people's second choice as they have tried to sell before, but it's a big gamble going with a newbie.
"I want to tell them the story around the house - if a dresser is original and from the 1860s, for example.
"People often don't have questions because I give them so much information."
She said aspects of the job are really tough and there can be heartbreak when things don't go to plan.
Tanya, who lives near Sevenoaks, Kent, with her boyfriend and four dogs, recalls her mum fretting over meeting mortgage payments, but has received abuse online over her job.
However if she knocks on people's doors to talk to them about selling, she feels being female is a huge advantage.
She said: "Our brains cannot tell the difference between online video and people in real life, so it helps people to feel more comfortable with me when they do meet me in real life.
"I get told that I have a really warm feeling about me and people feel like they're being shown around by a friend - which is lovely feedback.
"I'd love to give anyone a home, I wish I had duplicates of these properties and could give more people the opportunity.
She grew up in Eltham, south east London, and focuses on homes in the area, making videos to show prospective clients around, which are intended to feel cosy.
Footage of a stunning five storey town house in SE14 reached 1.4 million TikTok views and 267,000 likes - but Tanya also goes the extra mile for clients and has helped with cleaning and moving house.
A home listed at £1.75m was recently sold through Instagram, after Tanya started up in February 2021 under Keller Williams.
Tanya gained experience at Hampton, and even does the key handover at the property rather than asking clients to come to her, and gives them a celebratory gift.
Despite the reputation estate agents have for being unethical, Tanya said her work doesn't keep her awake at night because she goes out of her way to help people.
She recently sold a house through Instagram and believes social media is making her career path, which is male dominated, open to younger women.
And she believes being female in a public-facing job is her biggest asset, and she encourages buyers and sellers to meet so they know who they are dealing with.
She also promotes the history of the area by comparing old photographs with the current day – including Greenwich Park or the old fire station in Blackheath Village.
Tanya said: "A woman recently said doing the videos was like being shown around by a friend.
"It looks cosy and homely.
“People spend about two and a half hours a day on social media, but only eight minutes a day on Rightmove.
"I get to see some incredible houses, and only take on two to four clients at a time.
"Often I am people's second choice as they have tried to sell before, but it's a big gamble going with a newbie.
"I want to tell them the story around the house - if a dresser is original and from the 1860s, for example.
"People often don't have questions because I give them so much information."
She said aspects of the job are really tough and there can be heartbreak when things don't go to plan.
Tanya, who lives near Sevenoaks, Kent, with her boyfriend and four dogs, recalls her mum fretting over meeting mortgage payments, but has received abuse online over her job.
However if she knocks on people's doors to talk to them about selling, she feels being female is a huge advantage.
She said: "Our brains cannot tell the difference between online video and people in real life, so it helps people to feel more comfortable with me when they do meet me in real life.
"I get told that I have a really warm feeling about me and people feel like they're being shown around by a friend - which is lovely feedback.
"I'd love to give anyone a home, I wish I had duplicates of these properties and could give more people the opportunity.