Still unsure about using a recruiter? In real estate, that hesitation could be costing your business valuable time, revenue, and access to the best talent in the market.
Hiring in real estate is uniquely challenging. You are not just looking for someone who can sell, manage, or analyse; you are hiring individuals who can represent your brand, fit your culture, drive revenue, and add long-term value.
Yet many real estate businesses are still hesitant about partnering with a recruiter. Whether it is due to cost concerns, previous negative experiences, or the belief that “we can do it ourselves,” this mindset can often lead to missed opportunities. That thinking normally results in longer hiring cycles, and avoidable mis-hires.
At GKR International, we hear these concerns regularly, and we understand them. But we also know how powerful the right recruitment partner can be, especially in a sector as competitive and people-driven as real estate.
Below, I address the most common objections we hear and why it may be time to revisit your approach to hiring.
“We can find people ourselves.”
Of course you can. Many businesses start their search internally. But how long does it take? And how much time is lost reviewing unsuitable CVs, chasing applicants who do not show up to interviews, or sitting through meetings that lead nowhere?
Your internal team knows your business, but a specialist recruiter knows the people: where they are, what they are earning, what motivates them to move, and how to engage them effectively. That knowledge, combined with an external recruiter’s day-to-day access to talent, significantly shortens the process and raises the quality of candidate conversations.
At GKR International, we provide you with a shortlist of candidates who are already vetted and aligned with your criteria. We handle the pre-qualifying, screening, and engagement, so you only meet people worth your time.
The result? Faster hires, better talent, and less admin for your internal team.
“Recruiters are too expensive.”
Are they? Hiring the wrong person can cost you far more than a recruitment fee: lost listings, unhappy clients, reputational damage, team disruption, and ultimately, wasted time restarting the process. Especially in real estate, where so much rides on client relationships and commercial performance, one poor hire can have far-reaching consequences.
A good recruiter does not just fill a vacancy; they reduce your exposure to risk by improving the quality and relevance of every candidate you consider. We help you get it right the first time, which is where the real cost saving lies.
Our goal is to act as a long-term partner, not a transactional supplier, supporting you in building high-performing, high-retention teams that align with your goals.
“No one knows our business like we do.”
Absolutely right! But what we do know is the real estate talent market inside out.
At GKR, we speak to over 500 real estate professionals every single week. These are not generalist conversations, every call we make is real estate specific. We spend our time talking to candidates across residential, commercial, investment, development, and asset management, constantly gathering insight into who is available, who is under pressure, what top candidates expect, and what makes them move.
We provide up-to-date intelligence on:
- Salary and incentive benchmarks
- Notice periods and availability
- Competitor activity and attrition trends
- The motivations of both active and passive jobseekers
We combine your knowledge of your business with our knowledge of the market, giving you a much stronger chance of hiring the right person, at the right time.
“We tried using recruiters before - it didn’t work.”
That’s an understandable concern. Not every recruiter is effective, and not every experience is positive. But one underwhelming experience does not mean recruitment partnerships do not work; it means you may not have worked with the right one.
GKR International is not a generalist agency. This is all we do, day in and day out. Our team is immersed in the sector, understands the structure and pressures of property businesses, and knows how to represent your brand professionally and discreetly in the market.
We take the time to understand your hiring objectives, your culture, your team dynamics, and your longer-term commercial goals. Our approach is relationship-led, not volume-driven. And it is proven: over 87% of our placements remain in role beyond their first year; a direct reflection of our focus on long-term fit, not short-term gain.
“We don’t want to give up control or create mixed messaging in the market.”
The good news is: you don’t have to. As your recruitment partner, GKR works as an extension of your business. You retain full control over the process and the messaging; we simply do the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
We ensure all candidate engagement is professional, consistent with your brand, and aligned with your values. We take care of the early stages: candidate identification, engagement, screening, and referencing (if requested), so that by the time you meet someone, they are fully briefed, aligned with your expectations, and motivated for the opportunity.
You retain final say on every step, while we handle the time-consuming tasks that slow your process down.
What you gain with GKR International:
Working with GKR means access to an experienced partner with deep reach and expertise in the real estate sector. Our clients benefit from:
- Faster time-to-hire and fewer delays across all seniority levels
- Access to both active and passive talent across the market
- Reduced admin and candidate management for internal teams
- Detailed market insight e.g., salary, movement, and competitor analysis
- Marketing and talent attraction support through our network and partnerships
- High-quality shortlists tailored to your commercial goals and cultural values
- Greater long-term retention and reduced cost-per-hire over time
We recruit across the full real estate spectrum, including:
- Residential and commercial fee earners
- Lettings and property management professionals
- Investment, development, and finance roles
- Asset managers, valuers, and analysts
- Operational, administrative, and marketing specialists
Your people are your competitive advantage:
In a sector where performance, reputation, and relationships drive value, hiring the right people is critical. GKR International has partnered with some of the most respected real estate businesses in the UK, Europe, and globally, helping them build high-performing teams and avoid costly missteps.
To explore how your current hiring process compares to the wider market, or simply to have a confidential conversation about your plans, we invite you to speak with us directly.
There is no pressure, no obligation, and no hard sell. Just insight, experience, and honest advice.
Contact Grant Kaveney, GKR International:
Telephone: 0207 048 3304
Email: grant@gkrinternational.com
About Grant Kaveney:
Grant Kaveney is the Founder and Managing Director of GKR International, with over 20 years’ experience in real estate recruitment across the UK and international markets. Known for his relationship-led approach and in-depth market insight, Grant has successfully placed specialist and senior talent across residential agency, commercial leasing, investment, development, and asset management.
Grant works closely with founders, directors, and senior hiring teams to provide tailored, strategic recruitment support that aligns with each business’s growth objectives. His commitment to long-term client relationships and high-quality delivery has made him a trusted advisor to many of the sector’s most respected brands.
