Silas J. Lees
Thirty years in the property world, from estate agent to Chartered Building Surveyor. Now leading a movement to reform a housing market that has stalled consumers for decades — through standards, transparency and the best of the best working together.
From The High Street To The Front Line Of Reform
Silas started out as an estate agent and went on to qualify as a Chartered Building Surveyor, spending the best part of thirty years inside the UK property world. Along the way he built a career as a property investment educator, trainer and mentor — working alongside brands including Robert Kiyosaki, footballer Robbie Fowler and Martin Roberts of Homes Under The Hammer. He has spoken across the UK and internationally, including to an audience of 3,500 at The ExCeL Centre in London.
He has written five books for the property market: As Safe As Houses, Homebuyers Secrets, the Estate Agents Secrets trilogy, and a more spiritual work, Love Is The New Religion. He is currently writing a sixth, Sold, Subject to Chaos, interviewing industry experts on why the home-moving process is so broken.
Watching the housing market grind to a halt, and consumers lose thousands when deals fall apart, led him to write a 130-page white paper reviewing the British housing market and the bottlenecks undermining people trying to move home. That review became the 7-pledge Maverick Manifesto, and The Maverick Movement was founded to raise standards through the best property professionals working together — paying good agents and conveyancers more, and putting bad actors out of business. He went on to co-found WiggyWam, the platform giving consumers and professionals full visibility of where a property transaction stands, and who is responsible for delays.
Silas is open that the path here has not been a straight line. He has been bedridden with depression, and at points practically an alcoholic — including after reaching some of the pinnacles of the success outlined above. He has also experienced what he describes as complete enlightenment, or oneness, for several hours. He shares these parts of the story selectively, with audiences where it is relevant.
“There are a few events on this planet that have completely transformed my life: 1) My wedding day — getting married to my wife. 2) The birth of my children. 3) Spending the weekend with Silas and team.”
“I found Silas an absolute inspiration, with honesty beaming out of his eyes. I would seriously look at having him as a mentor and friend. No discredit to anyone of the other team, I just seemed to relate and bond more instantly with him.”
“Every movement, whether it's religion, politics, or anything else, needs a visionary leader. In you, Silas, they have it. Someone who doesn't just talk about becoming better, but who builds on the vision and delivers it.”
The Companies
Gives consumers and property professionals full visibility of where a deal stands at every stage — and who is responsible when it stalls.
Visit WiggyWamA movement uniting the best property professionals to raise standards, restore consumer trust, and reform the market from within.
Visit The MovementRoughly 9 in 10 businesses listed for sale in the UK never complete. The Honest Exit gives owners the straight truth on why — and what actually makes a business genuinely sellable.
Visit The Honest ExitBooks & Publications
The White Paper & The Maverick Manifesto
A 130-page review of the British housing market, identifying the challenges and bottlenecks undermining consumers when they try to move home. It became the foundation for the 7-pledge Maverick Manifesto for housing market reform.
The Maverick Mindset
Silas's thinking on property, reform and building a life worth living — straight to your inbox, via LinkedIn.
Subscribe On LinkedInFrom The Blog
All Posts On WiggyWam →
Silas's unflinching look at a housing market that keeps failing the people it's meant to serve.
Read on WiggyWam →
The scale of the money moving through the property industry — and why so little of it goes toward fixing what's broken.
Read on WiggyWam →
Why meaningful reform will come from the best professionals in the industry — not from Westminster.
Read on WiggyWam →
Who really benefits from the current consensus on housing reform — and why that consensus deserves more scrutiny.
Read on WiggyWam →
Why the process behind the biggest purchase most people ever make is left so badly to chance.
Read on WiggyWam →
What the data says about how many listings actually complete — and why that matters.
Read on WiggyWam →
The warning signs every agency owner should be watching for right now.
Read on WiggyWam →
Debunking a persistent myth that's keeping first-time buyers out of the market longer than it should.
Read on WiggyWam →Podcast & Video Appearances
For Producers, Editors & Event Organisers
Silas speaks on housing market reform, consumer trust and building a movement from a standing start — drawing on thirty years on the front line and a 130-page independent review of the market.
As Seen In
Personal Achievements
Completed in 2011.
Climbed in 2015 — by his own account, it very nearly didn't go to plan.