You’ve exchanged. The campaign’s over. The deal is done… right?
Not quite.
Between exchange and settlement lies one of the most overlooked — and operationally painful — gaps in the real estate cycle. And for agents who rely on that income to fund their business, grow their team, or simply stay in momentum, those 30, 45, sometimes 90 days of waiting can cost more than just time.
In this blog, we look at why this lag exists, what it’s really costing agents, and how top performers are solving it.
🧱 What Happens in the Gap?
Between exchange and settlement, agents often face:
- Delayed cash flow – no access to their commission until post-settlement
- Campaign wrap-up costs – styling, photography, and marketing invoices due now
- Missed opportunities – new listings require marketing outlay upfront
- Pipeline pressure – teams stall without reinvestment
- Stress – the emotional weight of waiting for funds, especially in tight months
It’s not just an inconvenience. It’s a structural bottleneck.
🔎 Why Is This Still Happening in 2025?
Three reasons:
- Tradition – “That’s how it’s always been done.”
- Lack of awareness – many agents still don’t realise advance options exist
- Misunderstood risk – agents confuse advances with loans (they’re not — at least not the way we do them)
And yet, almost every other industry has adopted faster payment cycles, especially when services are already rendered. Real estate is catching up — slowly.
💡 How Top Agents Are Closing the Gap
Smart agents are now treating the time between exchange and settlement as a strategic window — not a dead zone.
Here’s how:
- Commission advances – unlocking income upfront to reinvest into new listings or growth
- Vendor-funded Pay Later campaigns – eliminating the cash flow burden altogether
- Team planning – paying out performance bonuses or marketing budgets without delay
- Mental bandwidth – freeing up energy to focus on clients, not counting days to payday
It’s not about taking on debt. It’s about staying in control of your calendar, your team, and your growth plan.
🛠️ Think of It Like This:
You’ve won the listing.
You’ve nailed the campaign.
You’ve negotiated the deal.
Why wait to get paid when your work is already done?
🎯 The Market Won’t Wait — Neither Should You
In a Spring market where timing is everything, liquidity is leverage.
If you’re feeling the pinch between exchange and settlement, there’s a smarter way to move forward.