IPSA Kind of Magic – Wednesday 2nd July at 1pm

This week on IPSA Kind of Magic, we’re turning our attention to a challenge that’s felt by nearly every search provider in the industry: the constant pressure to do more for less.

Joining us live on Wednesday are Sharon Whitney and Bharti Bhuva from Whitefield Legal Services, two highly experienced professionals who know exactly what it’s like to be asked for a “quick search” at a cut-down price. It’s a familiar story. Clients in a rush. Budgets under strain. Comparison sites presenting all searches as if they’re interchangeable. Yet anyone who’s worked in this field for long knows that couldn’t be further from the truth.

This episode is about value – and standing up for it. Because what IPSA members provide isn’t just a product. It’s a professional service. It’s the judgement of someone who understands the local area, the care taken to highlight potential issues, and the confidence that comes from knowing a proper job has been done.

And let’s be honest – many of us remember when £35 was the going rate for a search. That was two decades ago. The price may have risen slightly, yet the expectations, liabilities, and workload have grown dramatically. In that time, we’ve seen service levels decline in some corners of the market, and quality fall by the wayside in pursuit of ever-lower pricing.

Perhaps now, with a shifting market, we finally have more room to speak up – and more reason to do so. It feels like the right moment to reset expectations and reassert the value of doing things properly.

This week’s episode won’t be about defending high prices. It will be about explaining where the real value lies. The value of a well-prepared search, backed by real knowledge. The value of a trusted professional who’s available for questions. And the value of getting it right – for the sake of the transaction, the client, and the reputation of everyone involved.

Sharon Whitney and Bharti Bhuva will join host Gareth Wax and IPSA Chair Hamish McLay live on Wednesday to talk through how we communicate this value clearly, how we deal with requests for unrealistic pricing, and how IPSA members continue to offer something distinct.

It should be a grounded and honest chat – looking at where we’ve come from, where we stand now, and how we hold our value in a changing market.

Watch live on YouTube at 1pm on Wednesday 2nd July:
https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea

PS:
For content enquiries: hamish@ipsa-uk.org
For podcast/media info: gareth@mphats.com