A Colchester-based estate agency has rebranded and transitioned to a self-employed agent model, operating through the eXp platform’s Team structure.
Gyles & Rose, incorporated in 2020 by Rose Bell and Gyles Harvey, has changed its name to the Naked Collective, trading as NAKED agents. The business has operated from a business park in Colchester, Essex, rather than a high street location since its inception.
The company is now led and owned by Charlie Morgan, who joined as a director and shareholder in 2024. Morgan previously worked at Haart as a sales negotiator before moving to Harris & Wood. In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, he co-founded Oakheart, another estate agency.
Self-employed model adoption
The rebrand coincides with the adoption of eXp’s Teams model, which allows estate agencies to create their own branded teams of self-employed agents whilst operating under the eXp platform. This approach reflects broader shifts in the property agency sector, where market conditions continue to evolve and agencies adapt their operational structures.
Morgan stated: “I’ve spent the past 12 years working across the property industry and during that time I’ve learned just as much about what doesn’t work as what does. Too much of traditional estate agency is built around outdated systems, unnecessary hierarchy and processes that make life harder for both agents and clients.”
The business model eliminates the need for high street premises, with agents operating remotely whilst maintaining a branded identity. This structure differs from traditional employed agency models where staff work from fixed office locations.
Morgan added: “Joining eXp UK allows us to do exactly that. We have the freedom to build the business around our customers rather than around a high street office, whilst giving our agents the tools and autonomy to do the best work of their careers.”
The transition represents a shift from the traditional estate agency structure towards a model offering agents greater flexibility whilst maintaining brand identity. The approach aligns with changes across the property sector, where operational models are being reassessed in response to changing market dynamics and agent preferences.
