Overbearing or Professional? Why “Nothing to Report” Is Still an Update

Lately, I’ve found myself circling the same question — and I know I’m not alone.

Am I being overbearing by staying in touch when there’s nothing materially new to report? Or is silence the bigger risk — leaving clients in the dark and forcing them to chase?

It’s a genuine tension in property, professional services, and agency-based businesses. And it’s one the industry needs to get far more honest about.

After years of observing client behaviour, disputes, feedback loops, and failed relationships, I’ve landed firmly on one side.

Silence Is Rarely Neutral

Clients don’t just engage agents for outcomes. They engage them for certainty.

When communication stops, the gap doesn’t remain empty. Clients fill it themselves:

• Have they forgotten about this?

• Is something wrong that I’m not being told?

• Do I need to follow this up?

• Am I no longer a priority?

In practice, silence is almost never interpreted as “everything is under control”. It is interpreted as loss of visibility, and therefore risk.

A short update — even one that simply confirms there is no change — restores certainty.

“No material update since our last check-in. Next milestone is X, and I’ll update you then.”

That single sentence does three important things:

1. Confirms active oversight

2. Removes the need for the client to chase

3. Reinforces that the process is being managed

That’s not overbearing. That’s professional.

The Fear of “Over-Communicating” Is Agent-Centric

Many agents hesitate to send updates because they worry about:

• annoying the client

• looking like they’re padding activity

• having nothing meaningful to say

But this mindset is agent-focused, not client-focused.

Clients almost never complain about:

• clear updates

• predictable communication

• knowing what’s happening and when

They do complain about:

• radio silence

• uncertainty

• having to follow up

The moment a client has to chase, trust has already taken a hit.

Trust Is Built on Two Things — Not One

Trust isn’t just about outcomes.

It’s built on:

• Outcome confidence

• Process visibility

Most agents obsess over outcomes and underinvest in visibility.

But here’s the reality: outcomes often take time. When they do, communication becomes the primary trust currency.

No update doesn’t mean no work is happening — but clients can’t see that unless you tell them.

Why This Matters Even More in Property

Property clients are uniquely exposed:

• large financial stakes

• emotional involvement

• limited understanding of backend processes

• tight timelines and regulatory pressure

This creates a naturally high-anxiety environment.

And in high-anxiety environments, silence doesn’t feel professional. It feels risky.

The Answer Isn’t “More Messages” — It’s Better Structure

This isn’t an argument for constant contact.

The solution is predictable, low-noise, high-clarity communication.

A strong keep-in-touch policy has:

• a clear cadence (weekly, fortnightly, milestone-based)

• a consistent structure

• upfront permission

For example:

“I’ll update you every Friday — even if there’s no material change.”

Now silence isn’t ambiguous. If an update doesn’t arrive, that becomes the exception.

What Actually Feels Overbearing (And Should Be Avoided)

Let’s be clear — overbearing communication does exist, but it looks very different.

It’s usually:

• reactive

• verbose

• unstructured

• apologetic

• anxiety-driven

Professional communication is:

• concise

• calm

• factual

• forward-looking

• confident in process

Same frequency. Completely different impact.

Where the Scale Really Tips

If the choice is between:

• proactive, structured communication, or

• silence that forces the client to follow up

The industry should lean heavily toward communication.

Because:

• being chased signals broken expectations

• silence transfers emotional labour to the client

• follow-ups quietly undermine confidence

Clients don’t want more words. They want less uncertainty.

Final Thought

In today’s environment:

If you are not proactively communicating, you are eroding trust — even when nothing is wrong.

The agent who can confidently say “nothing to report” will always outperform the agent who waits for something dramatic before speaking.

Visibility isn’t noise. It’s reassurance.

And reassurance is part of the job.