After the announcement of the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who has also become the new Levelling up secretary in what was Sir Kier Starmer’s first Cabinet appointment since he was appointed Prime Minister, Rayner takes over this role from Michael Gove – (Gove having chosen not to stand during the election).
More recently Matthew Pennycock has been appointed at the new Housing Minister.
Pennycock, the MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, who held a role in Sir Kier’s shadow Government, has become a minister in the department for Levelling Up, Housing and communities along with Jim McMahon.
He said “it’s areal honour to have been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities”
“Tackling the housing crisis and boosting economic growth is integral to national renewal. Time to get to work”
Pennycock, in comparison to Rayner has been far more involved in the Housing policy having most recently, got stuck into the close scrutiny and detail of the Renters (Reform) Bill.
Propertymark have welcomed the appointment. Nathan Emmerson CEO said “Housing must play a pivitol role for the government moving forward”
“there needs to be a long-term cross-party approach with continuity built in as standard – we should never be looking at a housing plan as an insulator five year government term, in case of any change down the line
“The housing sector is crying out for a vastly increased supply to keep pace with demand, there simply can be no room for error moving forward or we may end up with prices artificially rocketing due to consumer desperation in finding a suitable home for their needs.
“there must be a broad mix of sustainably built homes that bring much needed stock to both buyers and renters. The plan must be delivered with precision and in a way that is connected with wider government planning to ensure key infrastructure is provisioned for as the population further grows”
Kate Faulkner OBE, chair of home Buying and Selling Group said “We need a commitment that those who work in housing, from ministers to civil servants, will remain in their posts a minimum of five years. Chopping and changing those ‘in charge’ is a key reason why the housing crisis has not been addressed as much as it could have been”
David Phillip commented “it is helpful that the new Minister already has experience in the housing market. Prior to an election the property market always slows a little, we are looking forward to seeing the market return to ‘normal’ – we are already seeing an increase in market appraisals this week”
If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal call David Phillip FRICS on 0113 4676400.
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN w: davidphillip.co.uk
Covering North Leeds, Leeds, Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley.
A beautifully presented, tastefully extended detached family home, four bedrooms, two bathrooms and the living family kitchen is an absolute stunning feature overlooking, open to a delightful private rear garden. Enjoying a cul-de-sac setting in a highly sought after residential area.
This month we have seen more than our fair share of storms across the UK and Leeds is currently being battered by storm Debbi maybe all part of climate change, which got me thinking about how we can advise on making a house move more eco-friendly.
Reducing your carbon emissions is one of the most important things you can do – you can help tackle climate change as well as actively making a difference to the environment.
If you are moving home then there are ways that you could make your house move as green as possible.
Removals comparison site Buzzmove claims that a typical house move creates an average of 16.8kg of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent of keeping a lightbulb on for over 50 days, so if you are looking to move, make your house move day as ‘Eco- friendly’ as possible, thinking about the cleaning solutions you use, how much furniture you end up taking to your new home and even to the packaging you use.
Always use a removal company which uses low-emission enhanced, environmentally-friendly vehicles and check that they are using the shortest route to get from A to B.
If your Estate Agent uses 3D virtual viewings, this means that the potential removal company can provide you with a quote possibly without a home visit which will save on fuel and CO2 emissions.
Before you move, you will have hopefully de-cluttered and got rid of anything you don’t need - perhaps you have sold items of furniture on e-bay that you will not suit your next home or given any old clothes, books etc to charity so that you are in a position to move as lightly as possible.
Use empty drawers removed from their frames, suitcases and friend’s old packing boxes that are probably cluttering up their own homes to ensure you don’t use as many new packing boxes. Some removal companies can offer a discounted rate for pre-used boxes, and always use a company that re-cycles.
If there are items that you won’t be taking with you, then look for the nearest re-cycling centre and if you are disposing of white goods, TV’s etc then the local Council may offer a pick-up service for a fee.
By cutting down on the number of items you need to move, you may also require a smaller removal van – one company claims, the average CO2 footprint of its removal companies adds up to 72 tonnes a year, the equivalent of 342 double decker busses, which is a frightening thought.
Clearing the freezer and the fridge - This is one of the first areas to tackle – start emptying the freezer and cupboards early and get cooking so that you are using up food (and reducing waste) well in advance.
The average house wastes nearly £500 of food every year, some of this food could be taken to food banks or donated to charity.
Wrap up your items carefully – Defra the government agency says that paper and cardboard packaging going to landfill or destroyed rose by 110% between 2013 and 2016 – you don’t want to add to this, so ask your removal company for bio-degradable bubble wrap to protect breakable items. Use sheets and duvets to protect some items of furniture and pictures, and old newspapers, magazines and even clothes to protect things that are smaller but unbreakable.
You will want to leave your property spic and span for the new owners, but try and use green products for the cleaning – natural items such as white wine vinegar, lemon and bicarbonate of soda make excellent alternatives to environmentally toxic products.
Once you have arrived at your new home there are things that you can do to help the environment too - Change your energy supplier, insulate your home, buy local products and consider your transport.
Invest in your own sources of renewable energy and buy from companies that support the switch to a low carbon future.
So, if you are due to move home soon plan well ahead to make sure you are doing your bit to protect the environment whilst reducing your carbon footprint too.
If you are right at the start of your house move process and would like a free market appraisal call David Phillip Estate Agents on 01134 676 400
A: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds. W: davidphillip.co.uk
Covering Leeds, North Leeds, Bramhope, Cookridge, Adel, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Alwoodley
As Storm Debi has swept her way across North Leeds, the thermometer on the central heating has definitely been notched up a gear. This made me think about the ways in which I can make things more energy efficient at the office but also at home.
With relatively simple changes such as insulation, ensuring your pipes are properly lagged and using energy efficient light bulbs will not only help your chance of a good sale if you are selling your home but also reduce the cost of your energy bills whilst you are living there, which is key in the current market place.
Here are some tips on how to make your home more energy efficient
Review your EPC – this offers a guide to your home, but also provides you with areas you can improve, at David Phillip Estate Agents we use MGF Consultants for all our EPC’s, they can identify areas that will improve your properties energy efficiency.
Loft insulation – whether your home has solid walls or cavity, insulating them can improve your EPC rating and you may qualify for help with the cost too.
By replacing your boiler with a new energy efficient one you could save a few hundred pounds off your energy bill as well as reducing your home’s carbon- emissions – boilers account for as much as 60% of carbon emissions in a gas heated home – you may find that there are Government schemes often available for replacing old boilers with more energy efficient ones.
Hanging thicker curtains over windows and doors will prevent heat escaping and once the nights become longer they can make your home seem much more snug too.
Boilers are rated on a scale of A to G with A being the most energy efficient, if yours is at the lower end of the scale then investing in a new one could save you a lot of money in the long term
By purchasing an energy monitor which could cost anything from £25 to £40 (some energy companies provide this for free) the psychological effect of putting it somewhere the whole family can see it can be positive and a good reminder that you need to cut back
Use a water-saving showerhead instead of a bath is a greener option but can also save on energy and water – so double the benefit
Look for energy efficient appliances – not only can this save money, but it also means that you are living a little greener and doing a little bit more for the planet.
Fridge -freezers, tumble dryers and washing machines make up the majority of your electrical bill, but upgrading to an energy efficient appliance could significantly reduce costs. When you purchase something new make sure you look for products with the best energy rating of A+
Invest in an eco-kettle – some eco kettles can use as much as 30% less power – also when choosing appliances like TV’s and fridges, choose one that is the most energy efficient.
Making small changes, like turning off switches and unplugging things from sockets such as mobile phone chargers, televisions and light switches when you can will save significant amounts of money.
Heating and hot water controls – whilst you might be tempted to turn your heating up when the weather becomes cooler, remember that by turning your heating thermostat down by just one degree can reduce your energy bills by around 10%. Programming your thermostat to come on and off at set times in a day and only heating the areas of your home that you need are quick ways to save energy and keep the costs down
Consider solar panels – the energy is derived from the sun’s radiation. (they actually work when it is cloudy too, so don’t let the UK weather put you off) by generating some of your own heat or power, this will enable you to save money on your bills as well as being environmentally friendly. Some panels can warm water too.
Solar panels with a photovoltaic (PV) cells actually generate energy - the Energy Saving Trust thinks.
So start doing your research now you have probably started becoming more energy efficient, greener and are saving money too in the long run. Many of these changes will also make a house sale more appealing too, so on a very cold snowy day in March it may be good to do one last review before Spring.
If you would like a free market appraisal, call David Phillip FRICS on 01134 676 400 w davidphillip.co.uk e: info@davidphillip.co.uk a: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds.
Covering North Leeds, Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Adel, Cookridge and Otley
At David Phillip Estate Agents we have protocol in place when undertaking viewings and valuations in order to minimise public health risks and ensure the safety of our clients.
Our business has been designed to ensure everything is ‘cloud-based’ which means that interactions can be handled in a number of ways via technology. However, if you do feel you need to visit our offices, please just ring or e-mail as we may be able to save you a journey in dealing with the enquiry. We are also proposing that visits are made by appointment only to ensure everyone’s safety – our office follows all PPE regulations.
The current protocol we are undertaking also includes
Marketing your home
We use clever technology and marketing techniques to ensure your property reaches the greatest audience. We use the portals of Rightmove, Zoopla and On the Market, and because we pay Rightmove for a superior package we have Featured Properties (right at the top of the listings) and Premium properties too.
People buy an area as well as a home, we use local area videos so that people get a real feel for the area, its countryside and the community – we don’t believe that when marketing your home it should be just about static photos and literature – videos are much more exciting.
To ensure people have a real feel of the home, including the garden site maps are key, this ensures that people can see the size of the plot and the garden without having to physically view the property.
3D virtual tours are a vital marketing tool, some agents have now started using out of Covid-19 necessity – we have been using them since we opened our office in Bramhope as we believe they enhance the look of the property – we also use 360 degree hotspots, and QR codes which are immersive to further improve the marketing of the property.
Viewings
Initially we recommend that all viewings should be conducted via 3D virtual tours where available. We offer a unique service that allows accompanied 3d tours too - (you are on the screen, we are on the screen and the property is too) just like an actual viewing only remotely. If you are then serious about potentially making an offer we will follow up with a ‘physical’ viewing
All viewings will take place by appointment only – we will provide you with printed confirmation just in case you should be stopped by police en-route to the property and viewings will involve members of a single household with a maximum of two people.
When viewing the property we ask that you wash your hands and wear a face mask. No touching of door handles, stair bannisters or surfaces should take place and we ask that these are wiped down prior to the viewing for your protection.
The owners will stay outside and we will keep a 2 meter distance standing side by side rather than face to face
Market appraisals/Valuations
Although we are able to do physical market appraisals, we are able to do virtual valuations too – please see our website davidphillip.co.uk for details.
The protocol is the same as for viewings, and after the marketing appraisal has taken please we will follow up with a call to run through our marketing strategy.
To ensure everyone’s safety we will be unable to conduct the viewing or the market appraisal if someone has been showing symptoms of Covid-19 or has been in self –isolation or, if there is someone living in the property classed as ‘at risk’ – please see Government Guidelines.
At David Phillip Estate Agents we have been successfully selling properties in Bramhope, we are used to the Covid -19 protocol and have many 5 star reviews complimenting us on our customer experience.
So if you are looking to sell your home, please call us on 01134 676 400 and we can discuss how we can start the process moving following Government Guidelines during the current lockdown in the meantime we hope you all stay safe and well.
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds
When selling your home, at David Phillip Estate Agents we always advise to price your home competitively but realistically, this is even more key during the stamp duty holiday when we have heard of agents overpricing properties because the potential buyer will be making a saving as a result – this potentially could give the property market a false impression around price increases.
The market is very buoyant at the moment and properties are moving quickly so it is even more important to price your property competitively as you have much more competition to contend with.
However, it is important to note that the stamp duty holiday ends at the end of March, when only properties that have completed in this time will benefit from the stamp duty holiday – the Home Owners Alliance have undertaken research that shows it can take up to 6 months to sell your home, and as we are nearing the end of September then this is even more important.
So, here are the 8 good reasons not to overprice your home, (most of them are common sense too!)
Your property could take longer to sell
Homes that are overpriced can take more than two months longer to sell compared to accurately priced properties according to Zoopla. The extra time it took an overpriced property to sell ranged from an average of 68 days in the North East to 49 days in the West Midlands.
Fewer buyers will see your home
Most buyers use property portals like Zoopla and Rightmove to kick start their search for a new home, and one of the key search filters is the maximum price you want to pay.
As a seller, if you price your home too high, it is likely to appear in fewer searches and bypass many potential buyers, it may also compare unfavourably to homes listed in the same price bracket that have been realistically priced – and that is a big chunk of the market.
Buyers can be suspicious of properties that can be on the market too long
While it may be tempting to test the water with a high price, reasoning that you can always discount later if your home does not sell, this approach is likely to trigger suspicion among potential buyers. People tend to be wary of properties that have been on the market for too long, assuming there must be something wrong with them.
Bear in mind also, that a price reduction will be noted next to the home for sale on the property websites.
You can create problems further down the line
Most properties need a valuation survey carried out by their mortgage lender, and even if you have found a buyer at an inflated price, then it may return a value below the offer accepted – at this point the buyer may try to negotiate a discount or even pull out of the sale altogether. If the buyer does pull out, then you may need to re-advertise your house arising even more suspicion.
You can waste your chance of a first impression
Buyers prefer properties that are fresh on the market rather than those that have been listed for some time – and you only get one chance to make a first impression. If you price correctly then you may have several buyers interested at the beginning which could push up the price naturally.
If you have priced your house too high in the first place then you may not get this interest
The market may change
Sellers who overprice their homes, risk the local property market changing while they wait to sell. Once the stamp duty holiday is finished (and you need to be listing your property soon to get to completion by the end of March) then the property market may adjust, and if your home has had a price that has been inflated then this may cause problems later down the line.
Homes that have to be discounted can take up to 2 months longer to sell, that could be enough time for the market to shift down a gear – particularly at the end of the stamp duty holiday
You run the risk of losing the home you want to buy
At David Phillip Estate Agents, we are finding that people who have sold their property and ready to proceed are in a much better position to have an offer accepted on their dream home. We are currently taking offers from people who are proceedable. Property chains can be long and complex and not everyone will be prepared for you to find a buyer at your overpriced asking price.
You may be hit with higher Estate Agency fees.
Given the time it takes for overpriced homes to sell, you may decide to instruct a new agent in the hope that they might be more successful in finding a buyer – at David Phillip Estate Agents, we have sold properties unsuccessfully listed by other agents, but our fees need to be paid too, this can put the overall price up too. We do though have fairer fixed fees so that you know exactly what you are paying, and also unlike other agents, we do not tie you into lengthy contracts as we are confident in our ability to sell – as long as your property is priced correctly.
David Phillip has over 30 years’ experience and knowledge selling properties in North and West Yorkshire, so if you are looking to have a no-obligation, realistic open market appraisal completed then call us on 01134 676 400.
At the beginning of July, the Government temporarily increased the stamp duty threshold to £500,000 for property sales in England and Northern Ireland. Anyone completing on a main residence costing up to £500,000 will not pay any stamp duty, and more expensive properties will only be taxed on their value above that amount.
The move was intended to boost the property market which was hit during Covid-19 lockdown, but also to help buyers who may have taken a financial hit because of the Coronavirus crisis.
The stamp duty holiday therefore is now well under-way, however, remember that in order to benefit from this financial windfall, the completion of the property sale needs to have taken place by March 31st 2021.
Although we are selling properties quickly (in some cases we have achieved ‘sales agreed stc’ from the first viewing), the element that often takes the longest is from achieving a sale through to sales completion, the day when the keys are handed over. Covid-19 has forced some conveyancing companies to use technology to reduce this time frame, but this can still take around three months to achieve.
When we look at national research, the Home Owners Alliance estimated that it could on average take about six months*from launch to completion , if this is the case, then September 26th becomes a very important date for anyone looking to move home and take advantage of the stamp duty holiday.
David Phillip commented, “We have seen a very buoyant 3 months since the lockdown was lifted, many people are undoubtedly taking advantage of the stamp duty holiday, however September 26th may be a crucial point for people looking to sell taking all things into consideration”.
So, if you are looking to sell your home or buy one of our lovely properties in North Leeds or Wharfedale call now for a no obligation free market appraisal, and you could save up to £15,000 on your home purchase.
(We have a blog on our website running through any key questions around the Stamp Duty Holiday)
T: 01134 676 400 w davidphillip.co.uk a: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds
£22,000 premium for homes with South-facing gardens
According to Rightmove, homes advertised as having highly coveted south facing gardens are priced at £22,695 higher on average than homes without, a 7% national asking price premium – there is a trick of course to having photos looking at its very best for pictures and viewings.
The national average asking price of three and four bedroom homes with a south-facing garden is £369,365 v £346,670 without
There are a number of regional variations, with Yorkshire and the Humber commanding the biggest asking price premium at 14% - the analysis by Rightmove also found that homes with South-facing gardens sell more quickly than those without, in practically all regions, but again Yorkshire and the Humberside performs best with homes finding a buyer on average eight days faster.
Having a bigger garden or at least access to one was the number one thing that lockdown has changed for what buyers are now looking for in their next home (office space to work from also ranks highly)
Prospective buyers searching on Rightmove and stating that a garden is a ‘must-have’ for their next home doubled in June compared to June last year – total searches were up by 56% for the same period
David Phillip commented (and this appeared in the Sunday Times and the Mail online) “you’d be amazed at how many people turn up to a viewing and use the compass on their phone to work out where the sun is coming from, it is a really important requirement in these parts. These types of properties are selling quickly especially since the market re-opened in May. Lots of homes in Yorkshire are in rural areas so the trade-off from not living in an urbanised area is that you want a lovely outdoor space and what’s more lovely than a garden that gets lots of sunshine? South facing gardens have almost become a necessity”
We are very lucky in Bramhope to have two properties on our books with exceptional south facing gardens
Green spaces and lots of natural light have proven positive impacts on our moods and quality of life.
So if you have a property to sell, and it has a south facing garden, call David Phillip Estate Agents for a free market appraisal on 01134 676 400 a: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds w: davidphillip.co.uk
#garden #property #home #southfacing garden #bramhope #leeds #yorkshire #microclimate
UK housing market sees busiest month in 10 years
The UK housing market saw £37bn worth of property sales agreed in July, representing the busiest month for home buying since data was first tracked on Rightmove.
There were unseasonal all-time highs for new seller asking prices in a number of regions, with rising popularity of countryside locations such as Yorkshire driving some prices. Prices though are not rising as significantly as the increase in listings which is helping to balance the market – most buyers do seem aware of the risks of overpaying in generally uncertain times.
David Phillip commented: “The housing market is receiving added impetus not just from buyer and seller post-lockdown pent up demand, but from others bringing forward their decision to move as a result of the stamp duty holiday. Due to holiday quarantine rules imposed too on people travelling abroad, many people are staying in the UK and getting on with buying and selling their home.
We currently have 21 sales going through our office in Bramhope, people are keen to live outside the big cities and are looking for properties with outside space and an office too for working from home, which luckily many of our properties have – North Leeds also ticks all the boxes for a great location to live”
The market does look set to be busy for a while and with a further possible stimulus to come in the Autumn budget, then this buoyancy looks set to continue.
If you are looking to move and want to use an agent in North Leeds selling properties quickly please call us on 01132 676 400,
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds
#stampduty #selling #property #homes #houseprices #rightmove #onthemarket #leeds #bramhope #cookridge #otley
The generally accepted definition of a recession in the UK is when GDP falls in 2 successive quarters – the UK economy shrunk by 2.2per cent between January and March and 20.4 per cent between April and June according to the National Office of Statistics. This officially put the UK in recession for the first time since 2009.
But this recession is very different to the financial one of 2009 where the Government made the decision to shut down large sections of the economy as a result of Covid-19, but were able to put measures in place such as the Furlough Scheme and Stamp Duty holiday as a result. It also means that the financial system has not frozen in the same way it did during the financial crash of 2008/9 when house prices dived.
Recessions though can cause an unstable environment for many financial investments amongst them buying a home. The key issue is though is how quickly the economy can recover.
What is promising though is that the latest figures from the ONS do indicate that the economy is showing some green shoots of recovery and just last week the Bank of England revealed that the economic shock triggered by covid-19 will be less than originally feared.
As soon as Estate Agents were given the green light to return to work, the pent –up demand from when the market closed translated immediately into sales. This combined with the stamp duty holiday and many buyers re-assessing what is important to them in their homes is causing a spike across all areas.
Whilst the figures released from the Government are bleak, this sentiment is certainly not translating into the housing market.
David Phillip said “even in the very short term, if house prices do start to fall, property will be a wise investment, and not many other sectors are both secure and pay such a good return – I remain cautiously optimistic at the moment and believe the recovery will be quicker than expected, plus the Leeds area is currently seeing some of the best house price growth figures across the UK, and many people are taking advantage of the stamp duty holiday”
If you have any questions about the property market going forward or would like a free market appraisal , then please contact David Phillip on 01134 676 400, w: davidphillip.co.uk a: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds.
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