I started drawing floor plans back in 1986. Two things that inspired me; I was fed up of hanging around cold empty properties on a Saturday afternoon waiting whilst viewers drew their own and also, at that time, there were so many houses for sale I thought that this would be a unique way of displaying properties ahead of our competitors. It worked as sales agreed at one particular branch almost doubled in the first six months! At David Phillip Estate Agents we have gone a step further ahead and now show site plans on our property details. Not only do they show where the sun is shining from but also points out key features like patios and outbuildings. If you look up Sycamore Fold on our exciting new website davidphillip.co.uk you’ll see exactly what we mean. Be part of our forward thinking experience and call us 01134 676 400 or Email: info@davidphillip.co.uk.
There’s probably lots you don’t know about Leeds and we at David Phillip Estate Agents would just like to list just a few unusual facts, that Leeds residents hadn’t probably heard about .
.Jelly Tots – these popular sweets were invented by a chap called Dr Brian Boffey of Horsforth, Leeds who at the time was working for Rowntrees, quite by accident in 1965. He was trying to create powdered jelly!
If you want to hear any further secrets about Leeds, or information about property in this wonderful city then t: 01134 676 400 w: davidphillip.co.uk e: info@davidphillip.cu.uk or visit our office based in #Bramhope and covering #northleeds
They say the three most stressful things in life are death, divorce and moving house. Buying a house is probably one of the biggest purchases people ever make and it’s not surprising that emotions run high in the process. People can find themselves squabbling over the smallest issues like flashing around a chimney which may only cost about £200 to repair which in the context the property’s value is “nothing”. Having sold properties across North and West Yorkshire for over 30 years, David Phillip at David Phillip Estate Agents based in Bramhope is highly experienced at keeping house sales together, after all sales falling through not only prevent people from moving forward, to their dream homes, but no sale – no estate agents fee!
There are a number of reasons why house sales can potentially fall through but with an experienced estate agent on the case these can be avoided and at the end of the day it’s down to communication and getting hold of the right facts. Probably the biggest headaches of all are caused by chains where everyone is dependent upon each other in the entire house selling and buying process. If for example a first time buyer agrees to buy a 2 bedroom terrace house, forming the bottom of chain, this will enable the vendor there to move forward and agree to buy, say a larger 3 bedroom semi-detached house and so on and it’s not uncommon for there to be as many as 5 houses in a chain! That could involve 5 deposits being arranged, 5 mortgages to sort involving 5 surveys and 6 different firms of solicitors! An experienced estate agent dealing with any of the house transactions has the capability to be able to liaise with any of the other parties involved from the various prospective buyers, their agents, their solicitors and financial or other advisors. So that’s why it’s so important getting hold of the all the facts and being able to communicate even if someone’s away on holiday – thanks to the age of the mobile phone. Everyone will need to accept that normal life may have to take a back seat until contracts are exchanged and the sales completed.
The length of time taken over the transactions is another reason why sales could fall through. From agreeing a sale to exchanging contracts takes several weeks which could give anyone the chance to have a change of heart! An experienced agent will have a good judgement of character, have contacts within the industry whether they be other the agents involved, financial advisors and solicitors. Delays can often be the tell tale of whether things are on track or not like a not making a mortgage application as soon as expected although in this day and age sight of proof of full funding is usually the key to accepting an offer. Little things like missing a call from your solicitor or not sending back paperwork quickly can hold up the chain causing delays as well as frustration to the other buyers and sellers. All this is why it is so important to instruct an experienced agency and you can rest assured that David Phillip and his team at David Phillip Estate Agents have that experience offering an “end to “ service, contactable on 01134 676 400 or by email info@davidphillip.co.uk and view their website davidphillip.co.uk
I have been involved in buying and selling property in North and West Yorkshire for over 30 years as a senior Director and Shareholder at one of Yorkshire’s biggest Independent Estate Agents.
During this time, I have seen many ways in which the Estate Agency world has changed – introduction of floorplans, videos and 3D virtual tours, the launch of property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla for marketing properties on a global stage to name just a few.
There has also been a change in the type of Estate Agency Business entering the market – the decline in some areas of what we know as ‘traditional high street’ agents and the introduction of on-line generally ‘do-it-yourself’ agencies – I believe that vendors want the best of both worlds – modern technology and techniques, with local knowledge and a place to visit your Agent, but this sort of choice changes people’s expectations of what they require from an estate Agent, which in turn may lead to questions they have never had to ask before, especially as we move forward through Brexit and are living in a forever changing property market.
At David Phillip Estate Agents, we answer as many of the general questions vendors may have on our website Davidphillip.co.uk, however sometimes people want to ask something that is unique to their house buying and selling experience – often though, this is not just unique to them!
I have decided to put my years of experience to good use by posting a monthly video that answers property related questions sent in by people who are interested in buying or selling a property or who are just interested in the property market in general
The video will take place on the last Friday of every month on all the main social media platforms – the first one being posted on November 30th.
Please send in any questions you may have to Trudy at info@davidphillip.co.uk –or ring to speak to David - we will have one specific question per month but the video will also provide an overview on the current property market, so ….. start putting together your questions and tune in on November 30th.
Channel 4, Re-Location & Expansion
Channel 4’s decision to choose Leeds as its new national headquarters is great for this already vibrant city which is expected to move up to 800 staff and bring more than £1 billion to the region over the next decade. Channel 4 have already had some presence within the north, notably Countdown, Educating Yorkshire (in nearby Dewsbury) and Red Riding. However the independent production sector is strong and fast growing across the region – Emmerdale on ITV set up here in 1972. Channel 4 moving to this cultural city in the North will enrich people’s lives as well as bringing huge benefits to the region. As talent is moving away from London, Channel 4’s decision demonstrates the immense pulling power of the city.
The Government is “north-shoring” too with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) bringing over 1000 employees, and housing 6,000 staff in Wellington Place, the new urban quarter of Leeds that is also home to Investec Wealth & Investment and international accountants Mazars will bring 130 staff.
Also Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), after having already benefitted from massive investment recently, have further plans officially submitted to include a £12 million extension to its terminal building to accommodate anticipated growth in passenger numbers. LBA had around four million passengers in 2017, but has the ambition to grow to five million passengers by 2023 and seven million by 2030.
Some of those re-locating to Leeds may not yet be on the property ladder – but this will provide them with a chance, and those who do decide to sell up and move from the south will soon discover that they get an awful lot more for their money with the average prices according to the Land registry average at £183,651 in Leeds compared to over £480k in London. All this has to be great news for the Leeds housing market which after great research inspired David Phillip Estate Agents to open up its first office, based in Bramhope only 7 miles north of the city centre.
Each year, town planners around the world engage in activities on November 8th in celebration of World Town Planning Day. At David Phillip Estate Agents, we are pleased to work in partnership with ELG planning in Harrogate who provide residential planning advice
If you are looking to buy a new home, the support and experience of a good planning consultant can guide you through any pitfalls you may encounter, in residential terms this can include assessments including that of permitted development rights attached to the property, appraisals, applications and appeals.
If you are looking to sell your home, then ELG planning can advise on planning potential of the property and also regularising those works which may have been undertaken without the benefit of the necessary consents prior to sale which may only become obvious at the property search stage
Kim a principal planner at ELG Planning says that we assist clients in a variety of household developments in essence making a house a home across the region priding ourselves on a personal level of service
Some good reasons to use an Estate Agent
Only recently did the OFT come out and suggest consumers should consider “private seller platforms”. Perhaps implying a need for awareness? Prospective buyers who come to view your property could well come looking for alternative means such as your car and other personal possessions. Estate agents generally are very good at assessing enquirers needs and obtaining the relevant information. So why would you risk all to avoid paying a fee to an Estate Agent?
Having a camera on a phone or owning a digital camera doesn’t make us all professional photographers! At David Phillip Estate Agents we use professional photographers with high technical equipment and high-quality details to ensure that your property, externally and internally, is sufficiently portrayed to encourage people to view.
Thieves are known to target private sellers deliberately who may be easily distracted as they are so pre-occupied with trying, so hard, to sell their home. Car keys are often left near the front door. An experienced estate agent will spot a bogus buyer a mile off.
Bank statements are often left on kitchen work tops. An experienced agent who may well conduct and control a viewing knows how to balance it without letting a buyer out of their sight and can instinctively sense unusual behaviour. Why risk your own security and family too?
A private seller may well miss all the subtle clues that an experienced agent can pick upon just at the point of exchange, get blackmailed out of thousands of pounds seeking a massive price reduction at the eleventh hour, what are your options, reduce drastically, or lose your buyer and then the home you thought you were about to buy?
Rarely does a seller think that by going alone and without an experienced hand behind them, it makes them a potentially weak link and a high-risk buyer in the eyes of another vendor. At David Phillip Estate Agents we will guide the process from start to finish and flag up potential pitfalls at the point of the offer.
A private seller at the excitement of a potential sale may not want to get off to a strained start by asking detailed and awkward question like seeing written confirmation of proof of funding, email addresses, mobile, work and home landline numbers which is an experienced agent will do. Also, they will not only take care of their own staff safety, but they will do this automatically for their clients. Part of this filtering process will sense any evasiveness.
A private seller is rarely polished in the art of negotiating/re-negotiating and property can be much more of a beast than general sales negotiations. An experienced agent will have built up a thorough understanding of needs and emotions, all the invaluable tools the private seller will rarely have at their disposal.
Most people want to move in a calm, confident and re-assured manner. This is far more likely to occur under professional guidance and a little extra peace of mind is perhaps worth the cost. Experienced agents take pride in what they do and when there is no sale, generally no fee! David Phillip Estate Agents take pride in providing an “end to end” experience to make it happen. View their website: davidphillip.co.uk
In recent years, there have been a number of blockbuster announcements relating to property ownership and rental. These have ranged from cuts in stamp duty for first-time buyers (2017) to a ban on letting fees (2016). This latest budget, whilst lacking the big headline news, did have it's fair share of significant housing-related measures.
The popular 'help to buy' scheme has been extended to 2023. The scheme provides loans, guaranteed by the state, of up to 20 per cent of a property's value (40% in London), for homes worth up to £600,000. To date around 420,000 households have bought property through this scheme.
First-time buyers will also be pleased to see that the stamp duty cut has been extended to include shared ownership properties. First-time buyers in shared ownership will pay zero stamp duty on the first £300,000 of any home that costs up to £500,000. This should make buying a home more affordable for many. The Chancellor has also promised that this would apply retrospectively for people who purchased a property under shared ownership in the last year. You'll need to contact the The Stamp Duty Land Tax Office to claim a refund.
Whilst indirectly relevant, the Housing Infrastructure Fund will be increased by £500 million. Which will be pumped into roads, rail and schools that serve new houses.
The raft of changes in recent years have impacted the rental sector significantly. So most landlords and tenants will breathe a sigh of relief that there have been no major announcements this time round.
Both landlords and tenants will benefit from the rise in income tax threshold moving to £12,500. Whilst the transition to Universal Credit will be helped by a further £1 billion to make it smoother for claimants who are also in work. Other changes include:
Bramhope’s newest property agency, David Phillip Estate Agents is now open for business and is delighted to sponsor Headingley Bramhope Cricket Club.
We are very keen to support and be part of the local community and being associated with a local winning cricket club is the perfect fit for us.
David Phillip who has been selling properties for over 30 years in Yorkshire is pleased to have returned to Bramhope village.
David said “We have already been privileged with new property instructions including a fine country estate priced in the region of £3.5m with stables, a lake with a lodge and land extending to almost 130 acres.
We are selling property in a different way to the next and future level, using the most advanced technology and techniques including Matterport and Videos which gives that always open house experience plus our reflective for sale boards will be working 24/7 now the nights are getting darker sooner. We are also charging customers in a different way too with fairer fixed fees providing an outstanding service and a choice of products.
Check out Questions & Answers on our new exciting website and every last Friday of the month we will be hosting Property file based around questions from people wanting to sell and buy homes, with tips and market information from David Phillip.
We look forward to the start of the next season and to sharing continued success with Headingley Bramhope Cricket club – good luck to the teams.
Mark Stelfox from Headingley Bramhope Cricket Club said ‘We are delighted to be working with David Phillip Estate Agents, we are sure David’s immense knowledge and experience of the North Leeds property market will be of huge benefit to local community.
Their support of us as the village cricket team is a massive boost for us and signals David Phillip’s intent to make a positive difference in the village.
After a great 2018 season we hope to enjoy many more successful seasons in partnership with David Phillip Estate Agents as one of our kind sponsors’
To book an appointment – davidphillip.co.uk – email:- info@davidphillip.co.uk or call 01134 676 400
There could be a host of reasons for you to consider downsizing. Your kids may have flown the next, your garden may be too large, you may want to release some equity, reduce your monthly outgoings, or you are simply drawn to living in a smaller, more manageable property.
Downsizing isn't just for retirement. It can be an important choice at any stage of your life, location, health or wealth. Whatever your reasons, whether you are a homeowner, a private tenant, living in a council or housing association accommodation, it's important to review the options before making your decision.
It's an important distinction. Is your motivation to reduce your living space? Or simply to reduce the size of your garden? Or both! If you are used to having a garden how would you feel about having a property without one? If having your own outdoor space is important, most flats would be unsuitable, unless you'd be happy with a green public area nearby? If you have a large garden, could you sell or rent it whilst keeping your existing property?
How far away from friends and family do you want to be? Moving nearer the grand kids may have it's attractions, but will you miss your friends and neighbours?
What facilities need to be close by? Do you want to be in the centre of a bustling city or in the leafy suburbs? Do you want to be closer to shops or restaurants? Or within walking distance of your GP? Do you need to be near public transport? Are taxis readily available if needed?
One of the biggest stumbling blocks of downsizing is having to compromise on room dimensions. When viewing properties, think carefully about how you will use the available space. Do you need a permanent spare room? Or could a larger living room or study become a multifunctional space with sofa beds for when guests stay over. Is accessibility an issue?
Start by drawing up a list of all the important features you need in your next property and rank them by priority. Don't forget that your future needs may be different from today.
Renting, even if only initially, could be an important option for you. Giving you time to evaluate different types of property and locations before deciding where to settle and what for.
Downsizing may not actually end up being cheaper. Before you take the plunge make sure you've considered all the hidden costs. Such as; the costs of moving, council tax in your new location, travelling expenses, insurance premiums as well as utilities costs for properties with lower EPCs etc
You may find that there are cash incentives for downsizing. If you currently rent a council or housing association property you may be encouraged to free up your property for a larger family. There are also housing exchange schemes and relocation schemes encouraging people to relocate to seaside towns. Take a look at: houseexchange.org.uk and housingmoves.org for more information.
Almost certainly, downsizing will mean that you will have to let go of long held furniture and possessions that may be been accumulated over many years. It needn't be a painful process. People that have successfully downsized say they came to a realisation that they didn't need lots of possessions to lead a happy life. In fact, de-cluttering can be quite liberating!
If you need any help in evaluating your options, give us a call today.
"*" indicates required fields
