As I write this blog on March 9th, it is snowing in North Leeds and the temperature is hovering around the freezing levels, add that to the high energy bills then homeowners are still probably thinking about ways to reduce their heating costs. 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 Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Adel, Cookridge and Otley
Our new piece of innovation to increase the audience further is in partnership with On the Market using Smart Board.
At David Phillip Estate Agents, it is key that your property reaches the greatest audience possible to ensure a quicker sale at the very best price.
We subscribe to all the key property portals including Rightmove, On the Market, Zoopla and the video portal Home on Film. On Rightmove we have invested in Premium and Featured listings to ensure our vendors properties are easily noticed and displayed with further photographs where required.
In 2023, according to Rightmove in LS16 we achieved the highest average number of detailed views per day which shows the quality of our listings for our vendors – we achieve this by using beautiful photography, property videos, 3D virtual tours and dolls house floor plans amongst some of our techniques.
Take a look at our for-sale boards, prospective buyers who walk or drive past a property can scan the QR code on the sign board which will then take them either through to the property listing or to a virtual tour. Not only is the Smartboard very user friendly but you are also able to input your contact details if you are interested in receiving further information or want to arrange a viewing.
Take a look at our first Smart Board at the beautiful Catton House, on Breary Lane in Bramhope. Simply scan the QR code, take a look at the property, walk around the 3D virtual tour and arrange a viewing.
If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal call David Phillip 01134 676 400.
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds w:davidphillip.co.uk e:info@davidphillip
Covering Bramhope, Leeds, North Leeds, Adel, Cookridge, Alwoodley, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Otley
I noticed the first daffodils of Spring as I came into Bramhope this week, the daffodils in our garden are starting to bloom and the sun is shining today too.
If you are looking to sell your property at this busy time of year then it is important to not only get your home market ready but also your garden too.
At David Phillip Estate Agents we have the following tips to ensure your garden looks lovely for any property viewings you may have over the next few months
Order summer flowering bulbs and seeds now – on a miserable winter day, browse the internet for inspiration on which seeds and bulbs to plant and grow, these can all be ordered early for planting in early Spring.
Clean out the greenhouse so that it is ready for the cuttings and seedlings of spring. Algae, moss and grime has probably accumulated on the outside of the greenhouse over winter, wash this down to let in more light over the spring months, remember to disinfect the inside of the greenhouse too - this is also a good time to remove any potential homes for pests that can survive in the smallest spaces over winter.
Any pots and seed trays should be washed too to help prevent diseases like ‘damping off’ from infecting any young plants you may have planted – once you have cleaned the green house, ventilate it well for a couple of days and repair any damage or broken glass panes.
This is also a good time to maintain fences, gates and trellises – check for weather damage or decay, by doing this early it will give you more time in the garden in Spring.
Once repaired, power-wash to remove dirt, moss and mildew – when this is dried fully then a couple of coats of paint stain or wood preserve will make it look much better.
Hunt down any garden pests that may have been hibernating and take a look at the crowns of your perennials to check for snails, aphid colonies that have been sheltering over the winter months.
Install water butts and start collecting rain water – make the most of the rainy weather as well as being environmentally friendly, rainwater is the best type of water for plants as some plants don’t react well to tap water which can often be too alkaline.
If you haven’t already done so, now is a great time to set up a compost area in your garden – if you don’t buy a ready-made compost bin, then build one yourself using any spare wood you may have.
Compost is all organic waste and once it has broken down your plants will thrive in the lovely rich compost.
The ideal compost needs to be a good mixture of vegetable peelings, grass clippings, paper and woody prunings – you will need to aerate this once a month by turning the compost with your garden fork.
So as we come out of the winter months and into Spring, the extra effort you take in getting your garden ready will pay dividends in the Spring months, and if you are looking to sell your home in the next few months, then prospective buyers will notice and appreciate the hard work you have put into the garden as well as getting the interior of your home market ready.
At David Phillip Estate Agents, we think that if someone is looking at your property, then the garden is key (adding kerb appeal too!) – especially as North Leeds has some wonderful gardens. Not only do we provide floor plans for all our properties, but on our Premium plus package we use site maps too which show the layout of your home – supported by property videos, area videos and 3D virtual tours.
For a free valuation call David Phillip FRICS t: 01134 676 400 davidphillip.co.uk w: davidphillip.co.uk a: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN
Covering Leeds, North Leeds, Bramhope, Cookridge, Adel, Pool-inWharfedale, Alwoodley and Otley
You have found the property of your dreams, have started thinking about the furniture you will buy to fill it and then you learn from the Estate Agent selling the property that they have accepted a higher offer from someone else- this is gazumping. If a property has been sold to a second buyer for more money than has already been agreed with the first buyer and the seller wants to maximize the amount they obtain from the sale of the property.
This has happened twice in Bramhope this week alone with viewers we have been showing round a property as they ‘lost’ (or were gazumped on a property they had under offer, but also where a sale fell through as another agent agreed an offer from someone with a higher ‘cash’ price.
Although Gazumping isn’t illegal, it is a practice that is considered unethical and hugely frowned upon – although it unfortunately does happen.
Until there is an exchange of written contracts which comes fairly late in the sales process, it means that the seller can still technically accept other offers as all you have is a verbal agreement which is not legally binding. When you look at properties on Rightmove or the other portals and see that they have been sold STC – this means that an offer has been accepted but the sale is still only ‘subject to contract’ until exchange has been agreed.
This broken promise can in fact cost the buyer a substantial amount of money – solicitors and searches may have already been paid for.
There is no way you can ensure that you aren’t gazumped and an ‘honest’ Estate Agent would avoid this practice, there are some things you can do to help prevent this happening:-
Estate Agents are obliged to pass on any offer they receive, there are though some agents who invent a higher offer at the last minute so that the buyer feels forced to increase their offer to prevent them from being gazumped – if this does happen, ask to see the proof of the other offer in writing, but don’t be panicked by the Estate Agent into increasing your offer ie gazumping your gazumper. At the end of the day, work out how much you can afford and stick to that amount.
Gazumping happens less frequently in Scotland, most Estate Agents are solicitors and under the terms of the Law Society Gazumping isn’t allowed.
There is also a practice known as Gazundering (which is also perfectly legal but unfair), when at the last minute, a buyer withdraws their offer and makes a new one for less money. As the buyer is depending on the seller going through with the sale this is risky. To avoid wasting money on conveyancers the seller may accept the revised offer particularly if the sale is part of a chain.
If you have been gazumped, this is a really awful thing to have happened to you, and it may even have an impact on whether your purchaser wished to proceed. At David Phillip Estate Agents, we completely frown upon this unethical practice.
If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal with David Phillip FRICS, call 01134 676 400
A: David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds w:davidphillip.co.uk e:info@davidphillip.co.uk
After a quieter quarter 4 of 2022, with most regions registering a small price fall and demand down by 50% in December, demand has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, in line with 2018 and 10% higher than in 2019. At the end of 2022, UK house price inflation had slowed to 6.5% from 8.3% at the end of 2021, a trend matched across all regions except London according to Zoopla.
It is likely that demand will improve further in the coming months as mortgage rates continue to fall and ‘would-be’ movers realise that large price falls are unlikely to materialise.
The average asking price of newly listed property increased by £14 this month compared with January to take the median price to £362,452. This is the smallest ever increase from January to February and a sign that more sellers are heeding their agents’ advice to price right the first time. At David Phillip Estate Agents, David Phillip FRICS has been valuing properties for over 30 years, and on the All Agents property portal is voted 100% valuation accuracy which is key.
Average mortgage rates have edged downwards after the turbulent months immediately following the September mini-budget. The latest data shows that someone looking to take out a five-year mortgage with a 15% deposit would now be looking at an average of 4.82%, compared with 5.90% in October.
Though it is still very early in the year, this month’s key metrics suggest that many buyers are seeing reasons to get on with their moves, and have the confidence to return to a market which, so far, is stronger than many expected. The number of potential buyers contacting agents is up by 11% in the last two weeks compared with the same period in 2019.
This demand is now beginning to translate into sales say Rightmove, as the number of sales agreed in now just 11% down on the same period in 2019’s more normal market, picking up from 15% down at the start of the year, and vastly improved from the 30% down in the aftermath of September’s mini budget. This is quite a remarkable turnaround given the rapid increase in mortgage rates less than 6 month’s ago. Perhaps even more surprisingly, it is sales in the firs-time buyer section which are holding up strongly, and thus starting ‘chains’ that will add further impetus to the top end of the market.
The number of available homes for sale is up by 48% on the record low levels of last year, and this slower-paced, greater-choice market appears to be suiting the mass of buyers who need to organise a mortgage and who often lost out to cash buyers in the frenzied best bid scenarios of recent years.
Most price falls were as a result of Buyers negotiating harder on price. Moreover, the discounts to asking prices to achieve a sale widened quickly at the end of 2022, but this gap between asking price and sales agreed is between 3-4%
David Phillip commented, ”the frantic market of recent years was unsustainable in the long term, and all key indicators now point to a market which is transitioning towards a more normal level of activity after the turbulence at the end of last year. We are now seeing buyers who have more choice and sellers who have more confidence which is a much more positive situation”.
If you are considering selling your home knowing that the market is returning to its pre-pandemic levels of normality and would like a free market appraisal with David Phillip FRICS, please call 01134 676 400
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds w:davidphillip.co.uk e:info@davidphillip.co.uk
Covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Otley.
Rightmove will be the headline sponsors of the new series of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway which begins on Saturday 25th February at 7pm.
The ITV programme is one of the most popular entertainment shows on television, reaching millions every episode and is returning for a 19th series.
Rightmove says the sponsorship comes at the beginning of the Spring selling season, coinciding with two of the traditionally busiest months for home-moving activity on the property portals and March and April.
Rightmove’s ‘this is it’ advert will be used during the sponsorship to create a number of visuals (idents) for the programme. New, short branded Rightmove visuals will open and close each episode of Saturday Night Takeaway, as well as appear either side of each advert break, creating maximum impact with viewers.
The original ‘This is it’ advert shows a couple imagining what their new home and life could be like if rather than letting uncertainty and a search for the ‘perfect’ time get in the way, they took the leap now, encouraging viewers at home who may be considering a move this year to take action.
As part of the sponsorship, Rightmove will feature in the famous ‘Win the Ads’ segment of the programme, and its branding will be available to see in both the live and streamed content of the show.
Matt Bushby, Chief Marketing officer at Rightmove said “we want to encourage people to take action and get moving in 2023, particularly those who may have held back on their plans towards the end of last year because of the uncertainty. Our headline sponsorship is timed to coincide with some of the busiest months of the year for Agents, and as the UK’s number 1 property website, we hope to help stimulate activity further by reaching people on one of Television’s most loved shows and getting more people contacting their local Agent about a move this year”
If you are considering moving home and would like a free market appraisal call David Phillip FRICS on 01134 676 400. David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN w:davidphillip.co.uk
Covering Leeds, North Leeds, Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Otley
Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway will air from 7pm -8.30pm on ITV1.
When it comes to moving home, you may already have decided the type of property in which you would like to live, your price range, the quality of the schools in the area if you have children and the commute to work (or a home office if you are now working from home more!) , these are all key factors.
People often overlook though the culture of an area, what the community really stands for, what the local shopping and entertainment is like. These are now even more important particularly after the months of lockdown when our ‘normal’ lives have been disrupted
David Phillip commented “The UK housing market is highly localised and only by thoroughly researching individual areas, communities and streets can you be confident you are making the right decision to put an offer on a house – fail to do the research and you may have bought something you may want to move on from pretty quickly, which will be costly both financially but also in terms of emotional investment too”
Here are the things you may need to consider
Local videos showcase a property
So, once you have considered all these things and you think you have located the perfect potential community in which you know you will feel happy and contented, make contact with a local Estate Agent. At David Phillip Estate Agents, we have invested in videos of Bramhope, Adel, Harewood, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Otley. Local videos showcase a property in a whole new way. Rather than just looking at static photos and literature, you can look at the landscape surrounding these beautiful areas, the local businesses operating there, the sense of community and the recreational areas too, plus it also portrays a feeling of excitement that still pictures can’t always show.
And, if you are selling your home, sending a potential buyer a video showing where thy could be living and the community in which they will become involved, creates a much more positive impression – in other words, it’s not just the property you are marketing but the area too!
“We think that the quality of the films we are providing to our clients, really enriches the customer experience and sales outcome when buying and selling a home”, said David - it’s not just about the property but the community and lifestyle too!“
If you are considering selling your home and can see the benefit of adding a local video, contact David Phillip Estate Agents t: 01134 676 400 w: davidphillip.co.uk or take a look at the videos on our website and on some of our current properties for sale – or as we enter winter February, it is good to see Bramhope in the full bloom of summer!
86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds LS16 9AN
Covering:- North Leeds, Bramhope, Pool-in Wharfedale, Adel and Cookridge
Recently, I read with interest about a vendor who had failed to declare that his house had Japanese knotweed behind the garden shed. He was sued by the purchaser leaving him with a £200,000 bill after he denied the plant was growing in the garden. The vendor had answered ‘no’ to the question on the TA6 property information form asking if the property had been affected by knotweed at the property when he sold it.
Japanese knotweed is hell bent on:
The UK Environment Agency describes Japanese knotweed as ‘indisputably the UK’s most aggressive, destructive and invasive plant’ that is notorious for its propensity to spread and cause damage to building structures, as well as the difficulty and expense of getting rid of it - and unfortunately it can have a drastic effect on residential property sales, so what do you need to know about this troublesome plant.
If you are selling a property and unsure of the position around knotweed then call David Phillip FRICS for further advice, and if you require a free market appraisal then call us on 01134 676 400. A: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds www.davidphillip.co.uk
Covering Leeds, Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Adel, Cookridge and Otley
Bathrooms have long evolved from being the functional part of the family home to a room with huge potential. There are, as with many aspects of life design trends that come and go in terms of style materials. So… what are the bathroom trends for 2023
Metalwork still seems to be continuing as a trend, and although the warmer trends of brass and copper have been in style for a while, gunmetal is starting to make an appearance, especially on tapware, lighting fixtures and mirrors.
Accessories such as this add a touch of luxury to any bathroom, and compliment many types of material, particularly marble and stone, giving a luxurious but minimalist feel – a pale marble is in fact a trend for 2023 too – coloured marble can be used to create a statement.
The polar opposite of marble but equally popular is a bathroom based around a cottage theme, with many different textures and patterns, often using feminine colours and florals that provide a traditional English countryside feel and an existence much more in tune with nature.
Wall pannelling is often seen in country homes, this goes well with a countryside theme, and is also trending in 2023 – pair it up with rustic wooden mirrors and accessories, and a traditional free standing bath (also on trend) with vintge details if the bathroom has enough space to carry this.
Wooden floorings or standout floor tiles can add a real touch of character to a functional bathroom, and adding classic furniture such as an ornate chair can finish off the look.
Bring the outdoor in by adding touches of nature to wallpaper and of course a few plants too.
A Frameless glass shower screen is perfect for a minimalist look and is especially good for small spaces - walk in showers are now much more appealing than the four sided enclosures of recent years.
In a small bathroom, this can be used to provide a really opulent spacious feel, especially if partnered with marble and metal accessories – or beautiful tilework – in the last 12 months, online searches for ‘glass shower screens’ has seen a dramatic increase – any small space solutions are on trend, maximising our ever decreasing floorspace with floating vanity units, clever storage space and narrow bathroom furniture..
Mixed-era design spanning a multiple time period can create a space that feels both accessible and timeless – traditional tiles, panelling and antique furniture combined with modern metal accessories such as mirrors and lighting provides a great contrast between old and new
Overseas vibes are also making a trend in 2023 from Danish pastels to ancient Greek décor providing proportion and simplicity with polished marble, decorative plasterwork, ornate trims and natural textures which is easy to incorporate. The Greek bathroom can feel refined and elaborate so a contrast of textures inspired by nature can make an effective contrasting look.
Danish soft pastels soften the shade whilst Scandanavian styles are simple and uncomplicated with clean lines and neutral tones providing a serene environment that is relaxing and calm. Keeping it clean and simplified should never mean boring.
A burst of colour as a feature won’t change the theme of the bathroom but just add a unique touch. If you don’t want to go too dramatic, just add a touch of grey to your monochrome bathroom – simple but effective, and neutral greens and sage, sky blues and candy-coloured pinks provide a similar effect.
Geometric tiles on the floors and the walls are visually interesting and allow for a bolder more masculine approach – sleek modern products go well with this look and add a freestanding bath to contrast with the geometrical tiles.
Natural walls in limewash and textured finishes can be achieved with what is described as Venetian plaster that gives your bathroom a soft feel and look when natural clay and water are combined – this is also a cost-effective option.
If you are looking for bathroom inspiration and a property full of 2023 trends, then look no further for ornate marble tiling and walk in showers at our newly launched property on Primley Park Avenue in Alwoodley, North Leeds. To arrange an early inspection call 01134 676 400.
If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal call David Phillip FRICS – David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds LS16 9AN w: davidphillip.co.uk
Covering Leeds, Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley and Alwoodley
With Spring around the corner, many people will be thinking of moving somewhere new, and will no doubt receive lots of good luck cards from and friends and relatives –even if you are a person who believes in making your own luck there are still a few superstitions and traditions that will help bring you good fortune.
Pick a good day to move - Aside from the hassle of moving when the weather is wet, it is believed that if you move on a sunny day, you will have more luck in your new home (check out the long-term weather forecast!) – Thursday is supposed to be the luckiest day to move and some traditions say you should move when the moon is waxing.
When you cross the threshold of your new home make sure you enter by the main door, and leave for the first time from this door too
Leave your old broom (and its dust) behind, Feng Shui traditions say leave your past in the dust and start afresh in your new home.
Ringing a bell in your new home can ward off negativity and create a fresh vibe in the home – opening the windows and letting in the sunlight at the same time as ringing the bell helps symbolise new beginnings. Some people like to stuff fennel through the keyhole or hang it over the front door to ward off witches. Put your right foot forward when stepping into a new property and in the Philippines, new homeowners will scatter coins in the living room to bring prosperity and new luck
Light a candle or burn sage (with some nice smelling lavender) in a fireproof bowl, this is known as ‘smudging’ – this is a native American tradition that is said to cleanse your new home and remove any negativity. Burning a nice candle on your first night will also do – and help you to relax too!
According to Jewish tradition the combination of bread (which symbolises meals to come) and salt (which will fill your life with flavour) given as a gift from family and neighbours will bring you wealth, hospitality and prosperity. Sprinkle salt in each room and around every doorway upon first entering your home, this will ward off any evil spirits
Also on the tradition of food – pouring milk over rice and letting it then boil over will give the home an image of the abundance of wealth and food the inhabitants can enjoy.
Once you have moved into your home, if you are planning to hang new photos or make a start on a gallery wall, ensure you leave it until the morning. According to tradition, you should put down your hammer and nails after sunset or else you could risk waking up the tree gods!
And finally hold a housewarming party which will bring lots of fun and happiness into your home – good luck.
If you are considering moving home and would like a free market appraisal, then call David Phillip FRICS on 01134 676 400 w: davidphillip.co.uk a: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN
Covering North Leeds, Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Cookridge, Adel and Otley
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