Using outstanding photography in your property listing can make all the difference when making an impression on home hunters, but it is often an area that is overlooked by sellers and Estate Agents.
At David Phillip Estate Agents in North Leeds, using great photography is key to us, as is capturing the best images possible, using high quality equipment (a professional photographer) and carefully considering what homebuyers want to see – the benefit of beautiful homes in Bramhope and the surrounding area also helps.
As the longer nights close in and the gardens are starting to be past their best, then it is even more important to ensure those internal shots are the most perfect they can be.
Here are a few guiding principles to be used when marketing prospective homes:-
A quality Estate Agent should never scrimp on the cost of a Professional photographer, some agents feel it is part of their role to take the photographs, and true, Smart phones are now advanced, but it is not just about a shoot and grab picture, other agents ‘lift’ the photographs from the 3D tour - An Agent’s time is much better spent communicating with clients and leaving it to the experts.
It is best to use horizontal landscape views, which are more pleasing on the eye than vertical – although a different set of photographs may need taking for use on social media.
Without furniture then a space is just walls, floors, windows and ceilings - furniture provides scale, lights and adds character – a personality. People decorate their homes to their own tastes, but this does not always appeal to the masses and sometimes the decoration can take over the room – a lick of neutral paint may do the trick prior to photos being taken.
A cluttered, messy photo can reflect lazy work from an agent – things to be removed from the kitchen, include fridge magnets, pet’s food bowls and cluttered bins - all cupboard doors should be closed and kitchen tops should be cleaned and de-cluttered.
The kitchen should be curated with a nice set of dishes, bowls of fruit and flowers rather than tea towels hanging from the cooker, and the dining room table should always set for dinner.
The lounge should be cleared of scruffy throws, children’s toys and DVD’s - piles of magazines can look unsightly and the TV should always be turned off.
Old towels are a definite no in the bathroom as are cluttered sinks, baths and shower-cubicles. the toilet seat should always be left down – small details sometimes overlooked.
When taking photographs, it is important to emphasise each room’s selling point, it might be the natural light, the spaciousness or an unusual feature that will make the potential buyer curious to see more. A professional photographer will shadow and colour boost to improve the property.
In some properties it is difficult to photograph an entire room at once, so moving furniture around can capture the perfect angle, photographing through doorways and keeping internal doors open will make a difference.
Only the best photos should be used, buyers don’t want to sift through an entire library of images. it is recommended that at least 12 pictures should be taken to give searchers a flavour of every room, remembering that it is the first two weeks when a new property will get the most viewings and hopefully that all important sale.
At David Phillip Estate Agents we are so keen that your property makes the very best impression, we provide a staging service if required, this takes place around a week before photographs and videos are taken to ensure your property looks its very best.
So, if you are looking to sell your home and would like to use an Estate Agent that enhances the look of the property, including drone footage of your home, call David Phillip FRICS for a free market appraisal 01134 676 400.
David Phillip Estate Agents, T: 01134 6767 400 W: davidphillip.co.uk A: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN
Today is National Golf Lovers Day
If you are looking to move to a new area, and a good golf course is pretty high on the list of ‘must haves’ then Leeds could be an ideal place to move to. With courses from PGA championship to Ryder Cup hosts, Leeds boasts some of the Uk’s finest and oldest courses designed by some of the world’s best architects.
So… if you are looking to improve your swing and make new friends in the process then becoming a member of a local club could be a great thing to do.
Here are some of the top golf clubs in the area:
Moortown Golf club: Well-known around the World as the host of the first Ryder Cup match on British soil, in 1929, Moortown is regarded by many as one of the Country’s finest inland golf courses. Over the past Century the Club has hosted many professional and amateur tournaments with winners that include Sir Nick Faldo, Bernard Gallagher, Danny Willett and Sir Michael Bonallack, former Captain of the R & A, to name but a few.
Fulneck Golf club: Fulneck Golf Course is a mature nine-hole parkland course which has been in existence now for over 120 years. The first three holes run up and down the hill directly in front of the Clubhouse, the course then follows the valley bottom running alongside of the beck which is out of bounds at all times. After the first five holes we cross the beck and enter what is known in the Club has the new land (not so new anymore), three holes are played in this field and then you arrive at the bottom of the ninth hole. This is a testing par four hole played on an upslope all the way, it is a difficult uphill hole that ruins many a golfer’s card. After the first nine holes you will see that accurate shots are rewarded on this relatively tight course. Now carry on and do it all again and in most cases from different tees.
Sandmoor Golf Club: The Sand Moor Golf Course is an 18-hole Championship course, measuring 6,446 yards, consisting of three par 5’s, eleven par 4’s and four par 3 holes. It was designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie in 1926 – who sat on the very first Greens Committee at the club – and famously went on to design Augusta National. The course is perhaps better known for its four challenging par 3’s – each of which were originally designed by Alister MacKenzie. Each par 3 varies in length, style and offers a different challenge. Sand Moors longest hole is the 556-yard 16th hole, which features a tricky right to left sloping fairway.
Cookridge Hall golf Club: The front nine holes are littered with daunting water hazards and strategic bunkering, culminating in one of many memorable holes the short par 3, 6th. Although only 150 yards off the white tees, golfers must carry the ball all the way to a Mackenzie green to avoid the fateful splash and being caught out by the huge lake. Good golf will be rewarded but beware any loose shots or inaccurate putting will be punished especially on the fast running and undulating greens. The back nine could be classed as more forgiving with two par 5’s and two impressive par 3’s, after negotiating those successfully golfers are faced with a do or die decision on the 18th. Aptly named Temptation, the green can be found in one shot from the tee however standing guard to swallow any errant tee shot is the lake adjacent to the green. A conservative iron shot down the middle of the fairway leaves an awkward and often costly pitch across the lake to an undulating fast green; a par 4 is no guarantee. Be it a social game or in the heat of a match the 18th hole is a spectacle and provides the perfect finish to a most enjoyable round.
Oulton Hall Golf club: They have a team of qualified PGA professionals are dedicated to helping you enjoy better golf. For some of you this will involve reducing your handicap to the lowest it’s ever been, whilst for others it’ll be about giving you the confidence to enjoy your time on the course with friends. Whatever you want from this game, we’re here to help every step of the way. They offer lessons and a custom fittings service, along with a pro shop.
Leeds Golf Club: Interwoven in the history of the Leeds Golf Club is the story of the beginning of golf in Leeds. It was on the Soldiers field at Roundhay that the first golf ball was struck in the Leeds district. In 1890, these players and some others rented the horse pastures which now forms the top nine of the present courses of the Leeds Golf Club, or “Cobble Hall” as it is more affectionately known locally. They played there until 1893 when they left and fashioned a nine-hole course on the low side of the Wetherby Road, forming the Roundhay Club. In 1896 several gentlemen met in the Gipton Wood Inn and decided to form a golf club. They obtained the original lease of the present course from the local at a rent of £25 per annum. After some deliberation, they decided to name the Leeds Golf Club. The old Roundhay Club was merged with the Leeds Golf in 1900.
Howley Hall golf Club: Howley Hall Golf Club is located on the outskirts of Leeds and is easily accessible from the M62 and M1. With an impressive golf course, bar and catering facilities, it’s the ideal location for golf societies and visiting parties. There is always a warm welcome at Howley Hall. More than a great golf course, with arguably the best four finishing holes in Yorkshire, it is the perfect venue for all occasions. The club’s function rooms can be hired for a wide variety of events including Business Meetings and Seminars, Special Events, Celebrations and Wedding Receptions.
Temple Newsham golf Club: Alderman Alf Masser and A. G. (Bert) Baker, the then golf correspondent at the Yorkshire Evening Post newspaper, campaigned long and hard for the introduction of municipal golf in Leeds. Consequently, the first golf course at Temple Newsam, designed by Dr. Alistair Mackenzie (designed Augusta and Alwoodley among others), was opened on 20th July 1923. However, Mr. Baker had already gathered interested parties together and in February of that year, a meeting was convened at the Hotel Metropole in Leeds and the Leeds Municipal Golfers Club was born. Appropriately, A. G. Baker became the first Chairman of the club.
Headingley Colf club: At the turn of the 20th century when the club’s first members set eyes on a piece of heath and farmland alongside the picturesque Norman church at Adel, they had the vision to see a great natural golf course. Over 100 years later the course is still in a completely rural setting, enjoys many wonderful views and boasts many memorable golf holes which make full use of the varied and dramatic terrain. The land has also proved most suitable for year-round golf and much to the members’ approval the “Course Closed” sign is very rarely used. One of the country’s most talented young Head Greenkeepers, Andy Stanger (2010 Toro Greenkeeper of the Year) joined Headingley in 2013 and since then has been overseeing a comprehensive and ambitious Course Improvement Plan ensuring that the course continues to be a venue of choice for discerning golfers.
Alwoodley Golf club: Alwoodley is regarded as one of the finest inland courses in Britain as well as being of great historical significance. Alwoodley’s world-renowned architect, Dr Alister MacKenzie, created a layout of rare subtlety and sophistication on a swathe of moorland to the north of the city of Leeds. It enjoys natural heathland characteristics, with firm, springy fairways lined by heather and occasional outcrops of gorse. Among many distinguishing features are the eye-catching, irregularly shaped and naturalistic-looking bunkers as well as large, often undulating, greens. Dating back to 1907, Alwoodley is a course of subtle angles and great strategic interest. Rarely is driver taken out of the skilled player’s hands, but discretion is often the better part of valour. Wider landing areas are often available at the expense of longer approach shots.
We are pleased that Leeds has so many fantastic courses to shout about, and if you are looking to move to the area, take a look at our website – we have some lovely homes for sale that are really close by.
Happy Golf Lover’s Day – October 4th 2022
If you are looking to sell your home and would like a free market appraisal call 01134 676 400 w:davidphillip.co.uk 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds
Covering Leeds, Bramhope, Cookridge, Adel, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley
The macro backdrop for the housing market has evolved rapidly over the summer. Central Banks have increased interest rates to bring down inflation. Rising energy prices are adding to the cost-of-living squeeze. UK consumer confidence is low, however despite the challenging backdrop, these factors have not yet had a material impact on leading indicators of sales market activity.
The strong start to the year has carried the momentum into the summer. As we enter the Autumn selling season, demand for housing has started to soften a little and is lower than this time last year as the post-pandemic Stamp Duty holiday was reaching an end. However, UK wide demand remains at 8% above the 5-year average.
The UK Government has responded with tax cuts and an energy price cap to support housing demand.
September 2022 saw a surprisingly resilient market, despite the economic pressures. The average price of a property coming to the market has risen by 0.7% (+£2,587) in the month or £367,760 – Yorkshire and Humberside have seen a modest increase of 0.3%, however this is plus 10% v last year.
The middle and high-end market sectors are driving price rises this month with a new record asking price in the ‘second-stepper’ category (three bedrooms and non-detached with four bedrooms). Buyer demand in these sectors is up by 2% even compared to the frenetic market of last year, while more choice is now also available when compared with 2021. These numbers suggest that for those who can, moving up the ladder to a home with more space remains a priority, even at a time when personal finances are stretched. This is excellent news for people living locally in Bramhope, Adel, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Cookridge.
First time buyers are facing cost pressures although the new stamp duty cuts may provide some additional support.
The stamp duty cut from Friday’s mini-budget means that two-thirds of homes (66%) are now exempt from stamp duty for first-time buyers in England, and a third of all homes are exempt for all buyers (33%). The stamp duty changes are welcome and will boost some sectors of the market but, overall, they are unlikely to offset the impact of higher mortgage rates on housing activity
Average monthly mortgage payments for new first-time buyers are currently £1,057, which is 40% of an average gross salary for the first time since November 2012. They will jump to £1,114 per month if lenders pass on the latest interest rise of 0.5%.
The Rightmove and Zoopla September House Price Index
Most new loans are at fixed rates and the cost to secure financing for these mortgages does not directly follow base rates
The number of homes coming back to the market has risen back to 2019 levels which gives buyers more choice.
The overall market remains surprisingly resilient despite the headwinds. Demand continues to ease slightly from the heady levels of last year as expected, but even with the fall in first-time buyer demand, the total demand is down by only 2% on the same period in 2021, and the stamp-duty costs could stimulate even more demand.
Compared with the pre-pandemic five- year average, total buyer demand is up by 20%. The number of homes coming to market has risen by 16% this month compared to this time last year, which is a return to 2019 levels
David Phillip commented “the end of the summer break and the start of the new school term is usually a time when we see renewed focus from buyers, as those with plans to move see an Autumn window of opportunity ahead of them. Price growth this month in the middle and high-end sectors highlights that even when finances are more stretched, many of the reasons for looking to move up the property ladder remain.
The numbers suggest that those who can afford to are still prioritising moving. However, home owners need to price competitively and shift their mindset, giving more consideration to local market dynamics, especially in the sectors where there is now more choice – there is a very fine line between a realistically priced home and a home that feels overpriced when many buyers are making every pound count”.
Early Autumn is a good time to market your home if you are considering a house move. The nights are still light enough to do evening viewings, many people want to be moved by Christmas and the New Year and the school's admission dates are at the end of January which is key for people looking to move into local schools.
For a free market appraisal call David Phillip FRICS (with over 30 years’ experience selling homes in North and West Yorkshire) on 01134 676 400
86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, w. www.davidphillip.co.uk e:info@davidphillip.co.uk
Covering the areas of Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Adel and Cookridge
With the pound falling to its lowest level on Monday since 1985 (although it did start to recover by the afternoon) and a forecast of higher interest rates, several mortgage lenders have temporarily stopped offers for new clients.
Why are banks pulling mortgages now and what does this mean for you as a home buyer and homeowner?
We asked the Mortgage Advice Bureau for an overview on the current situation, here is their assessment:-
On Tuesday 27th September, there were around 3,596 residential mortgage deals available, which is a stark comparison to last years 5,315*. The amount of available deals dropped by around 284 overnight which may have sparked concerns over availability.
Following the mini-budget announcement by Kwasi Kwarteng many lenders are struggling to price their products accurately, which is why many have temporarily suspended them. As a result of the mini budget, and expected further tax cuts, sterling on the market is seeing volatility. This also comes in line with current interest rate rises and an expected interest rate rise of 6% next year.
With all these movements in the financial sector, it is no wonder we are seeing financial institutions exercising caution.
Which banks have pulled mortgage deals?
Skipton Building society and Virgin money have both temporarily paused any mortgage offers for new clients. Halifax, which is owned by Lloyds Banking Group has said they’re going to halt any current mortgage products where the fees associated typically have lower interest rates.
Other bank and lender changes include**
While this list isn’t exhaustive, it indicates the level of change we’re seeing in the home buying circuit. It may seem concerning, but many of these institutions have stated that they will put their offers back up once they have re-evaluated their financial positions.
All have also stated that they would continue to support their existing customers, even if you have just placed an application.
We’ve seen pulled mortgage deals before
While all of this is certainly stressful especially with the current cost of living crisis and the general increase in consumer goods, it is not the first time that this has happened. In fact, the housing market saw something very similar in the pandemic, with many lenders re-evaluating their products, portfolios and fees.
During the nationwide lockdown, mortgage approvals as a whole fell, lenders tightened their lending criteria and some lenders pulled their deals from the market entirely, which reduced the number of options for anyone shopping around.
Despite this, June saw an astronomical surge in house sales with just under 147, 827 reported sales*** coming through. This indicates that while things may seem choppy, there’s no need to panic. We need to wait and see what unfolds in the coming weeks and if in the meantime people have questions or concerns, Mortgage Advice Bureau are advising to give them a call.
Why you need expert mortgage advice now more than ever
While a variety of factors, including rates, house prices, and supply and demand can affect property prices we have always been able to come back from this in the past.
At the moment, mortgage deals are slightly limited in terms of choice, but there are still plenty of deals available. If you are considering re-mortgaging early to get ahead of the increases, speak to your Mortgage Adviser - not only do they have their finger on the pulse of the housing market, they know who you can work with and what lenders will offer you a mortgage.
If you are considering buying a house and are concerned about the current changes, call Mortgage Advice Bureau Bingley on 01274568832
If you require further information on the housing market, David Phillip FRICS has over 30 years’ experience selling properties in North and West Yorkshire and would be happy to answer any of your questions.
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN. www.davidphillip.co.uk
Covering Bramhope. Pool-in-Wharfedale, Cookridge, Adel and Otley
The current financial situation has dominated the headlines this week, with stamp duty cuts and mortgage deals both at the centre of the discussion.
Rightmove have issued a housing market update based on their current market statistics
Some re-assuring stats
A Healthy number of sales agreed – the number of sales agreed on Tuesday was the highest number in one day since early August
Limited impact on demand so far – on Monday and Tuesday, demand from buyers (sending leads to agents and developers) was down by just 3% compared with other Mondays and Tuesdays this month
Average September rate of fall throughs – over the last few days, Rightmove have seen fall throughs in line with what has been seen for all of September
No change to rate of price reductions – On Monday and Tuesday 1.6% of all properties were reduced. This is the same level of reductions that we saw on other Mondays and Tuesdays this month.
Mortgage products withdrawn, but there is still choice – a number of mortgage products have been withdrawn, but according to Moneyfacts there are currently over 2,600 mortgage products available in the market.
If you are considering selling your home, in times of uncertainty use an estate agent who has an understanding of selling homes in all market conditions, local knowledge and a wealth of experience. David Phillip FRICS is a chartered surveyor and has been selling homes in North and West Yorkshire for over 30 years.
Call David Phillip for a free market appraisal on 01134 676 400
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN w:davidphillip.co.uk
Covering Leeds, Bramhope, Adel, Pool-In-Wharfedale and Cookridge
Today the Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a string of tax cuts in his fiscal statement to encourage investment and boost business.
The following announcement was made regarding Stamp Duty, which currently brings in about £12billion a year for the treasury. The announcement the Chancellor made was that Stamp Duty Land Tax is to cut which will help more people to move, promote residential investment and boost first-time ownership.
From today, first time buyers will only pay stamp duty on homes over £425,000, up from £300,000. First time buyers relief is also to be made available on properties up to £625,000, up from £500,000 while the nil-rate band is doubled to all buyers, up to £250,000. Under the changes announced, anyone spending £250,000 on a property in England or Northern Ireland will avoid £2,500 in stamp duty charges as it was previously charged at 2% between £125,000 and £250,000. Anyone other than first time buyers spending £300,000 will now be charged £2,500, rather than the previous £5,000. A buyer splashing out £500,000 on a home will now be charged £12,500 rather than the previous £15,000. This is a permanent cut to stamp duty, effective from today.
Stamp Duty Land Tax is a levy paid to HM Revenue and Custom when you are buying a home. It is paid by the person who is buying the property, not the seller and the buyer’s solicitor usually pays this as part of the sale process.
Liz Truss believes cutting stamp duty- paid when buying a property worth more than £125,000 would drive economic growth by encouraging more people to move home, as well as helping first time buyers to move onto the property ladder.
David Phillip commented “ we very much welcome the Chancellor’s announcement, not only will this encourage more first time buyers, but will hopefully have a knock on effect of completing more chains so that property transactions s in all price brackets will increase.
So if you are considering a move in the New Year, then now might be the ideal time. If you would like a free market appraisal call David Phillip FRICS on 01134 676 400
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds w: wwwdavidphillip.co.uk
Covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Otley.
The latest housing minister has been revealed as the prospect of Stamp Duty reform returns to the housing market.
New ministerial appointments were delayed after the Queen passed away and the official days of mourning began, but the new Prime Minister Liz Truss is starting to announce her reshuffle – Lee Rowley, Conservative MP for Northeast Derbyshire was last night named as the new Housing Minister.
Housing Secretary Simon Clarke made the announcement in a tweet at 9.17pm yesterday.
Clarke said: “Lee is a huge intellect, a great friend and is keenly committed to building the homes we need”
Additionally, it can also be revealed that Rowley once worked for an Estate Agent.
Rowley who has been an MP since 2017 said in a tweet last night “A big job ahead to further help raise standards and service across the sector, to improve how planning works for local communities and, vitally, to empower more people to achieve their dream home ownership”.
He was only appointed Under Secretary of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 7th September 2022, replacing Eddie Hughes and taking charge of the rental reform agenda.
He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury between 17th September 2021 and 6th July 2022.
This comes amid reports that Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini -Budget on Friday, could include a Stamp Duty Cut to boost the property market. He and Liz Truss are reported to have been working for more than a month on plans to make a radical cut to stamp duty.
The Times reports this morning that Truss believes cutting Stamp Duty will “encourage economic growth by allowing more people to move and enabling first time buyers to get onto the Property ladder”.
This could be very welcome news, David Phillip commented “the discussions around cutting the stamp duty could be a very positive step, the highest rate of stamp duty is “clogging up” the housing market and preventing more transactions in the market”
According to Rightmove
Dvid Phillip FRICS will provide a further update on Friday, but this is potentially very good news for people looking to sell their home in Bramhope, Otley, Pool-in Wharfedale, Adel and Cookridge.
If you would like a free market appraisal, call 01134 676 400 a: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN w: www.davidphillip.co.uk. E: info@davidphillip.co.uk
There are whispers amongst the corridors of Whitehall to encourage pensioners to downsize with a stamp duty break.
The move welcomed by the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB) has welcomed this move and will free up the market whist allowing pensioners to move without the penalty of high stamp duty and would certainly encourage more people to do move as a consequence.
Currently a pensioner selling a family home at £700,000 to buy at £500,000 would face a £15,000 stamp duty bill and with other associated costs, this figure means that Pensioners cannot bring themselves to pay when leaving a much-loved family home.
David Phillip commented “this could be excellent news for retired people wishing to downsize – the cost of living and rise in household bills has certainly given pensioners much to think about at this time”.
If you are considering a downsize or house move and would like a free market-appraisal call David Phillip on 01134 676 400
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN w: davidphillip.co.uk
Covering the areas of North Leeds, Bramhope, Poole-in-Wharfedale, Adel, Cookridge and Otley
Liz Truss has announced an ‘energy price guarantee’ which means that a typical household will pay no more than £2,500 a year on energy bills for two years, from 1st October, this is re-assuring news and means that the cap which was set to jump up to £3,549 from £1,971 will no longer happen.
Energy bills help that has already been announced will still go ahead, which is welcoming news for households worrying about how they will manage to pay for their bills, however there are still other schemes available for providing support.
Around 90% of eligible households have already received the £150 Council Tax rebate if their home is in council tax bands A to D – ring your local council if you are yet to receive this payment.
Additional energy bills help for the vulnerable and low-income households is available which includes an extra £150 on-off disability payment which will be paid automatically from September 20th
All households in the UK will receive a £400 discount on their energy bill as part of the Energy Bills support Scheme to help with the cost of living starting from October, this will be paid out over 6 months and will be taken off their bills directly by the energy companies
If you have a traditional pre-payment meter you will get a Special Action Message (SAMS) issued via e-mail, post or text message each month which you will need to redeem at your usual top-up point if you are a smart prepayment meter you will see that the discount is credited directly to your pre-payment meter each month.
Anyone who doesn’t use mains gas and electricity, such as those using heating oil will also receive the equivalent help.
If you were born before 26 September 1955, you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills – this includes a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment of between £150 and £300, however you only get this extra discount in Winter 2022/2023.
Cold Weather Payment – for every 7 days of very cold weather there is an extra payment.
If you are really struggling to pay your energy bills ensure you arrange a payment plan with your supplier. Ofgem the energy regulator says to contact your supplier as soon as you can, at this point you can ask for a review of your payments and debt repayments, payment dates or reductions, more time to pay or access to hardship funds – if you are in a vulnerable situation this is a free support service for you to use.
I have previously posted a blog with tips on how to save electricity – take a look on www.davidphillip.co.uk.
As the Government looks to make more announcements around any areas concerning the home, we will update all information via our website, and if you are considering selling your home call David Phillip FRICS on 01134 676 400.
86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN, covering Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley, Adel and Cookridge
Since the pandemic, a good work/life balance has become key for both employees and employers. It prevents burn out and work-related stress whilst also improving productivity and results in a motivated workforce.
Companies have changed the ways they operate with some allowing staff to work from home and others having a mix of office/home working – technology allows for different working models, moving from the standard 9am-5.30pm in the office to a more flexible option, as long as the Customer Experience isn’t compromised in any way.
So, what if you work from home 5 days a week and your work/life balance is all under the same roof or even in the same room, or you have a busy commute to a town or city and just crave for somewhere different to go on a Weekend, preferably somewhere where you can enjoy open spaces, or even if your work from home routine could be split between the city and an office in the countryside!
Perhaps you had thought of buying another home somewhere rural to provide that true work life balance, but the cost of purchasing a second home is just too expensive, especially when stamp duty is taken into consideration.
The option of purchasing a ‘lock-up’ and leave holiday home could be a more affordable way of reaching the balance you are looking for – and also avoids stamp duty payments.
Jackie and Mike Cooper, have worked in senior positions in big organisations for well known brands, their work life was extremely busy and come the Weekends they wanted somewhere to relax, recharge their batteries and enjoy a different way of living.
They purchased a holiday home in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales near Leyburn, an area which boasted beautiful countryside, famous restaurants and a much more relaxing way of life.
The area they chose Chantry at West Witton near Leyburn, a beautiful 5 star country park, with exceptional standards in a lovely community and a stunning 23 acres of Parkland – it even has its own gym and is the perfect place to lock up and leave.
Initially Jackie and Mike used the holiday home for Weekends, holidays and a bolt hole when the country opened up post Covid19 lockdowns.
Jackie commented “ Mike and I had really busy jobs and were looking for somewhere to relax on a Weekend, the option of a lodge ticked all the boxes – a great location in a beautiful part of the country, 5 star facilities plus not a long commute from where we lived in Harrogate. A holiday home proved to be a really affordable option, particularly as we didn’t need to pay stamp duty and especially as it is open all year round and we enjoyed all the 4 magical seasons .
As our working lives changed due to Covid-19, we eventually part re-located to West Witton as the Lodge provided us with the ideal working space.
After spending time in the Yorkshire Dales, we fell in love with the area and the way of life so much that we have decided to move there permanently and are therefore selling our beautiful Lodge”
Ambleside Lodge is now on the market, with two bedrooms, living room and dining kitchen. It really is worth an early inspection and will provide someone with that work/life balance that is now becoming more and more important.
For further details call David Phillip Estate Agents on 01134 676 400 w: www.davidphillip.co.uk
86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds LS16 9AN e: info@davidphillip.co.uk
Covering North Leeds, Bramhope, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Adel, Otley and of course lovely West Witton (near Leyburn)
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