Dementia is one of the greatest challenges facing our ageing society. Two thirds of people living with dementia live in their own home with their families currently providing the majority of care and support, this can be tiring and stressful - physically, emotionally and financially. A large number of people with dementia also live alone and can be at particular risk of isolation.

The start of the New Year is a time when people think about the next stages of their careers and perhaps start thinking about looking for a new job. Most people ‘go to work’, but what if you look at it a different way and just ‘work’. Work traditionally may have meant traveling to an office and working from 9am to 5.30 pm, but in a society more focussed around 24/7 and with the benefits of modern technology and techniques, some forward thinking companies may offer working alternatives that not only ensure an improved Customer Experience but also provide employees with a more flexible, productive way of working too.

At David Phillip Estate Agents we believe our clients need choice when selling their home, some homes will benefit from our 3dvirtual tours and area videos, whereas other properties may require a different but still unique approach – what we do know is that David Phillip has over 30 years’ experience selling properties in North and West Yorkshire so he really understands what will work best for each property we market. Because we are keen to provide the best proposition for all our customers and the best customer experience too, we are working in Partnership with Mybid4it – a modern auction site that specialises in handling buying and selling homes across the Uk. So, what are the benefits to the Buyers? ….

We opened David Phillip Estate Agents towards the end of 2018 – my previous background has always been in sales and marketing, and Estate Agency is a totally new experience for me, so… what have I learnt in a my first year.

You have seen the property of your dreams and put in an offer, but the person buying your home is not ready to proceed as quickly as your seller requires, and you are likely to hold up the chain, what do you do?

Recently we have listed a few properties that either already have dressing rooms or have the potential for adding or converting a room to a dressing room. If you are a clothes enthusiast but are short on storage space, then a dressing room could be just the thing for you. Adding a dressing room adds to your clothing space considerably whilst also giving you the freedom to organise your clothing, accessories and shoes in a way that is easily accessible, this can make getting ready for work or a night out stress free and also much easier, it can also make your clothes look nicer and last longer too. Having a dressing room eliminates clutter in your sleeping area and storing your clothes elsewhere will contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment – you will also get a better night’s sleep. Having a dressing room is your own private sanctuary where you can enjoy privacy and comfort, put on your make-up or unwind after a busy day.

The property Portal on the Market has found that if you live on a street with a name that is regal or titled, such as Royal, Place, Lord and Bishop it can boost the value of their homes lining their pavements.

Do you know the price your property is currently being marketed at on the main portals of Rightmove, Zoopla and On the Market, and by that I mean the exact price? – one that hopefully ends in three zeros rather than 950.

When it comes to moving home, you may already have decided the type of property you would like, your price range, the quality of the schools in the area if you have children and the commute to work, 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, in other words, home is where the heart is but what if your heart doesn’t quite know where that place should be? Lesa Brown, a Director at David Phillip Estate Agents 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”.

I read with interest the article on Property Eye today, written by Zoopla Managing Director Charlie Bryant who writes ‘the way agents operate has changed significantly over the last five years, you are no longer reliant on the portals for marketing homes – that is as it should be. Digital Marketing has empowered agents to take matters into their own hands to a far greater extent. Different audiences will also respond in varying ways to the myriad of communications channels now out there and often a message needs to be seen or heard across multiple platforms to resonate.’ He also writes, ‘In May, Zoopla surveyed 2,000 people who have either sold their property in the last 18 months or who were currently looking to move or sell over the next year and a half. An over whelming proportion of these house-hunters (70%) told us that they use a combination of estate agency websites and property portals when searching for their next home. This reflects the savviness of the general consumer in the digital age The research demonstrates that a hybrid strategy when marketing a home is key to maximising eyeballs to ensure it is sold or let out as quickly as possible and for the best possible price.’ Great words from Charlie Bryant, and at David Phillip Estate Agents we total agree:- One Size doesn’t fit all