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31 Jul

Blog - Community

Are you a Pet Owner and Thinking of Moving House…

We all love our pets, but when it comes to selling up or moving house... estate agents often get asked “How do I do viewings when my pets are around and will having pets affect my sale?”While some homeowners have strict outside pet rules, most pets are inside homes as a member of the family. The most popular individual pet owned in the United Kingdom is the dog, with 26% of people owning one. In total, 45% of the UK population own a pet.Most of the 45% of people who own a pet in the UK will have no related issues selling their house. However, if your pets have caused damage to your home, are intimidating, smelly or there are just too many of them, that could cost you dearly, knocking up to five per cent off the asking price according to research*… So, when you decide to put the house on the market you may need to consider the following… *Cleaning – Let’s be honest… in any photoshoot or viewing most people do some serious housecleaning and de-cluttering – this is standard practice.*Have your furry friends caused any damage – Chewed skirting boards? Scratched surfaces? Clawed carpet? Tunnelled holes in your garden?*What’s that smell? During viewings is it possible to movethat cat tray to the utlity room, garage or outside whilst the viewings take place? Make sure your garden is cleared of any ‘deposits’. Is it time to book a special trip to the doggy parlour or order a new bed for your pet?*Viewings – pets can be territorial, so it maybe best for your pet to maybe go for a walk whilst the viewing takes place or visit a friend or family member if appropriate? Another important thing to keep in mind is that your pet has its own needs, needs that are best discussed with your vet. Talk them about what you plan on doing, and how it will work with your specific pet or pets. This is especially important when your pet is older and may not adjust well to change. Selling a home can be just as stressful for the pet as it is for the homeowner. *Statistics Source*Image Source

31 May

Blog - Property market - Selling

Do we stay or do we go now?!?

At this time of year, many young people have secured places, started preparing and are getting excited to fly the nest to start their university journey. Others are just finishing their university courses and have decided to stay in their university towns and cities…Where does this leave parents, with their family homes starting to feel a bit empty?...Are you experiencing the empty-nest conundrum: do we stay or do we go now?!?Here at Ribston Pippin we know that this step can cultivate an empty-nest conundrum and many start to consider options for the future: do we stay put in our family home or downsize as the kids fly?While some people like the idea of staying put as empty nesters – to ensure they have room for children coming back to visit or space for future grandchildren to stay… a growing number are choosing to downsize and move to cities, retirement communities or bustling villages.Last year, figures showed that nearly 4 million homeowners over 55 plan to downsize – but it is convenience rather than the cash that is their biggest motivation, according to research from Prudential*. The nationwide study found nearly half (47 per cent) of over-55 homeowners are planning to sell and move to cheaper homes. Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) rated convenience as their main reason for downsizing compared with just 28 per cent who said they were doing so mainly to release cash for retirement.We understand that managing the emotional stress of downsizing a home can be a very difficult time in your life and the reasons for downsizing a home is not just the empty-nest syndrome but could be; convenience, financial, health issues or moving to be nearer family members who may have stayed in their university towns and cities.We can help you downsize…Change can be good but the transition can still feel uncomfortable. Our trusted team are on hand to help give advice to those who are considering downsizing now or in the future or to help guide those who feel stuck in an empty-nest conundrum – should we stay or should we go!?!Lisa says: “Customer service is our life blood. We are really proud to be a small independent estate agent. We love that we have great relationships with our clients and that our service levels really are appreciated. I think it's really key, to take the time to get to know clients and listen to their needs.“People are often afraid of the unknown. We can help you to plan, as best you can, what the future will look like and this can help diminish the emotional stress.“We can help you to identify exactly why you are downsizing, and revisit this goal often as you continue through the process.” We recently helped Jackie Thomas move out of her family home of 25 years, she said: “Ribston Pippin were fantastic, trust worthy estate agents. Very supportive throughout and all the staff

29 Mar

Blog - Property market - Selling - Uncategorized

5 Years…and £100million…Wow!

You might well think we've been around forever! - but actually, Ribston Pippin was only born 5 years ago. We're really proud of what we've achieved in that time and have had the pleasure of helping hundreds of people find their perfect homes.... Let's have a closer look at what those 5 years have meant..- Human stem cells are successfully cloned...- Prince George of Cambridge was born...- Frozen", the highest-grossing animated film of all time was released... Quite a year wouldn't you agree!We're going to milk this 5 year anniversary malarky after looking over a few stats...!??These made us nearly choke on our cuppa.... We have sold over £100million worth of property The highest value property we sold was at £1,400,000, which we sold within a week Main Street is the most common address we have sold properties on Our most sold type of property is a three bedroom semi-detached property. We have carried out over 5000 viewings. We have sold 713 properties. We have carried out 2139 market appraisals/valuations. Our average asking price is £314065, our average achieved price is £301,480. We average 10 viewings to achieve a sale. We achieve an average price of 95.99% of asking price.Not bad for a little local estate agent eh

06 Feb

Blog - Community

Our Fundraising Impact for St Gemma’s Hospice

We're delighted to announce that through our charitable board initiative that we kicked off last year, we donated a total of £940 to St Gemma's Hospice for 2017, providing a much needed boost to the hospice's ongoing fundraising - thank you to all our fabulous customers!This has been achieved through collaboration with our customers, and we were very touched when one of our lovely clients rewarded a favour we did or him with a voluntarily extra donation - what amazing people live within our community!We are going to continue with this charitable scheme this year, so for every board we put up we will donate £10 to St Gemma's Hospice.St Gemma's supported over 3000 local people 2016/17 and the community team of nurses visited over 5,400 people in their own homes. We were shocked to hear that it costs £25K every day (!) to run their full services - that's over £9million a year. The work that these guys do is so valuable, so we're passionate about doing what we can to contribute.Thanks to all our customers who have made this happen throughout 2017 and here's to a great 2018 raising even more cash for the team.

20 Nov

Blog - Community

Community Champion is Blooming Brilliant!

Time to honour another local hero! This month’s Community Champion is Menston in Bloom’s Gemma Kelmanson who's been out braving the elements with her team to make sure our village looks fabulous come spring.Menston In Bloom is a community organisation run by volunteers with the aim of helping to make Menston a lovely place to live through a wide range of horticultural activities. Come rain or shine, Gemma and the Bloomers are out and about in the community doing some amazing work brightening up the neighbourhood, and we feel really lucky to have them as a part of the village community.From organising and producing the beautiful Tour De Yorkshire showstopper earlier this year, running the annual plant sale and cream tea afternoon at Heather Bank in May and co-ordinating the ‘Great Menston Bulb Plant’ every autumn, the team works tirelessly to ensure Menston is always blooming (whatever the British weather throws at us!)Last year they planted two and a half thousand bulbs on a cold November morning - helping to prepare Menston for wowing in the spring - this year they have planted closer to 3000!We were delighted to support the team in donating some additional bulbs to their project in addition to treating them to a voucher for Tres Bon Raymond, for some warming cups of coffee and much deserved cake when they were all done!Gemma said: "Thank you for coming down to see us this morning and bringing the bulbs and vouchers - both greatly appreciated! We planted the bulbs along the wall in Butterfield Park, which should make a lovely display in the spring. When they are flowering I'll make sure I get a photograph and send it to you! I'll keep you up to date with our projects, in particular the Peace Beds, which we will be planning and planting over the winter and spring.Thanks again for your support".Menston In Bloom are always on the look out for volunteers - Currently Bloomers meet every Thursday morning at 9.30am, for 2 hours. For further information, please email Gemma at menstoninbloom@gmail.com or visit their Facebook PageSo, a big shout out to Gemma - we do appreciate everything you do

23 Oct

Blog - Buying - Selling

Making a difference – through decluttering!

We really enjoyed working with Kate from A Tidy Mind, offering our clients the option of a professional decluttering service, and are delighted to have one of our success stories in the local press.This has enabled us to share the impact Kate's expertise has had on a local lady who really benefited from our collaboration.Not only does Kate's decluttering service help them break free from some of the 'stuff' they don't need to transport to their new home, it also helps the home they are selling become more of a blank canvas in the eyes of buyers, making it much easier for them to see past the existing owner's life there and start to imagine theirs.You can read more about it here - http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/15609028.__39_Declutter__39__expert_helps_Menston_resident_move_home/We are continuing to offer 2 hours of Kate's time for FREE for new clients who entrust us to sell their home

19 Jun

Awards - Blog - Community

Community Champion Bowls us Over!

This month for our ‘Community Champion Award' we reward Dave Holder who was nominated for his work inspiring youngsters - particularly girls - at Menston cricket club, to take up the game.His work led to the cricket club being able to field a full girls team for the first ever time at the end of the 2016 season!Of his work Dave said: “The junior section at the cricket club has gone from strength to strength, we have over 50 u9 kids being coached plus around 20 u11’s. The girls now number around 15, this success is recognised by Yorkshire County Cricket Club who are bringing a Yorkshire Diamonds, The Yorkshire women’s team, roadshow to the ground on Wednesday 5th July”.Dave’s work in the community also includes organising the biennial FoMPS Golf Day and he was in charge of the annual Yomp for 3 years for the FoMPS committee. Just as comfortable on the football, as well as the cricket, pitch - Dave regularly helps out with refereeing duties and until earlier this month Dave was also a Director of The Menstone during its period of massive change.Moving into the Village in 1975, spending a few years away here and there but always being drawn back, Dave said: “ I love the friendliness of the village, there is still that sense of community. Over the last 40 years I have seen massive changes in the village but in so many ways it also remains unchanged, the change is very much the infrastructure, housing etc, whilst unrecognisable from 1975 in its size it is still very much a village community, I feel the school is very much the centre of the community but at the Cricket Club we are trying to put the club back at the forefront of people’s minds".On his nomination for the award Dave said “ I am honoured, reward is something I don’t seek but it is nice to get recognition for the hard but fun work. I’ll get some stick from mates I’m sure but it will only be jealousy!”Well done Dave - our community relies on the hard work and dedication of people like you. We rewarded Dave with some much deserved Beer Vouchers for The Menstone so he can take a bit of time out to relax!Find out more about the Yorkshire Diamonds Summer Roadshow hereDo you know a local hero who has given their time to support the neighbourhood - then let us know by emailing lisa@ribstonpippin.co.uk

15 May

Awards

Industry Award Winners at The ESTAS!

We were absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted in this year's ESTAS Awards - the most prestigious awards in the property industry rewarding excellent standards of customer service in the residential property sector. Each spring an audience of some 1,000 guests gathers at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London for the annual ESTAS Awards Ceremony hosted by the UK’s favourite TV property presenter Phil Spencer.As a small family-run independent agency being up against some of the biggest players in the field can be a little daunting but we were delighted to scoop 3rd prize for our region!! - It was a great day and an opportunity to meet some brilliant property companies doing some brilliant things. The ESTAS are voted for by feedback given by YOU our lovely clients so this makes it even more meaningful - thank you for all your support

03 May

Blog - Buying - Property market

Bank of Mum & Dad..Lisa comments on BBC Radio Leeds

With the news being released that the 'Bank Of Mum & Dad' is now the 9th biggest mortgage lender in the UK, Lisa was called upon by BBC Radio Leeds to chat about this emerging trend amongst house buyers, as it was announced that £6.5 billion is being lent by parents to their children this yearLisa wasn't surprised:She said: "I am not surprised - we regularly see substantial sums being offered by parents. They see it as an investment of their savings by helping their children. It is not just first time buyers - 2nd or 3rd time buyers with expanding families have parents who will put their hands in their pocket to help their children"Lisa also talked about the excitement people feel when they pick up the keys to their new home adding that they always give a gift of a bottle of fizz for them to toast their new home. Ribston Pippin really get to know local buyers and sellers so really feel a part of the process and being a part of the local community we get to keep in touch as families settle into the village too - we do love our job!Have a listen to the short interview on BBC Radio Leeds Breakfast