Category: Uncategorised

  • An interest rate rise?

    Due to the worldwide condition and the aftermath of the pandemic inflation has become high, but as we move into the new year and throughout 2023 there are signs of lowering back to what is considered normal levels.

    What DO WE KNOW?

    In simple terms, buying or selling a home as interest rates rise is nothing to fear, from a historical standpoint, a 5% mortgage rate is still remarkably low. A mortgage today with a fixed rate for the next 30 years is still considerably cheaper than historical comparisons, and a return to 5-7% mortgages is something that looks like will be here to stay.

    WHAT DO OUR BANKS SAY?

    Not only do banks have the capacity to lend they are still keen to do so and are even making the process for applicants easier by opening up the loan criteria. Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, suggested markets had even over-exaggerated their predictions for future rate rises. He said: “the rate will have to go up by less than currently priced into financial markets. That is important because, for instance, it means that the rates on new fixed-term mortgages should not need to rise as they have done”

    THE BOTTOM LINE

    Interest rates remaining near historic lows bode well for buyers, and today’s market reflects some of the cheapest debt a home buyer will be able to attain in the market.

    MANAGING DIRECTOR, SARAH BARRACLOUGH SAYS:

    The future is uncertain, and we don’t know what effect our economy will have on housing next year, but right now, we’re still in a market where demand is outstripping supply, and the recent rise in rates is still considered low in relation to the 30-year average.

    Here at Skipton Properties, we’re proud of our desire to build a bit differently and have a robust portfolio of homes that, we hope, offer something for everyone. Location is key! And as we continue to bring our high-quality homes to new, sought-after, communities, in the long term, our bricks and mortar are still a fantastic place for you to invest!

    Sarah

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    Mya Gouche

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  • Get to know us, and meet our team!

    Introducing our Sales Advisor, Karen Douglas

    Meet Karen, our Sales Advisor (currently) at The Alders in Skipton. Karen makes our customer’s experience a good one! Ensuring the buying process, from initial reservation to move-in day, is as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

    What experience do you bring to your role at Skipton Properties? 

    I have worked for several developers throughout my time as a Sales Advisor, experiencing many different situations, the good, the bad and the ugly! Some of my 20 years in the industry were even spent in Estate Agency.

    What does customer service mean to you? 

    The support I offer customers before, during and after they purchase a home from us is everything. To me, customer service means giving them the level of attention they deserve and feel satisfied with and going above and beyond goes a long way.

    Our developments are quite unique, and we get a lot of positive comments on the quality of the build itself. I get a real sense of achievement handing the keys over to a new family home 🙂

    You’ve worked in the industry for some time, what keep’s you here? 

    The buzz of selling! I love what I do! Matchmaking people to homes and seeing them complete 2 months later, it’s what motivates me! If and when I see my customers in the future they always remember the role I played in such a milestone in their lives!

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    Mya Gouche

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  • Recreate it!

    Our new show home at The Alders, Skipton, was a huge success and we’ve got off to a great start at the development! The majority of homes from our first two releases have now been reserved, however, we do still have three homes available; plots 85, 86 & 93. The Lark is a charming semi-detached home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a potential third bedroom or study.

    Many of you have asked where we got our furniture from, and we’d like to reveal some of our sources so you can recreate the look in your own home! We opted for a soft palette of colours with warm tones to complement the grey tones of the external materials. We particularly love the low-hanging lights and subtle curtains to the dining area, creating that intimate cosy dining atmosphere.

    What are your favourites? 

    We’re always trying to give back and our Show Homes are one area we can do this. Once we have finished with the furniture in this latest Show Home we’ll be hosting a sale, with all the proceeds going directly to Manorlands. We’ll update you closer to the time as to when and where this sale will be….all furniture would need to be collected by yourselves. 

    Our Show Home and Marketing Suite are now open Thursday-Monday 10.30am – 5pm. Keep your eyes peeled for further releases 🙂

    SNUG

    Chair ~ John Lewis

    Animal scatters ~ John Lewis

    Book cart ~ Great Little Trading

    Curtain fabric ~ Ian Mankin

    LIVING ROOM



    Sofa / armchair / chest & mirrors ~ Dunelm

    Coffee table ~ Gallery Direct

    Lamps ~ Dunelm

    Mirrors ~ Dunelm

    Curtain fabric ~ De Le Cuona

    Curtain pole ~ Walcot House

    KITCHEN / DINING




    Dining table ~ Gallery Direct

    Chairs & bench ~ Swoon

    Curtain fabric ~ Andrew Martin

    Curtain pole ~ Walcot House

    Lamp ~ Westelm

    Mirrors ~ Dunelm

    BEDROOM 1



    Headboard ~ Dunelm

    Bedsides ~ Gallery Direct

    Wardrobe ~ Dunelm

    Lamps ~ White Co.

    Curtain fabric ~ Ian Mankin

    Curtain pole ~ Walcot House

    BEDROOM 2

    Bed ~ Wayfair

    Wooden toys ~ Mulberry Bush

    Curtain fabric ~ Andrew Martin

    BEDROOM 3





    Bed ~ Wayfair

    Wardrobe ~ Wayfair

    Play kitchen ~ Kid Kraft

    Curtain fabric ~ Jane Churchill

    Desk ~ Swoon

    Shelf ~ Swoon

    Chair ~ Swoon

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    Mya Gouche

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  • Planning granted for 17 homes in Foulridge

    Croft Mill

    We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that we have been granted planning permission for a new housing scheme in Foulridge, Lancashire.

    The development will comprise thirteen 3-bedroom and four 4-bedroom homes provided as six different house styles. We’ll be creating an attractive and desirable development designed in a traditional manner that is in keeping with the character of the village of Foulridge.

    The historic market village situated just beyond Colne, Lancashire, was once a hat-making community and evidence can be seen of weaver’s cottages surrounding the village. Alongside the A56 through Foulridge is a large reservoir also known as Lake Burwain where boating and yachting take place regularly throughout the year. The reservoir feeds the Leeds to Liverpool canal which is where you will find the historic Mile Tunnel and canal wharf. The wharf is a picturesque stretch of the canal where you can go on a boat cruise, have a drink and meal or just wander up the towpath, taking in the sights. Of particular interest is the large canal-side warehouse, sympathetically restored, which is now a café bar, and the Mile Tunnel: another popular tourist attraction.

    It is our mission to create homes that are sympathetically designed and woven into their natural surroundings. The characteristics of the location and its surrounding context have been taken into consideration in developing this scheme, creating visual and design interest that reflects the variety of traditional housing styles within Foulridge.

    We look forward to working with the relevant parties to deliver the homes!

    Register your interest here: [email protected]

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    Mya Gouche

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  • Award Winners: Best Residential Conversion or Alteration to an Existing Home, LABC Awards

    We’re honoured to be named a regional winner for Best Regional Conversion or Alteration to an Existing Home at the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2022

    The LABC Building Excellence Awards don’t just award for a beautiful looking development, they look at the challenges we were faced with, outstanding craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability, amongst many other factors. 

    That’s why we are so pleased to have won this regional award for St Stephen’s Place, Skipton! Working with historic, grade II listed buildings like this, which date back to the 19th century, presents both challenges and opportunities. Each of the seven homes we’ve created within its walls are completely unique and boast desirable period features, from original Neo Gothic lancet windows to salvaged original fireplaces. 

    We look forward to the national final in January and wish our fellow finalists the best of luck!

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    Mya Gouche

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  • Stamp duty cut in bid to help house buyers

    The government has announced a cut to stamp duty, the tax paid when people buy a property in England

    The threshold at which the tax falls due has been raised to £250,000 from its current £125,000 level

    Meanwhile, the threshold for first-time buyers has been increased from £300,000 to £425,000

    So how much could you save? For example, if you buy The Hawthorn at The Alders (which is really taking shape by the way, and can we add, has a great sized garage, a huge garden and plenty of storage) with the new rules you’ll be saving a total of £2,500 and for first time buyers, a whopping £4,250!

    You can make HUGE savings across all of our available homes in Silsden, Haworth and Skipton. Has there ever been a better time to buy new?

    Use the stamp calculator below to find out how much you could save

    https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro

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    Mya Gouche

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  • UK energy bills to rise by 80% in October 2022

    New builds are leading the way in energy efficiency…

    Following the rise, and further rises, of energy bills due to the ongoing crisis, owning an energy efficient home has become more important than ever.

    So why swap to an energy efficient Skipton Properties home this Autumn? Not only is it reassuring to know that our new build properties can save owners hundreds of pounds a year, but each of our homes benefit from a modern, sustainable design incorporating a remarkably high level of thermal insulation and where we can, providing a further energy source in a wood burning stove, ensuring reduced energy requirements and associated running costs. Furthermore, we future proof all our homes with car charging points, in line with the recent Government pledges to increase the uptake of electric and hybrid vehicles.

    No matter how cold it is outside, you’ll feel warm in a brand-new Skipton Properties home.

    We are Carbon Neutral

    Skipton Properties are committed to reducing the impact of our operations on the environment. We measure our impact by calculating our direct carbon emissions, aim to make reductions across our operations and invest in projects through purchasing verified carbon offsets to take responsibility for the emissions we cannot avoid now.

    We already reduce our electricity consumption by operating solar panels at Head Office and we are also looking at ways we can reduce our own impact and emissions through:

    • Reducing the use of red diesel through best practice in operating equipment efficiently
    • Switching company cars to electric vehicles
    • Identifying opportunities to invest in plant which utilises renewable fuels in future
    • Switching to low energy LED lighting in head office

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    Mya Gouche

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  • Customer Stories: Andrea’s story

    Meet Andrea, a homeowner at our stunning hamlet in Coniston ~ The Sycamores

    The feature that stands out the most to me is how comfortable our home is. The materials used in the construction have had a huge impact on the properties energy efficiency. Our underfloor heating wont be switched on until November and even then its bare minimum, and we hardly ever use our lovely wood burner!

    Why did you want to make The Sycamores home?

    We had seen the build quality in the Skipton Properties Harden development and thought the houses were stunning. We were very impressed with the site layout, choice of quality materials and the build finish itself, we then enquired where the next Skipton Property sites were going to be.

    Did you know much about Skipton Properties before buying? If so, what was it about us that you liked?

    We had previously spoken with Karen Douglas, as Sales Advisor, who gave us some information on various sites to take away with us. From here we started reviewing other sites, and the designs and finish continued to impress us.

    What was it about the house that drew you to it?

    The house we wanted, we thought, was out of our price range, however, our heart was set on The Sycamores. This was a popular choice, so we had to up our budget and this turned out to be the best thing to happen, we love our new home!  The views are fantastic and we get sunshine all day.  My son was very impressed returning from university to find his new bedroom, like the master, had an en-suite bathroom.  I’m not sure this is a mistake for us, as he isn’t in a rush to move out 😉

    How was your experience overall? Any defining moments?

    The process of buying a new house is always stressful however Karen, our Sales Advisor, made sure that the process moved forward with excellent communications.  We were kept informed almost weekly and when we were unable to visit the development we received progress photos instead.  We felt very much at ease through the whole process.

    Talk to us about the day you moved in?

    In the proceeding days communication flowed and Karen confirmed we were on target to move as planned.  We got the keys on 18th December 2020, which was a difficult time during the pandemic. That said, even though our furniture was in storage everything went to plan.  The home was cleaned by a professional team so moving in was made an easy and enjoyable process. The best Christmas present! 

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    Mya Gouche

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  • Customer Stories: Andrew’s Story

    Meet Andrew and his family, homeowners at Ebor Mills, Haworth

    Each time I mentioned I had purchased a Skipton Properties home we were met with the same response, everyone I spoke to said they were well built homes. This gave us additional reassurance that we had bought the right home!

    Why did you want to make Ebor Mills home?

    We were looking for a home that was right for our family as the children were getting older. We also wanted to find a home where we could be part of a community. Haworth has everything we need on a day-to-day basis within walking distance and is also surrounded by the beautiful green rolling Yorkshire hills. We were drawn to Ebor Mills because of the combination of the new homes been built alongside the original buildings and all the history that comes with them. The chimney is a great reminder of the heritage of the location and is a beacon when returning home. We also loved the way the development sits within the landscape alongside the beck and surrounded by trees, birds and other wildlife.

    Did you know much about Skipton Properties before buying? If so, what was it about us that you liked?

    We did not know about Skipton Properties before we bought our home. However, during the search for a new home, we had looked at a number of other developments before we visited the Skipton properties site at Silsden. The natural stone being used at Silsden and the quality of the build and materials stood out straight away from the other houses we had viewed. This made us look at what other houses Skipton properties were building and led us to Ebor Mills at Haworth. After reserving a property at Ebor Mills, each time I mentioned it was a Skipton properties home we were purchasing to someone, we were met with the same response, everyone I spoke to said they were well built homes, this gave us additional reassurance we had bought the right home.

    The Heron house style is quite unique. What was it about the house that drew you to it?

    The Heron house is unique, the reference to the old north light roof of the former weaving shed gives the house a distinctive shape. We liked the character this gave to the house. The split over 3 floors also provides great sized rooms which was important. The open plan kitchen, dining and living room is great for the family while also being cosy and atmospheric on an evening. The master bedroom at the top of the house is very special. The shape of the roof has been retained internally giving the room great height and the Juliette balcony overlooking the beck fills the room with light and the relaxing sounds of the surrounding beck and wildlife.

    How was your experience overall? Any defining moments?

    We had lived in our previous house for over 14 years. The process of moving home could have been very stressful but it wasn’t. We were lucky and from starting to look for a home to being moved took less than 3 months. This was thanks to the great people involved on the move, our mortgage broker, solicitor and the staff at Skipton properties. The house already feels like home and we are excited to live in such a beautiful location and in such a lovely home. The other people living at Ebor Mills are really friendly which is so important.

    Talk to us about the day you moved in?

    We moved in on a sunny day in April. We had packed up 14 years of living as a family of 5 and were moving ourselves in a box van. When we arrived at our new home, we were greeted by both Natalie and Alan the Site Manager. Natalie showed us round our new home and 4 round trips later we were in. The welcome pack from Skipton Properties alongside the fairwell brownies from our old neighbours fuelled our moving day. The House had been really well cleaned before we moved in which made such a difference.  

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    Mya Gouche

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  • The Alders, Skipton is OPEN

    We officially launched our Marketing Suite at The Alders in Skipton

    Plots 77-84

    On Friday we launched our newest development, The Alders in Skipton which will see us build 98 more homes in our home town. Our first phase of 9 homes includes three and four bedroom, detached homes, all with garages.

    We’ve been delighted to speak to those of you that have come through our doors thus far. Thank you for your interest in our homes. We’ve reserved three of our initial release.

    We’ll be open all day tomorrow and Monday. From thereon our usual openings hours are Thursday – Monday 10:30am – 5pm. Appointments are available and we’d encourage you to book one if you’d like some time to speak to us one and one. You can book an appointment by calling us or using the enquiry button above (Please note we have had some issues with our number today so we’ve listed our sales mobile on site whilst we fix this).

    The Middleton Show Home launching in September

    A few questions we’ve been asked today that we thought may be useful to highlight here:

    When will our homes be ready for families?

    Our first phase of homes will be ready for their first families this Autumn and Winter.

    When will you be releasing the next phase?

    We hope to be able to release our next phase of homes as early bird reservations over the coming weeks so if there hasn’t been something for you in this first release we’d recommend you register your details so you’re the first to hear.

    The Wood
    The Bramble
    The Gallagher
    The Hawthorn
    The Middleton

    Interested in reserving with us?

    Why not browse our new journey pages so you know what to expect? Click here for more.

    Like to know a little bit more about what goes into our specifications?

    Why not take a look here.

    We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

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    Skipton Properties

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