It’s a desirable property with an unusual past. So what better location for new estate agency business Northgate Residential?

But the firm’s smart office premises fronting busy Northgate in Almondbury weren’t always so appealing. In fact, they used to be the village’s public loos!

“This used to be a toilet block,” says Northgate Residential co-director Kelvin Lodge, who works alongside estate agency manager Leanne Costa Catao in the clean and tidy surroundings of the office.

“It was converted into an office some years ago, but the shutters had been down for six years and never been opened until we took it over. It had been a letting agent’s, but that business had ceased and after it became empty the premises were vandalised.

“When we came here, the people at the post office opposite said they were glad to see something happening because they were fed up of staring at the shutters. It was horrible in here with mould everywhere. The workmen who were clearing it out had to leave the doors open all day because it stank.”

The new business combines sales and residential lettings handled by Leanne with Kelvin’s experience in the financial services sector providing clients with invaluable mortgage and insurance advice.

Kelvin, who hails from Peterborough, has worked in the financial services industry since college. For the past 10 years, he has been an independent financial advisor.

“I moved to Yorkshire when I was offered the opportunity to further my career at the UK’s second-largest financial services provider,” he said. “Whilst here, I fell in love with Huddersfield, particularly how straight-talking, friendly and honest the people are. These values fit perfectly with what we’re trying to achieve with Northgate.”

It was during his time working with property investors on the Buy-to-Let market that Kelvin’s passion for property emerged. “Working with buyers gave me a unique perspective into the whole house-selling process,” he says. “Coming from the black-and-white world of pensions and shares, the hidden fees and questionable extras were a stark contrast. At that moment, I realised there had to be a fairer way to buy and sell houses.”

Leanne, who lives at Fixby, has been in estate agency for 15 years, starting with Bradford & Bingley before managing a leading, independent Huddersfield estate agency.

During a career break to raise her children, Leanne began having similar thoughts to Kelvin on the future of the industry. “I’ve seen from experience the positive impact having a good agency has,” she says. “It’s great when flowers come into the office from grateful sellers! However, some practices give the industry a bad name. Neither the seller nor buyer benefits from slick suits or flash cars.”

Leanne says she was already thinking about making a move when Kelvin approached her to offer her the role of estate agency manager with Northgate Residential.

Leanne Costa Catao and Kelvin Lodge of Northgate Lettings, Almondbury, Huddersfield.

“I wanted a new challenge,” she says. “I had been involved in opening an estate from scratch, so I already had that experience. I knew how we could offer a better service to our clients. We realised that by stripping away the flashy trappings and instead focusing on ensuring that everyone who comes into the office enjoys the best possible service, we could reduce the industry standard selling fee, whilst actually increasing the customer experience.”

“Our fee is just 0.75% – with no VAT payable – against the industry standard of 1%-plus. That may not sound a lot, but based on the average Huddersfield selling price of £152,148, it would save the seller £684. Just as important, we ensure the fee you’re quoted is the fee you pay. We simply don’t do hidden extras.”

Northgate Residential has only been open for business for a matter of weeks, but already has ambitions to grow.

The firm has taken on an apprentice, Lucy Schofield, as sales executive and a second office is already in the pipeline. “We’re in negotiations for a town centre office,” says Kelvin. “We realise the importance of a strong high street presence.”

The timing for setting up the business could hardly be better. Says Leanne: “The property market had been at stalemate for three years and longer. People were scared to move 12 to 18 months ago, but the first-time buyers are back, having had a helping hand from the Help-to-Buy scheme. And without first-time buyers, the market doesn’t move.

“We are brand new, but because people already know our names around Huddersfield, that has helped.”

Kelvin agrees: “The market is on the up. Residential lettings are flying off the wall.”

Leanne, 34, speaks from experience of the pros and cons of house buying. She was 18 when she bought her first house – a derelict property.

“I enjoyed doing it up,” she says. “My mum is an interior designer who has worked for herself. I was always interested in looking at houses and seeing how they were decorated and I wanted to become more involved. Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions anyone ever makes.”

Kelvin, 35, says: “When I was an IFA, I could leave the office at 3pm if I had no appointments. Here, I’m working all hours and it is a different challenge. My hobby is work! It has been since day one!”

Leanne says: “It is a new challenge for both of us and it’s very exciting. We have found a little gap in the market. We’re in a popular village with some of the most expensive properties in Huddersfield not far from our doorstep.”

While getting Northern Residential up and running has been the top priority, family remains important for both Leanne and Kelvin.

Leanne Costa Catao, Kelvin Lodge and Lucy Schofield of Northgate Lettings, Almondbury.

Leanne married Walter, who is head chef of a local restaurant, last December – swapping her maiden name of Galvin for a more exotic sounding surname. The couple already had two children, Macey, six, and Mason, three.

Walter is Portuguese, so they go to Portugal every year to visit his family. “We also love family days out,” she says.

“And I like to socialise. On a Friday evening after work, I would go to the Voda bar in Huddersfield and meet up with the other estate agents. To say Huddersfield is a big town, it is a great community. Everyone knows everyone else.”

Kelvin, who has two sons Harley, eight and four-year-old Samuel, lives with his fiancée, Amy. “I enjoy taking the children to the park to play football and family time,” says Kelvin. “

“We like holidaying in Portugal and Lanzarote – anywhere within three or four hours flying time because of the children.”

Kelvin and Leanne have some sound business tips to impart based on their own experiences. “It’s important to treat people the way you would want to be treated,” says Kelvin. “Speak to people the way you would want to be spoken to. Customer service is massively important.”

Adds Leanne: “We have embarked on a new challenge and it is exciting. I love meeting new people and making people feel comfortable when doing business. It’s about treating people as friends, not just customers – it’s all down to communication.”

Work: Property sales and lettings

agency

Site: Northgate, Almondbury

Phone: 01484 535002

Email: sales@northgateresidential.co.uk

Web: www.northgateresidential.co.uk