New partnership with Ellis-Ridings Mortgage Solutions

Offering specialist mortgage advice and associated protection services, Ellis-Ridings Mortgage Solutions can provide the support you need when buying or selling your property with Monks.

Monks has chosen to partner with Ellis-Ridings Mortgage Solutions due to their up-to-date knowledge and conscientious approach to helping home buyers. Co-owner Sarah Ridings worked with Monks for many years and has extensive knowledge of the property industry, especially New Homes and Shared ownership purchases.

Judy Bourne, Director of Monks, explains: “We are delighted to have Sarah back under the Monks umbrella! It’s early days into the relationship but we are already receiving the feedback we expected from this great partnership.”

“Mike Ridings is handling our mortgage – thank you for recommending him, he’s brilliantly efficient!” – Ms R, Wem, February 2024

Michael Ridings has 15 years of expertise in the industry. He possesses extensive qualifications in Mortgage Practice and Equity Release and specialises in delivering tailored guidance to suit individual requirements.

“We are delighted to be working with Monks who have a leading reputation in the industry for providing a high-level personalised service. Their business ethos of putting the customer first in what they do, matches our own. This allows us, as a team, to help every client with all aspects of their home moving journey“ added Michael.

Ellis-Ridings offer an initial free consultation to review your current circumstances and to understand what is required to move forward with a mortgage application. All advice is whole of market and bespoke.

Their Specialist Mortgage Services include First Time buyers, Remortgages, Porting, Product Switching, Debt Consolidation, Buy to Lets, New Homes, Shared ownership and Offset Mortgages. Specialist Protection Services include Life insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Buildings Cover and Contents Insurance.

If you are buying a property with Monks, contact Ellis-Ridings Mortgage Solutions to get the right advice and mortgage deal for you.

We have been having fun with New Year resolutions this month, trying to beat some of those bad habits and choosing some positive goals for the year ahead.

With an impressive mix of health, property and career goals, we will be following the team’s progress all year.

“I’m doing Dry January to give myself a healthy start. But I’m also conscious of supporting my favourite bars and restaurants at this notoriously quiet time of year, so I’m still going out but ordering alcohol-free cocktails!” laughs Judy.

“My goal is to plan ahead with more family time booked into my diary”, says Patricia, inspired by her recent trip to her native Spain.

Beth in our Oswestry office has career goals: “Completing my National Association of Estate Agents qualification (just one more unit to go!) and progressing to a Senior Sales Negotiator.”

“Drinking two litres of water every day!” is Lucinda’s focus, staying healthy and hydrated while she oversees the Lettings and Rental department.

James will be moving house this year, having already sold and bought properties through Monks and awaiting his completion dates. He jokes “I need to advise myself now which is never easy!”.

“My promise to myself this year is to declutter my life”, offered Amanda. “I have accumulated so many things over the years. We all have things in our homes that may be just what some other family needs.”

“Move house!” commits Suzanne in our marketing department. “After almost three years of renting and watching the market change, 2024 feels like the right time!”

While the Monks team can’t help you with all your resolutions, finding new homes is where we excel. So if you are planning on selling, buying or renting property in 2024, Monks can make it happen!

Read next: Meet the Team – Contact Monks – New Homes

As our Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee in June there are also special celebrations taking place at Monks…

A 30 year – Pearl Jubilee celebration for Co-Business owner Judy Bourne and what better way to mark this than to get an insight into the life of one of Shrewsbury’s longest practising female Estate Agents.

Insights from 30 years in the Estate & Lettings industry with Judy Bourne.

Take us back to the beginning – how did it all begin…

I just kind of fell into Estate Agency – I was working as an Admin assistant on one of the Government’s Youth Opportunity programmes which I knew wasn’t for me and I applied for a role as a Secretary (as we were called back in the day) at what was John German Ralph Pay on the High Street. I was there for over a year before I began maternity leave.

That was where my bug called `passion for property’ began – Back in 1992 I was itching to get back to work and Estate Agency was where I knew I wanted to be and I secured a role as a Sales Negotiator with G A Property Services in the Square I moved from there several years later to D B J Property Services where with the support of the Partners my career began to gather momentum and I will always be truly grateful to them for their trust and belief in me, in what was very much a male dominated industry at that time. In the early 2000’s Nock Deighton took over DBJ and I enjoyed some wonderful experiences during my time with them before moving on to try something new.

Did you ever want to try something new other than property?

No, definitely not. Property has and always will be my passion (she laughs).

A great opportunity arose for me in the world of New Build which was exciting yet daunting at the same time.

I joined the reputable firm of local developers at that time Jennings Homes as their Sales Manager and began to spend my days in hard hat, high viz and rigger boots on muddy sites and roof tops of scaffold – and I loved it! I embraced my time at Jennings, I remember sitting in meetings in the early days with the technical build terminology going right over the top of my head, never frightened to ask questions and therefore had the fortune to learn from the best. Sadly, these days came to an end too soon as they were bought out by a National House Builder and after a short time I realised I did not want to be part of the Corporate world.

What was next for you then?

2006 – 2007 – I went solo and opened my own agency Jamieson Bourne with the help and support of my wonderful parents. Not a time I like to dwell on but a time which became the biggest learning curve in my life – 2007 we saw the property market crash and not having had enough time to establish the brand and business I had to close the doors – I’m not ashamed to say it broke my heart at the time, but it also made me stronger and I came back fighting and I had the fortune to join forces with Monks Estate and Letting Agents.

You are now a Director and co-owner of Monks?

Yes, one of my proudest achievements to date.

My amazing, supportive business partner and friend, Patricia and I worked alongside the then Partners, Richard and Mary Cambray to build and strengthen the brand of Monks and we were honoured to have been offered the opportunity 7 years ago to buy the business which we have and will continued to grow with pride.

We bet you have seen some changes over the years?

Oh yes… how things have changed – back in the day we didn’t have the technology we have today – we would peel the backs off photographs to stick on details, spend hours pasting adverts onto sheets for the newspapers, our applicants would be registered on cards in little boxes – the famous hot boxes were for proceedable buyers, computers were huge and mobile phones the size of bricks.

Is there anything you miss that has changed over the years?

Most definitely – the personal touch. Technology has evolved so much and our industry now seems to exist in a text and email environment brought about by the busy lives everyone leads.

Can this be changed?

We certainly think so at Monks. We believe in communicating by picking up the phone and talking to our clients. We have embraced their busy schedules and enhanced our availability so we are there when it is convenient to them – out of traditional office hours 8.00am – 8.00pm weekdays and on a Sunday 11.00am – 3.00pm.

Estate Agents have a certain reputation?

Unfortunately as with any Industry there are bad eggs that tarnish the good and we suffer the brunt of many a comic joke and some mistrust – this is a small minority and at Monks we stand PROUD of our values and reputation we have strived hard to earn.

What have been the highlights over the years?

Gosh where do I start, there have been so many and one day (if I retire) I would love to write a book. I guess the main one has to be joining Monks and meeting my supportive business partner Patricia. We are a great fit and bounce off one another, each having key strengths within the business that compliment one another – you could cut us both in half and we are Monks green through and through.

I am also very proud to have been entrusted as the chosen agent with our clients most valuable assets – it is a privilege to work in our wonderful County Town, bringing people and property together.

So what next for you?

Well I am not going to be hanging up my rigger boots anytime soon – I absolutely love what I do, property is my passion and Monks will grow from strength to strength over the coming years.

On a personal front – how do you enjoy life outside of work?

I consider myself very lucky, I have two sons, Scott and Ross, who I am exceptionally proud of, both growing their own successful businesses, a very supportive husband Russell, who also embraces Monks and is often seen donning the Monks Monkey outfit at Festivals.

I love spending time with my wonderful family and friends and enjoying my holidays. I have travelled to some wonderful places including Japan, India and Australia and have many more places on my bucket list – when work allows.

Who are Monks? In a nutshell it all comes down to HOME four words that define who, and what, we are:

Honest. Original. Motivated. Empathetic.