Northern Enterprise Awards 2021

59 | Northern Enterprise Awards 2021 Established in 2009, Leapfrog Lettings and Sales has thrived for over a decade through a dedication to client centricity and local flair and expertise. Following the recent recognition for its exceptional services in the residential property industry, we spoke with Managing Director and founder Sarah Hartley to find out more about its history, achievements and ethos. It is clear to see that Leapfrog Lettings and Sales was built with care and consideration from the ground up, with Sarah emphasising that she “sat on the idea of Leapfrog for just over a year before launch, deciding more so to do so, when the timing was right”. This ethos echoes across the business and has helped nurture an exceptional working culture that puts clients at the centre of the process. Of course, it would be remiss to skip over the experience, hard work and expertise of Sarah herself and her role in building Leapfrog into the position it now celebrates. Indeed, Sarah has accumulated some 33 years’ experience within estate agency, starting off on an employment scheme from leaving school and credits working as a Valuer, Manager and then area Manager for agencies based around Teesside, North Yorkshire and Whitby. This, partnered with her almost peerless knowledge of the local area, has acted as a potent tool in equipping Leapfrog, especially in the current, highly competitive market. It’s even more impressive that the company often outmanoeuvres much larger establishments, with the team of three at ’Team Leapfrog’ belying industry expectations and delivering a consistently high-quality service. This proved to be a solid groundwork to capitalise on what was, by all regards, a more than unexpected and most challenging year in 2020. While the COVID19 pandemic hit heavy across all industries, Team Leapfrog remained open for business (indeed the only agent in East Cleveland to do so throughout), albeit with extremely strict Covid guidance and restrictions in place. This resulted in Leapfrog achieving incredible growth with business levels increasing Best Independent Residential Property Company - North Yorkshire four times over what was achieved in 2019 and in July 2021, with even greater signs of a strong housing market, we surpassed last year’s record- breaking year! In such trying and ‘unknown’ times, this really was an incredible achievement. All in all, it has been a remarkable couple of years for Team Leapfrog. Sarah confirms, “We’re very grassroots in our approach. We have been based from my Home Office from day one (often frowned upon by our competition but throughout the pandemic, this massively turned in our favour due to the extended hours worked helping our clients throughout). In 2019 we also secured High Street window displays within our village of Skelton showcasing our properties, alongside our own website and portals including Rightmove and Boomin. We also offer ‘sneak peeks’ on social media including Instagram and Facebook and are contactable through WhatsApp. We take pride in knowing the market inside and out, and we believe that’s ultimately what has driven our success and built our reputation. Our reviews speak for themselves and whilst we might not always get it right, we endeavour to offer a bespoke services and improve constantly and consistently. We strive to be better than any alternatives and aim for honesty and transparency and those qualities have really allowed us to grow as we have over the last twelve years. Indeed, we have just secured our first part exchange New Build Corporate Clients being Bellway Homes and their prestigious ‘Castle Grange’ development within our village, which of course is incredibly exciting.” After recruiting Chris (our Accompanied Viewer/ Property Inspector) and Lynne (Sales Negotiator and Progressor) within the last 18 months, we have a vast knowledge of the local market and offer a wealth of experience and can help with guidance throughout. It’s all too easy to look at the larger establishments in the Estate Agency industry those with multiple offices and dozens of employees, seeing them as the natural pacesetters. Yet, it is the smaller, independent businesses like Leapfrog that so often come out on top, due to their dedication to client service and their careful consideration to their core values and are led by people who have lived, grown and flourished in the area, knowing each street, short cut and alley, like the back of their hands. Leapfrog Lettings and Sales very much fit this mould, with Sarah expertly navigating the competition, and securing repeat clients time and time again. Specialising in Residential Property Sales, Property Management and Lettings within the East Cleveland and North Yorkshire area, Leapfrog has become a reputable and enviable entity in the region, since opening its doors back in 2009. Company: Leapfrog Lettings Ltd. Address: Skelton-in-Cleveland, Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS12 2WR Website: https://www.leapfroglettingsandsales.co.uk Sales: 01287 653333 Lettings 01287 653334 Oct21096