Member Article

Red Kite soars to new heights

Red Kite soars to new heights with on line business

A FORMER RAF helicopter crewman is aiming to fly high with his new business and help endangered birds of prey at the same time.

David Routledge has named his online estate agency Red Kite Homes after the beautiful birds associated with Rowland’s Gill, where he settled after working in Spain.

And he’s putting his money where his mouth is by supporting his local Red Kite sanctuary, “Friends of Red Kites” by taking out a Gold Corporate Membership so that he can help the birds of prey that have returned from the edge of extinction.

David, who left the RAF on medical grounds after more than a decade, was involved in the licensed trade for a number of years running his own pubs and training other licensees, before moving to Spain with the intention of buying a pub. However, he was recruited into the property business and on returning to the UK, he worked for one of the region’s biggest estate agency chains managing two branches.

David said: “I decided to set up on my own because I could see some major changes I could make that would save people money.

“In what has been a difficult climate for the housing market, I think it’s vital to provide value for money and to make things as easy as possible for sellers.

“Around 95% of people now start their search for a new home online and by setting up as an internet estate agency; I can also keep prices down because I don’t have the traditional overheads like an office to run.”

The web-based business offers packages where people can sell their house for a fixed price, regardless of its size, and charges are based on a ‘no sale, no fee’ basis.

And as well as the usual pictures of houses for sale, Red Kite is making the most of its online base by producing video tours of properties so people can get a realistic preview of a home before deciding whether to go to see it.

David said: “Estate agents haven’t always had the best of reputations but I believe honesty is always the best policy.”

Red Kite Homes is currently handling property portfolios from all over the North East and also has some homes in Bulgaria on its books.

David is further developing the business by working with online property auction houses to provide advertising packages and he is also keen to expand the company by working with self-employed estate agents across the North East.

June Atkinson from Friends of Red Kites was delighted with David’s generous gesture. “It’s great to see a new local business support the work we are doing, we wish him every success and hope his business flies as high as his winged namesake.”

ENDS

Photo shows: David Routledge (in tie) with members of Friends of Red Kites; Allan Withrington, in burgundy fleece, June Atkinson, and Harold Dobson, wearing a green fleece.

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This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Keith Newman .