Fisks Gateway issue 44

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LILY’S NEXT VENTURE DRESS TO IMPRESS GET YOUR GARDEN SUMMER READY PLUS ALL OF THIS MONTH’S PROPERTIES

THE PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY FISKS | ISSUE 44

Contents Lily’s next venture Famous for her roles in many period dramas, this summer is set to be hot for Lily James with a number of new films in the pipeline.

Dress to impress Sally Storey, Creative Director at John Cullen Lighting, shares her six top lighting tips for dressing rooms.

Get your garden summer ready As we move towards better weather months, for those lucky enough to have a garden, it’s time to start thinking about getting it up to scratch so you can enjoy the fine British weather.

Our properties Last, but certainly not least, you can find all of this month’s feature properties throughout the magazine. Enjoy!

© iceberg-digital.co.uk; Tel +44 (0) 1992 766 637; Web: www.iceberg-digital.co.uk This magazine is published by iceberg-digital.co.uk, hereinafter referred to as “the publisher”. The publisher retains the right to all ‘work’, hereinafter defined as such work is wholly the property of the publisher and may not be copied, quoted or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the publisher. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this work, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any misfortune, injury or damages which may arise there from. The publisher reserves the right to revise or reject, in whole or in part, any advertisement or submission without notice and for any reason. All advertisers agree to release the representations of any advertisement herein, including, but not limited to any claim arising from any negligence and/or fault on the part of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for the condition or for the performance of any services advertised in the magazine. All rights are reserved.

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Welcome to our

magazine...

Welcome to the April edition of our Gateway magazine.

John Pring FNAEA (Honoured) & MARLA | Director

Easter has now come and gone; the traditional time to venture outside and visit the garden. This is the busiest time of year for this type of specialist retailer. However the weather was so poor most people put off this trip and went away instead or just stayed indoors. On the basis that the weather must improve soon, in this addition our article ‘Get Your Garden Summer Ready’ is most timely and is worth a read. Remember the May bank holiday is just around the corner.

The property market in Essex is still in good shape, with no shortage of buyers chasing a diminishing supply of properties to view. The market has become very price sensitive at every level.

First time buyers have increased, with the Halifax reporting the highest number of mortgages to first time buyers since 2007, even though the deposit required has doubled. These buyers of course are releasing those sellers into the market, now known by the property journalists as ‘second steppers’. This activity is creating chains and the experience and skill required to maintain these chains so that the move finally takes place is now more important than ever.

For an updated Sales or Lettings valuation, to see your property in our May Gateway magazine or for further advice, please contact your local Fisks branch.

fisks.co.uk

Meet our

Benfleet Team Our centrally located estate and letting agency branch offers a professional sales, lettings and property management service for Benfleet and the surrounding areas benefitting from ARLA and NAEA qualified staff.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ESTATE AGENTS BUT ONLY ONE FISKS “We gave our property to Fisks when we decided to move as Ian seemed the most professional of the three agents who we asked to value our property. Boy are we glad we did house sold to the first viewers in 36 hours from instructing Fisk’s. We were kept up to date with regular calls and nothing was too much trouble. Now we have moved Ian is collecting post from our old address for us and calling for us to collect from the office. Beyond the call of duty Great service thanks again Martin and Melanie Bagnall “

Located some 30 miles east of the City of London on the north bank of the Thames Estuary, Benfleet is primarily based around three historically separate settlements; South Benfleet, Thundersley and Hadleigh. which gradually merged during the 20th century. The residential areas are now said to have the highest proportion of owner occupancy in the country which speaks volumes for the quality of life here!

The mainland station in South Benfleet services the entire area and is the busiest commuting station on the Fenchurch Street C2C line.

AWARD WINNING

2016

Fisks 146 London Road, Benfleet Essex, SS7 5SQ T 01268 565555 F 01268 566291 E benfleet@fisks.co.uk

fisks.co.uk

LOCAL

RAYLEIGH ROAD, BENFLEET £600,000 Spacious and well-maintained detached period property.

Benefits to this home include a lounge with open log burner, modernised fitted kitchen, refitted bathroom and two further rooms, which can be used for bedrooms or reception rooms. On the first floor you have three further bedrooms and a refitted shower room.

Energy Band – Awaiting.

CALL 01268 565555

BOULDREWOOD ROAD, BENFLEET £375,000 Three bedroom detached bungalow that has been modernised throughout with a conservatory, private driveway, refitted bathroom and good sized bedrooms. Energy Band D.

CALL 01268 565555

AVONDALE ROAD, BENFLEET £465,000 This three bedroom detached bungalow has been modernised and updated to a very high standard, offering an open plan lounge/diner area with vaulted ceilings and modern fitted kitchen. Energy Band – Awaiting.

CALL 01268 565555

MANOR ROAD, BENFLEET £375,000 Period three bedroom semi-detached property that has been recently modernised throughout, offering a fitted kitchen, 100ft plus rear garden, two reception rooms on the ground floor and three bedrooms on the first floor. Energy Band - E.

CALL 01268 565555

KENTS HILL ROAD NORTH, BENFLEET £325,000 A well-maintained three bedroom semidetached chalet style property featuring a high specification galley style kitchen which leads to a brick based conservatory. The third bedroom is on the ground floor and can be used as another reception room.

Energy Band – E.

CALL 01268 565555

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MANNA HEIGHTS, BENFLEET £245,000 This second floor two bedroom apartment is a staggering 775sq ft, one of the largest on the development, offering buyers vast living space and two ample double bedrooms, each with their own en-suites.

An allocated parking space is issued to each dwelling. Sold with a brand new lease of 99 years. Energy Band - B.

CALL 01268 565555

RUSHBOTTOM LANE, BENFLEET £430,000 This two bedroom detached bungalow has recently been renovated to a high standard throughout. Occupying a prominent corner plot in a highly sought after area, the property offers an airy lounge, contemporary kitchen/diner, en-suite bathroom and a large south westerly facing garden. Energy Band – D.

CALL 01268 565555

HIGH STREET, HADLEIGH £159,995 A one double bedroom new build apartment with a 125 year lease and benefiting from a modern fitted kitchen, open plan lounge area and a private parking space. Energy Band – Awaiting.

CALL 01268 565555

Image credit: Denis Makarenko

Lily’s next venture Famous for her roles in many period dramas, this summer is set to be hot for Lily James with a number of new films in the pipeline4

Image credit: Kathy Hutchins

LILY’S NEXTfavourite VENTURE Britain’s

Surrey born lady, Lily James, may be most known for her role in television programmes such as War & Peace, Downton Abbey and Just William and films Cinderella, Baby Driver and Darkest Hour but this month, she’s hitting the big screen again.

Set for release on 20th April, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, is adapted from the 2008 book of the same title, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Lily plays Juliet Ashton, a young, charismatic English author, who in the aftermath of the war is trying to find her next subject and reassemble her life after her home was ravaged in the Blitz. Ashton had a war-time hit with a series of comical columns but with the peace, she feels a new seriousness descend. Everyone in Britain is suffering and struggling, and while comedy lifted the mood mid-conflict, Ashton can’t quite summon the same lightness now the country is trying to put itself back together again.

By chance, she receives a letter from a man called Dawsey Adams in Guernsey who has bought a book that once belonged to her. They begin an exchange that culminates in her travelling to the island, befriending the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and discovering the painful history of occupation under the Nazis. In the process, Ashton both falls

Image credit: Featureflash Photo Agency

in love and finds the material for her new novel.

Her role here, is very similar to the role that propelled her to fame. Rose in Downton Abbey – a character who, in her love of dancing and jazz, upset the repressed status quo.

And it wasn’t just us who liked Lily’s portrayal of Rose, as Lily explained: “The world of the flapper - live free, wild and young - that energy is intoxicating. It’s nice to inject that into the more controlled ‘Downton’ way of living.” Lily has also recently filmed the sequel to musical Mama Mia: Here We Go Again!, which will be released in July.

She’s certainly had a successful career and it doesn’t look like she’s going anywhere soon. Lily commented: “I really want to play interesting roles, but you want to work, so it’s a balancing game.”

Does she have any advice? “When people feel good, they look good. I don’t like seeing celebs looking too skinny, I love it when they look healthy and comfortable in their bodies and embrace their curves.”

We agree Lily! We can’t wait to see Lily in the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, later this month 

Image credit: Kathy Hutchins

Meet our

Canvey Team Our office located at the heart of Canvey Town Centre offers a sales, lettings and property management service for Canvey Island and the surrounding areas and benefits from ARLA and NAEA qualified staff.

GREAT PROFESSIONAL YET FRIENDLY AGENT “Gemma North & the Fisks team were incredibly easy to work with .....even from 3000 miles away in Canada. .Gemma was always available, polite ,freindly & returned calls swiftly . .The whole transaction went smoothly with many excellent recommendations for other professionals ie solicitors, inspectors etc We would not hesitate to recommend or use Fisks in the future. Thank you so much for all your hard work !!!!�

AWARD WINNING

With excellent rail connections into the City from neighbouring Benfleet station, Canvey is today permanently connected to the mainland via two road bridges, offering fast access to the M25 and East Anglia via the A12 trunk road. However the island still manages to preserve an independent character and a vibrant community spirit all its own.

Thanks to development in recent years, Canvey offers a wide range of exceptionally reasonably-priced property, from first time buyer apartments to detached executive homes - many with stunning views across to the wooded Hadleigh Downs, and along the estuary towards Southend.

2016

Fisks 85 Furtherwick Road, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8 7AY T 01268 510510 F 01268 697126 E canvey@fisks.co.uk

fisks.co.uk

LOCAL

WAARDEN ROAD, CANVEY £240,000

HINDLES ROAD, CANVEY £223,500

Two bedroom property situated in a popular location offering a front facing lounge, galleystyle kitchen and a conservatory. Energy Band – D.

A one bedroom detached bungalow in a quiet cul-de-sac location with a good sized lounge, fitted kitchen and south facing garden. Energy Band – E.

CALL 01268 510510

CALL 01268 510510

POINT ROAD, CANVEY £250,000

WESTMAN ROAD, CANVEY £229,995

Offered for sale with no onward chain is this two bedroom semi-detached bungalow benefiting from a fitted kitchen, conservatory and a paved rear garden. Energy Band – D.

This one bedroom detached bungalow is situated in the Smallgains location and benefits from a garage and off street parking to the front.

Energy Band – D.

CALL 01268 510510

CALL 01268 510510

SURIG ROAD, CANVEY ISLAND £320,000 This detached family home is offered with no onward chain and has plenty of living space, featuring an L-shaped lounge/diner, conservatory, three good sized bedrooms and a generous sized family bathroom. The property also benefits from a large garage and off street parking. Energy Band – D.

CALL 01268 510510

HARVEST ROAD, CANVEY ISLAND £295,000 Three bedroom semi-detached house featuring an open plan living area and fitted kitchen overlooking the rear garden. The property also benefits from a converted garage that is now an annexe containing a wet room and an extra bedroom. Energy Band – D.

CALL 01268 510510

WILRYCH AVENUE, CANVEY ISLAND £270,000 Located in a quiet cul-de-sac is this three bedroom end of terrace house situated on a generous plot with front, side and rear gardens. Internally the property comprises of a large lounge area, kitchen/diner overlooking the rear garden and a three piece family bathroom. Energy Band – F.

CALL 01268 510510

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COLLEGE CLOSE, GRAYS £154,995 Good sized flat located close to local shops and two minutes’ drive from the A13, with the train station only a short walk away. The property offers one double bedroom, new double glazed windows and parking.

Energy Band – C.

CALL 01268 510510

KINGS PARK, CANVEY ISLAND OIRO £175,000 Two bedroom park home located close to Kings indoor swimming pool complex, local supermarket and peaceful lake area.

Benefits include a fitted kitchen, newly installed wet room, en-suite shower room to the master bedroom and a good sized lounge. The property is sold with no onward chain.

CALL 01268 510510

CONISTON ROAD, CANVEY ISLAND £258,000 Ideal for first time buyers and offered with no onward chain is this two bedroom detached bungalow. Situated in a popular location within easy reach of local shops, the property features a front facing lounge, modern fitted kitchen, two good sized bedrooms and a garage with off street parking. Energy Band – C.

CALL 01268 510510

Image credit: John Cullen Lighting

Dress to impress Sally Storey, Creative Director at John Cullen Lighting, shares her six top lighting tips for dressing rooms.4

Image credit: Nok Nok

A SPRING STATEMENT Britain’s favourite

The popularity of having a dressing room in one’s home has certainly grown over the past few years. Home-owners aspire to having one in their home and designers are increasingly asked for space for a dedicated dressing area.

Nothing can be more luxurious than a room dedicated to dressing. Having storage for ones shoes, boots, bags and scarfs. Imagine being able to store your long and short dresses, trousers separately, and each of them having a dedicated cupboard – just like in a luxury boutique. The challenge is to get the dressing room lighting right and key to its success is to introduce layers of light. Sally Storey, Creative Director at John Cullen Lighting, shares her six top lighting tips.

1. Adding decorative glamour Consider adding the glamour of a pendant in the centre of your dressing room.

This creates a focus and an alternative source of light to balance the directional downlights.

2. Layer your lighting Create layers of light to add interest. Consider lamps on side tables for a soft intermediate light. Think about uplighting window reveals as seen here with 1w Luccas along with creating a focus over a central chest of drawers, here lit with two Polesprings. As a final layer add a floating effect under the central drawer unit with Contour HD24. Put this on a PIR to create a nightlight if one goes through the dressing room to the bathroom at night.

3. Consider your task lighting If your dressing room also has a dressing table, you will need some excellent task lighting to ensure that you can see to put your make up on. Consider adding side lights such as these decorative pendants to provide even light either side of your face. At low level, Contour HD24 LED strip has been added to create a floating effect under the unit.

4. Light your wardrobes Simple use of downlights directing light straight down is not ideal when trying to create an intimate space such a dressing room. Consider instead directing them at the cupboards. Here a Polespring with a medium beam reflects light back off the cupboard for a softer effect. This has the added advantage of lighting the clothes when the cupboards are open too.

5. Light up your shelving The trend for open shelving in dressing rooms continues. The best way to light these is with LED Contour HD24, concealed either at the front or the back of the joinery. This gives a good focus on clothing, helping to differentiate colours and provides an alternative to a directional downlight. This solution will not only add drama to your dressing room space but will also increases the feeling of height in the room.

6. Add extra softness For another way to add an additional layer of light which adds extra softness to the space if you have cupboards that do not go to the ceiling, add an uplight such as an led strip from the top. This will allow you to create a bright light for during the day or, when dimmed, a warm glow at a high level.

For more information, head to www.johncullenlighting.com n

Meet our

Docklands Team Located at South Quay, at the foot of the pedestrian bridge to Canary Wharf, our Docklands office offers sales, lettings and property management services for the Docklands and Royal Docks area benefitting from ARLA and NAEA qualified staff.

GOOD PROMT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE “Fisks have found 3 good tenants for me over 5 years, each time they handled the transaction with high professionalism, promptness and doing more than their job description to get the deal done. All details were accurate and checked thoroughly. Good team support.

Happy landlord, happy tenant. “

The London Docklands area has been transformed into one of the most exciting commercial and residential environments in the world.

Alongside the glittering office towers of Canary Wharf, a rich mix of developments, purpose-built luxury apartment blocks and warehouse conversions full of period character all making the maximum use of the spectacular waterside setting - have helped to make today’s Docklands the last word in sophisticated urban living.

Transport links with the City via the Docklands Light Railway and the West End via the Jubilee Line are first class.

AWARD WINNING

2016

Benfleet & Canvey

Canary Wharf, Docklands & Royal Docks

Fisks Docklands Suite 2 Parker House, Admirals Way, Marsh Wall, London, E14 9UQ T 0207 517 8810 F 0207 517 7902 E docklands@fisks.co.uk

fisks.co.uk

THE OXYGEN BUILDING, E16 £499,000

GOUGH WALK, E14 £350,000-£400,000

Leasehold – two bedroom, two bathroom apartment offering a west facing living room with Juliette balcony, open plan kitchen and an en-suite shower room. Energy Band – B.

Leasehold – three bedroom maisonette including an open plan kitchen and reception, a family bathroom with separate toilet and a good sized south facing terrace. Energy Band – D

CALL 0207 517 8810

CALL 0207 517 8810

VICENTIA COURT, SW11 £400,000-£450,000

THE OXYGEN, E16 £525,000-£550,000

Leasehold – one bedroom apartment featuring direct south westerly river views from the living room and balcony, plus a contemporary kitchen and bathroom. Energy Band – C.

Leasehold – two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a west facing living room benefiting from dual aspect and panoramic views of Canary Wharf. Energy Band – C.

CALL 0207 517 8810

CALL 0207 517 8810

IONIAN BUILDING, E14 £334 pw

LANDMARK EAST TOWER, E14 £375 pw

One bedroom apartment offered furnished, located just moments away from Limehouse DLR. Energy Band – C.

Large one bedroom luxury apartment offered un-furnished/part furnished, boasting west facing landscape views. Energy Band – B.

CALL 0207 517 8810

CALL 0207 517 8810

DISCOVERY DOCK WEST, E14 £420 pw

LANDMARK EAST TOWER, E14 £550 pw

Large one bedroom apartment fully furnished to a very high standard to include wooden flooring and a spacious living room. Energy Band – B.

Two bedroom, two bathroom luxury apartment fully furnished, including floor to ceiling glazing, comfort cooling throughout and a kitchen with granite finishes. Energy Band – B.

CALL 0207 517 8810

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CALL 0207 517 8810

NEUTRON TOWER, E14 £425 pw

LOWRY HOUSE, E14 £440 pw

Two bedroom, two bathroom apartment undergoing complete refurbishment, boasting direct river views. Rent will include all utility bills.

Energy Band – B.

Large two bedroom, two bathroom apartment fully furnished to a high specification with a separate fitted kitchen and a good sized balcony. Energy Band – Awaiting.

CALL 0207 517 8810

CALL 0207 517 8810

NEW ATLAS WHARF, E14 £425 pw

ONTARIO TOWER, E14 £350 pw

Furnished two bedroom, two bathroom (one ensuite) apartment offering west facing views of the Thames. Energy Band – Awaiting.

Furnished one bedroom apartment. Occupants will benefit from use of the leisure facilities and access to the Radisson Hotel. Energy Band – C.

CALL 0207 517 8810

CALL 0207 517 8810

Image credit: Zoia Kostina

Get your garden summer ready As we move towards better weather months, for those lucky enough to have a garden, it’s time to start thinking about getting it up to scratch so you can enjoy sitting out there to enjoy the fine British weather4

Image credit: tomertu

Image credit: Shaiith

GETBritain’s YOUR GARDEN SUMMER READY favourite

As summer looms, it can be difficult to find a balance between garden nirvana and garden hell for novice gardeners… Online voucher code website www.myvouchercodes.co.uk have handily created a guide on how not to kill the plants in your garden to get you set for the summer months.

To be honest nothing beats a gloriously green grass lawn, but for a lot of people their lawns end up looking like a brown mossy mess.

So, we can see why people opt for artificial especially considering how good the latest artificial grass can look.

Design

Fake grass

Keep it simple. You don’t want to start off with a massive landscaping project as a newbie gardener, like anything, take baby steps and start out with a simple garden design. A nice patio, some grass and a bit of a border. You don’t want to jump in at the deep end with too much to look after. Make sure your plants are easily accessed, you want to be able to get around and make sure they are fully watered and healthy, without traipsing through undergrowth.

• Eco friendly (uses less water) • Affordable • Lower maintenance • Lower environmental impact

Looking at your garden design you want to consider how it will look from different vantage points, so say for example, your kitchen or dining room window, sat outside on the patio and from a bedroom balcony. Does it look like it flows and can you maximise your view? You don’t want to block a window with a tree or large shrubbery.

To grass or not to grass Fake grass vs Real grass

Real grass • Looks good • Feels nice • Great for wildlife • Mowing the lawn is great exercise Plants Invest in low maintenance plants. If you’re a novice gardener or do not have much time to spend looking after plants, it’s a good idea to look at investing types of plants which are low maintenance. Perennials are pretty easy to keep alive, plants like daffodils, snowdrops and scillas bring you joy every spring with minimal effort.

Planting in pots can make looking after plants much easier, herbs are perfect for growing in pots, especially mint, which can easily

spread itself through your garden.

Setting up self-watering systems will allow you to sit back and relax whilst your plants get watered. You can also ensure your plants get just the right amount and can avoid wasting water.

Hacks from the kitchen Beer - Also known as slug killer! So not everyone will want to put a pint in the garden, but if you have some out of date beer which won’t be tasting so fresh, submerge some cups of beer in the ground and watch the slugs swarm, get drunk and die.

Coffee granules - After enjoying a cup of your favourite espresso, keep your empty grounds because they enrich soil and also keep creepy crawlies away.

Rice water - Keep the water from cooking rice rather than pouring down the sink, there’s a number of plant friendly minerals inside, which are perfect for watering plants and giving them a nutritional boost.

Leftover cuttings - The end of a bulb of celery, the top of a pineapple and basil stalks, all of these can be used as cuttings so you can grow your own veg. Give it a try!

So, what are you waiting for? Get out in the garden this weekend and get ready for summer 

Image credit: Dora Zet

2016

Benfleet Fisks Ltd 146 London Road Benfleet Essex, SS7 5SQ T: 01268 565555 F: 01268 566291 E: benfleet@fisks.co.uk

Why use Fisks?

Canvey Fisks Ltd 85 Furtherwick Road Canvey Island Essex, SS8 7AY

Members of NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) and ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents).

T: 01268 510510 F: 01268 697126 E: canvey@fisks.co.uk

Audited clients account

Docklands Fisk Docklands Ltd Suite 2 Parker House Admirals Way Marsh Wall London, E14 9UQ

Free rent guarantee insurance with management plus Option to spread payments over the length of lease (subject to Terms of Business) Three levels of service offered: Let Only, Management and Management Plus

T: 0207 517 8810 F: 0207 517 7902 E: docklands@fisks.co.uk Head Office 146a London Road Benfleet Essex, SS7 5SQ T: 01268 750000 F: 01268 758921 E: office@fisks.co.uk Property Management: 0207 517 8811

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To experience our service, put us to the test! Contact your local branch at Benfleet, Canvey or Docklands