Fisks Gateway issue 45

inside this issue

WATCH OUT WADE 7 TIPS TO SELL YOUR HOME QUICKLY SUMMER CLEANING TIPS PLUS ALL OF THIS MONTH’S PROPERTIES

THE PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY FISKS | ISSUE 45

Contents Watch out Wade Later this month, Deadpool 2 will be released but as Cable arrives to get revenge, no-one is safe.

7 tips to sell your home quickly Reduce the stress and sell your property even quicker with this tip-top advice.

Summer cleaning tips Forget spring cleaning, this year it’s all about summer cleaning and preparing your home for everyone’s favourite season.

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.

Produced by www.iceberg-digital.co.uk

Welcome to our

magazine...

Welcome to the May edition of our Gateway magazine.

The Bank of England has just announced a hold on interest rates by a vote of 7:2.This will be taken as good news for the housing market as there is no doubt that we have all become used to these historically extraordinarily low interest rates.

John Pring FNAEA (Honoured) & MARLA | Director

Perhaps this good news will allow the Press to write some positive stories instead of the recent headlines focusing on house prices moving downwards. In our experience this is not the case but the marketing price does need to be carefully considered to attract maximum viewings.

Now that the Easter holiday weekend is behind us we can report on the upsurge of activity we are experiencing, helped of course by the ‘feel-good factor’ of these lovely summer days. Gardens at this time of year have never looked better with the May blossom in full bloom. If you are lucky enough to have a great garden and are thinking of selling, there will never be a better time than now to show off your garden to its fullest potential.

For an updated Sales or Lettings valuation, to see your property in our June 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

STANWAY ROAD, BENFLEET £575,000 This detached four double bedroom property features a study/reception room, lounge/diner, high specification galley style kitchen and utility room on the ground floor.

Upstairs there is an en-suite to master and family bathroom.

Externally the garden is mainly laid to lawn while to the front there is off street parking as well as a 22ft garage. Energy Band C.

CALL 01268 565555

HIGH BANK, BASILDON £290,000 Well-presented two double bedroom mid-terraced property that has been updated to a very high standard. Internally the property offers a contemporary style lounge and a modern kitchen/diner. Outside the rear garden is paved with artificial grass and a gate leading to the off street parking. Energy Band – Awaiting.

CALL 01268 565555

CENTRAL WALL ROAD, CANVEY £265,000 A modern semi-detached property offering good space throughout with contemporary decor in all rooms. The property features a good sized lounge, ground floor cloakroom, modern fitted kitchen, lean-to, three good sized bedrooms and a family bathroom. Energy Band – F.

CALL 01268 565555

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

fisks.co.uk

DALTONS FEN, PITSEA £264,995 A three bedroom home with a sizeable kitchen/diner and separate lounge with bi-folding doors opening onto the garden.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, two of which are doubles, and a family bathroom. The property is well located with easy access to local shops and Pitsea station and comes with the added benefit of a double garage.

Energy Band – D.

CALL 01268 565555

THE ELKINS, ROMFORD £635,000 An immaculate, extended four bedroom detached property benefiting from a good sized dining room/reception room, lounge/diner and modern fitted kitchen. Outside there is a 70ft x 70ft rear garden featuring a detached garage, utility room and workshop. Parking offers space for up to six cars with a gated entrance to the garage.

Energy Band – E.

CALL 01268 565555

Image credit: Andrea Raffin

Watch out Wade Later this month, Deadpool 2 will be released but as Cable arrives to get revenge, no-one is safe 4

Image credit: Andrea Raffin

WATCH OUT WADE Britain’s favourite

On 18th May, Deadpool 2 will be released starring none other than Ryan Reynolds. Fans went into frenzy when 20th Century Fox released the latest trailer, confirming that the new film will introduce the X-Force.

The plot evolves as Josh Brolin’s Cable arrives with plans to kill a kid who seems to have powers. Cable isn’t letting anything stand in his way — including Deadpool. Violence ensues. When Deadpool realises he can’t take on Cable by himself, he brings together a few superheroes and assembles them into a group that he calls X-Force, which he freely admits is a derivative name. We get some glimpses of the X-Men from the first Deadpool —Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead — but there are a few new players here.

Ryan will reprise his role as Wade Wilson and fans were also surprised to hear that Ryan co-wrote this latest film. In addition to this, he will also voice the title character in the upcoming movie Detective Pikachu in 2019. The Canadian actor, who is married to Blake Lively first rose to fame in a teen soap opera in 1991. He then went on to star in Two Guys and a Girl, Green Lantern, The Proposal and Woman in Gold. After a successful career spanning over 20 years, Ryan is now one of the world’s most successful actors.

Image credit: Andrea Raffin

It comes after the land of celebrity was knocked earlier in April, after it was revealed that Channing Tatum was divorcing his wife. This shocking news then led many media outlets to talk about other celebrity couples. Ryan Reynolds then shut down reports that he and Blake Lively are separating in the most classic Ryan Reynolds way. The persistent rumours that the pair are headed for divorce is surely frustrating, so what better way to respond than with a humorous Tweet? The actor took to Twitter to pass a comment on a headline that read: “Ryan Reynolds joins Blake Lively and his mom on red carpet after shutting down split rumors.” Ryan’s response? A sarcastic comment about his relationship with his mother. “We’re never splitting. She’ll always be my mom. No matter how much jazz-cabbage she smokes with her rollerblading friends,” he joked.

The Tweet came just days after Ryan hit back at the initial split reports with a joke about needing his own personal time.

IBTimes India tweeted the headline: “Deadpool Ryan Reynolds and wife Blake Lively struggling to spend ‘quality time’.” So, naturally, Ryan replied: “I wish. I could use a little “me time”.”

We can’t wait to see Ryan in the new Deadpool film from 18th May and hope him and Blake have a great summer 

Image credit: By Featureflash Photo Agency

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

BARNARDS AVENUE, CANVEY ÂŁ335,000 Wider upstairs than a standard three bedroom semidetached house, this property is situated on a corner plot which provides a much larger than usual garden.

Internally the property has been decorated to a high standard and benefits from a generously proportioned lounge/diner, fitted kitchen with breakfast bar, downstairs cloakroom, three good sized bedrooms and a modern family bathroom. There is also an integral garage and off street parking to the front. Energy Band – D.

CALL 01268 510510

HAMILTON COURT, CANVEY £230,000 This is a rare opportunity to purchase in the desirable Hamilton Court retirement development. This first floor apartment is one of the three largest on the site and is in good decorative order, offering an open plan lounge/kitchen, modern bathroom, two good sized bedrooms and an integrated care line system.

Energy Band – D.

CALL 01268 510510

CROSSWAYS, CANVEY £234,995 This three bedroom terrace house offers a good sized lounge and a separate dining room plus a single garage. The property can be extended to the rear (STPP) and due to the large garden you will still have plenty of space after the extension or conservatory has been built.

Energy Band – D.

CALL 01268 510510

fisks.co.uk

VAN DIEMENS PASS, CANVEY £210,000 A beautiful one bedroom detached bungalow benefiting from a large living area, separate kitchen and a double bedroom.

Outside there is a nice sized garden with a summer house, while to the front there is a garage plus off street parking.

Energy Band – Awaiting.

CALL 01268 510510

CHERRYDOWN EAST, BASILDON £247,000 This exceptional two bedroom, two bathroom apartment can be offered with no onward chain and is located close to local bus stops and the train station. The property is a good size and features a 21ft kitchen/lounge with sliding door to the balcony, Energy Band – C.

CALL 01268 510510

Image credit: ShutterOK

7 tips to sell your home quickly Reduce the stress and sell your property even quicker with this tip-top advice4

Image credit: arfa adam

7 TIPSBritain’s TO SELL YOUR HOME QUICKLY favourite

Selling a home is regarded by many as being one of the most stressful processes a person can go through, but being best prepared can substantially reduce the stress and help you to sell your home even quicker.

Increase your property’s kerb appeal The outside of your property is the first chance to wow potential buyers. Little things can make a huge difference to the kerb appeal of your house, so make sure you cut the grass, sweep all of the paths, move your bins out of view and clean up anything unsightly.

For a touch of colour, think about adding inexpensive hanging baskets and planting some bedding flowers. It is also a good idea to freshen up any tired or outdated exterior fixtures such as fences or garden furniture and make sure that any external windows and doors are in good condition.

Repair and clean Many buyers want to move into a house without having to make a lot of changes, so making minor repairs is an important factor. When staging your home for viewings it is imperative that the property is clean and tidy. You don’t want it to be a show home and look unlived in, but a good clean will make the house more presentable.

Watch out for the smells Bad smells are known to be one of the biggest turn offs for prospective buyers, so making sure that your drains and sinks are clean, your food bin is disinfected and that your house is aired out can make a big difference.

Declutter If potential buyers cannot envisage themselves living in a property, it is harder for them to make a decision. People often find this difficult when looking around houses and one of the major reasons for this is clutter. Open spaces and neutral colours often make small rooms feel bigger and make it easier for buyers to imagine their belongings in the space.

A fresh lick of paint Many home buyers are looking for a blank canvas and they are much more likely to be interested by neutral colours than bold ones. Neutral colours will also help to make your home seem lighter and bigger and allow viewers to easily envisage how they could adapt the room to their needs.

Spend money to make money – updating and conversions This tip may seem a bit counter intuitive, but spending a little bit of money before selling your home can pay off. Simple updates such as changing the bathroom tiles or adding new cabinet doors in the kitchen can make a big a difference to the saleability and value of a property. If you have enough spare cash, why not adapt a loft space into an extra room or build a conservatory for some extra space?

Find the right estate agent Finding the right estate agent is key to selling your house quickly and for the right price. Finding an estate agent that knows the local area, trends and provide a good service is imperative for a quick sale.

If you’re looking to sell your property, get in touch with us today 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

VICENTIA COURT, SW11 £399,000

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

NEW ATLAS WHARF, E14 £535,000-£555,000

GOUGH WALK, E14 £350,000-£400,000

Leasehold - Two bedroom, two bathroom apartment redecorated in July 2016 offering a large reception room with views towards the River Thames. Energy Band – Awaiting.

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

ABILITY PLACE, E14 £410 pw Two bedroom, two bathroom fully furnished apartment benefiting from direct dock views. The master bedroom has a balcony affording a south easterly aspect.

Energy Band – D.

CALL 0207 517 8810

WESTERN BEACH, E16 £335 pw Two bedroom, two bathroom apartment including a high specification kitchen with integrated appliances, a guest bathroom and en-suite shower room benefiting from twin sink drainers. Energy Band – D.

CALL 0207 517 8810

VICTORIA WHARF, E14 £415 pw Spacious two bedroom, one bathroom apartment with direct river views. A secure underground parking bay is included in the rent. Situated just a short walk from West Ferry DLR and Limehouse DLR. Energy Band – C.

CALL 0207 517 8810

fisks.co.uk

WESTFERRY POINT, E14 £415 pw Spacious two double bedroom apartment that has been stylishly furnished throughout and features a large reception room, newly fitted kitchen, two very large double bedrooms with the master bedroom benefiting from built-in wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom. Energy Band – C.

CALL 0207 517 8810

NEUTRON TOWER, E14 £425 pw Stunning two bedroom, two bathroom apartment offered fully furnished to a high specification throughout, boasting a large reception room, a modern open plan kitchen and direct river views towards the O2 Millennium Dome. Energy Band – B.

CALL 0207 517 8810

MILLENNIUM DRIVE, E14 £415 pw A stunningly presented spacious two double bedroom apartment that has been stylishly furnished throughout and features a large reception room, newly fitted kitchen, two very large double bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and two modern bathrooms. Energy Band – D.

CALL 0207 517 8810

Image credit: mama_mia

Summer cleaning tips Forget spring cleaning, this year it’s all about summer cleaning and preparing your home for everyone’s favourite season4

Image credit: VGstockstudio

SUMMER CLEANING TIPS Britain’s favourite

As the days get longer and the nights get lighter, we can’t help but turn our attention to summer. Preparing your home for a new season can take a lot of time and effort and more Brits are now turning their attention towards a ‘summer clean’. A recent study by home appliance maker Vorwerk has revealed that over one in eight (13%) homeowners and renters are planning to spend more than a day summer cleaning this year.

As evenings get lighter, two-thirds (67%) of households will be gearing up for their big clean – with 45% reaching for the vacuum cleaner as their first port of call to give their homes a fresher feel and a new look during the summer season. Of the remaining third who will be side-stepping a clean, 25% say they are ‘too lazy’.

However, deep cleaning has certainly paid off for 24% of households who have pocketed missing money during the housework. Others have also found a bizarre range of items including a pair of secateurs and wetsuit glove!

Northern Ireland homes are preparing to be the cleanest in the UK – with 77% planning on making their homes spotless, closely followed by 71% in the North West, and 70% in the West Midlands and North East respectively.

Women lead the charge for committing to a summer clean this year – but cleaning is also deemed a high priority across the generations too – particularly for nearly three-quarters of 45-54-year-olds (71%) and 63% of 18-24-year-olds.

Figures suggest that a clean house gives off a certain impression too, with 37% saying they would think the host was lazy if they lived in a state. Meanwhile, 28% say they judge the homeowner negatively and 13% would want to offer a helping hand to clean.

Top five biggest turn-offs in the home Dirty toilet Strong smells Messy kitchen Unkempt bathroom Pet hair all over

% 71% 61% 55% 49% 43%

There’s also 46% who would not even accept a drink in a messy home, nearly half (44%) would refuse food and 37% would avoid the bathroom. A third (33%) even wash their hands immediately as soon as they get home and 30% admit to cutting their visits short.

Vorwerk ambassador and Channel 4 star, Lynsey Crombie, added: “A good plan goes a long way towards your clean and it can seem less daunting if you organise your routine into manageable chunks. You should take things room by room so it’s achievable and doesn’t seem like a chore.”

Lynsey’s 5 Cleaning shortcuts 1. To deep clean your sinks, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda over the plug hole, and then pour down some white wine vinegar. Follow this with some boiling water to flush out your drain and leave it smelling fresh 2. To get rid of those stubborn water marks on shower doors and tiles, cut a lemon in half and rub it directly onto the marks 3. If your glassware has stubborn water stains, gently rub over them with potato skins to remove the grime and rinse as normal. They will come up as good as new 4. Gently rub a tennis ball over marks on paintwork and watch them disappear 5. If you’ve got watermark rings on your table, place some fabric on top of the mark and iron the surface on a low heat.

Image credit: Africa Studio

And remember, a clean home makes for a clean mind 

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

fisks.co.uk

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