Fisks Gateway issue 75

Gateway

THE PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY FISKS | ISSUE 75

inside this issue PRESENTING YOUR HOME ONLINE WHEN SELLING SECURING YOUR HOME BENFLEET NEW BUILDS PLUS THIS MONTH’S PROPERTIES

CONTENTS PRESENTING YOUR HOME ONLINE WHEN SELLING

Making a good first impression online has never been as important as it is now. Follow our tips to make your life easier.

SECURING YOUR HOME

Follow our tips to secure your home on a budget.

BENFLEET NEW BUILDS

Discover a beautiful collection of spacious one and two-bedroom family apartments on the edge of Benfleet.

THIS MONTH’S PROPERTIES

As always, we have some amazing properties for you to take a look at this month.

Welcome to our Gateway magazine...

As the whole country welcomes the Covid-19 vaccine and the end of winter, I’d like to remind you that the property market is fully open. Fisks are operating under strict Covid-19 guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety during this third national lockdown.

John Pring FNAEA(Honoured) & MARLA | Director

It has been tough, and there is still a long way to go, but if we continue acting accordingly, we will get through this quicker with less damage done to lives.

In this issue of Gateway, we help you get your property ready for your online audience when selling, give you tips on how to secure your home, and we take a look at our new builds in Benfleet. We also have a few of our amazing properties for you to take a look at too. Enjoy, and if you have any questions about any of the properties in this month’s issue then please do not hesitate to contact us.

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PRESENTING YOUR HOME ONLINE WHEN SELLING

Making a good first impression online has never been as important as it is now. Follow our tips to make your life easier.

Preparing your home for photos and videos is the most important thing a vendor can do when wanting to sell their home. Time to get things in order.

PREPARE YOUR PROPERTY FOR ONLINE It’s fair to say that the majority of home buyers start searching for their dream home online nowadays - especially now as footfall on the high street continues to fall thanks to Covid-19. It’s time to make those first impressions REALLY count and prepare your home for those online property photos and videos. Follow our tips to get sold FAST! GET THE BASICS RIGHT Giving your property a quick clean and tidy goes a long way. As well as decluttering each room to make your whole property seem bigger, don’t forget to make sure your rooms are well lit too - not being able to turn on lights on a gloomy day will instantly make the property seem uncared for and dull.

REMOVE PERSONAL THINGS Just like you would hopefully do when there are photos being taken, if you’re preparing for a video tour of your property then try and spend some time thinking ‘what is the potential buyer thinking’. Remove any distracting photos or ornaments and, if you have them, remove any pet accessories and feeding bowls. You want your potential buyer to see the property, not your personal possessions and lifestyle.

COVID-19 HAS CHANGED THINGS Outside areas, bigger kitchens and work from home spaces are now high priority for many potential buyers because of Covid-19. Making your spare room up as an office goes a long way nowadays.

The aim of great marketing photos and videos is to encourage potential buyers to come and visit your property in person - this will also cut down on people just visiting your property because they’re ‘in the area‘, which saves you time and effort in the long run.

THE INDOOR CHECKLIST

THE OUTDOOR CHECKLIST

• Thoroughly clean whole house • Replace all burned out or missing light bulbs • Turn all ceiling fans OFF for photos but ON for videos • Turn all TVs OFF • Turn all computer screens OFF • Remove distracting photos or ornaments • Make all beds • Place all shoes/jackets in closets

• Close garage doors • Remove cars from driveway and front of property • Clean up landscaping • Remove empty planters • Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames • Remove visible water hoses • Remove kids play toys • Tidy up outdoor tables/chairs • Hide bins

MEET THE TEAM

John Pring Director

Simon Pring Director

Harriet Plampton Sales & Lettings Consultant

Penny Ash Property Manager

Leanne Wright Assistant To Ian Carey

Albie Poole Junior Estate Agent

Our Vision & Strategy The residential estate agency market is increasingly populated by large corporations; nevertheless, our independent family-run estate agency continues to succeed and grow a loyal client base, due to our core values, ethos and flexible approach to clients’ requirements.

fisks.co.uk

We cover the whole of South Essex.

Contact us for a free valuation on 01268 565555

Ian Carey Sales Manager

Nicola Rattenberry Director’s P.A.

Tina Webster Management Accountant

Perry Goodwin Digital Marketing Manager

Taris Etherton Sales & Lettings Consultant

Kerrie Watts Property Consultant

Ben Nelson Junior Estate Agent

ST MARTINS CLOSE, BENFLEET £375,000 Three/Four Bedroom Semi Detached Property Fantastic Condition Throughout Converted Garage Into Play Room/Television Room Refitted Luxury Bathroom Refitted Kitchen Small Quiet Cul-De-Sac location

CALL 01268 565555

fisks.co.uk

HIGH ROAD, BENFLEET £310,000 Two Bedroom Semi Detached Bungalow Modernized Throughout Show Home Condition Refitted Modern Bathroom Private, Secure Parking At The Rear Of The Property Outbuilding With Work Tops And Electricity

CALL 01268 565555

CRESCENT ROAD, SOUTH BENFLEET £990,000-£1,000,000 Luxury Five Bedroom Detached Property Balcony Off Master Bedroom Five En-Suites Landscaped Garden Backs On To Boyce Hill Golf Club Open Plan Kitchen/Dining Room/ Lounge

CALL 01268 565555

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HAINAULT AVENUE, WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA £325,000-£335,000 Three Bedroom Semi Detached Property Great Living Space Throughout Two Reception Rooms Purpose Built Bar/Games Room In Rear Garden Close To Shops And Local Amenities Good Sized Bedrooms

CALL 01268 565555

BARTLEY ROAD, BENFLEET £425,000-£445,000 Large Two Bedroom Detached Bungalow Development Opportunity Extended Garage Two Large Double Bedrooms Big Kitchen Diner Separate Dining Room Wrap Around Garden

CALL 01268 565555

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COPPER BEECHES, BENFLEET £375,000-£385,000 Three Bedroom Link Detached Property For Sale Cul-De-Sac Ground Floor Cloakroom Good Living Space Throughout Lounge/Diner Close To Rayleigh Town Centre Well Maintained Throughout

CALL 01268 565555

WHY USE FISKS? The industry has changed hugely with the development of digital technology - this has created two different styles of agency, the traditional high street agency, and the modern online agency.

At Fisks, we believe that the best solution is to be both.

Fisks still do the traditional marketing methods that you are comfortable with, such as high street shop locations with window displays, applicant mailing lists, text and email facilities, linked offices, portals such as Rightmove, leaflet drops, floor plans, boards and branded cars.

These marketing tools have been tried and tested for many years, but with the ongoing digital revolution we have also embraced change. These new marketing methods come in the form of a digital property lifestyle magazine that’s produced in house and emailed to over eight thousand people a month, targeted social media campaigns across all the major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, 4k video tours of your property for our successful YouTube channel, enhanced portal marketing, and from a customer service point of view, we have vendor log-ins so you can see viewers feedback and offers on your home at any time.

At Fisks, we believe we have all your marketing needs covered to get you SOLD!

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Our Ethos & Values We focus on our clients’ requirements and instructions rather than just doing what’s quickest and easiest for us.

Our comprehensive training program ensures that our staff channels their entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm for the benefit of our clients, whilst maintaining the professionalism and customer service associated with our brand.

Landlords: Protect your investment with our full property management and marketing...

Protecting your investment should not be taken lightly, with our full management service you can be sure to get the support you deserve...

Inventories - protect your deposit with a professional inventory, including time stamped photographs.

Inspection - allay your fears that your asset is being looked after.

ARLA - the gold standard professional industry body.

Section notices - fully trained and experienced staff can advise and serve the appropriate notice.

Audited and insured client accounts to protect your money.

Rent guarantee and legal cover protect yourself with insurance and the increased costs of evicting (subject to status).

Legal hotline - specialised property lawyers helping to answer your questions.

Accurate accounting - from monthly statements to overseas landlords, to expenditure and income, we hold all the information the accountant will need.

Gas certificates and EPCs - keep your property complying with the law.

Don’t just take our word for it, we have many happy customers...

“Happy customer. Very professional service. We had no problems with the sale of our house or the purchase of our new home through Fisks. Staff very pleasant, would definitely recommend.”

- Mr and Mrs Hall “Fantastic team that pulled out all the stops and helped every step of the way.

Friendly pleasant staff.”

- Mrs S Sheavyn

... come and put us to the test!

SECURING YOUR HOME

Follow our tips to secure your home on a budget.

Securing your home doesn’t have to break the bank.

State-of-the-art home security systems aren’t your only options - there are plenty of inexpensive ways to secure your home. Follow our no-cost tips to secure your home.

LOCK THOSE DOORS AND WINDOWS Coming as no surprise, our first tip is to keep your doors and windows locked. You’d be surprised at how many people leave their windows unlocked. Make this your new habit as soon as possible. Statistically home break-ins happen during daylight hours (between 10:00am - 3:00pm) and many burglars are looking for an easy target. 34% of burglars enter the front door and 23% enter through a first-floor window.

BUY NEW LOCKS It’s time to check if you have missing our damaged locks and replace them. Make sure you don’t forget your exterior doors too - your back gates and your garden shed should be given the same security as your interior doors.

TIME TO REINFORCE If your locks are rock solid but your doors, windows or hardware are weak and fragile, then it’s time to consider replace them. You can also add more support with a door barricade or security bar. Head down to your nearest DIY store and see what the store has to offer.

USE MOTION-SENSOR LIGHTS Burglars who work at night don’t like the light, so deter possible burglars both inside and out by turning regular lights into motionsensor lights. Swap your normal light bulbs to motion-sensor ones by simply screwing a motion detector adapter in between a regular bulb and the socket.

DO NOT HIDE THAT KEY A lot of people still hide a house key in a predictable place - hiding your house key under a mat or flowerpot makes life easy for a burglar.

Instead of hiding it, give your house key to a trusted neighbour, or better yet, pick up a combination lock-box from a DIY store and install it in a concealed place.

KEEP YOUR VALUABLES AWAY FROM PRYING EYES To keep those burglars from window shopping, make sure your expensive items are away from the windows. Outside, keep your tools, bikes and easy-to-grab items locked up in a safe place in the shed or garage when you’re not using them. Inside, put up curtains or blinds and keep them closed/shut when you’re not at home. Bottom line, don’t leave your expensive electronics, jewellery, cash or important personal belongings in plain sight.

IF YOU HAVE THE CASH The best way to keep an eye on your home when you’re away is by installing security cameras or motion-sensor cameras that activity when there is a movement in shot - expect to see lots of cats and foxes if you plan on going this route. Alternatively, you can buy fake security cameras to deter unwanted visitors.

HEILSBURG ROAD, CANVEY ISLAND £325,000 Spacious Three Bedroom Detached Bungalow Three Double Bedrooms Great Sized Lounge Large Kitchen / Diner Patio Doors Out The Garden 16ft Garage No Through Road

CALL 01268 510510

fisks.co.uk

HIGH STREET, CANVEY ISLAND £220,000 Large Three Bedroom 1st Floor Flat Huge Lounge 17ft Lounge 17ft Master Bedroom Two Additional Double Bedrooms Modern Fitted Kitchen Sky Garden Superb Location

CALL 01268 510510

MAGNOLIA CLOSE, CANVEY ISLAND £500,000 4/5 Bedroom Detached House Large Conservatory Extension Studio/Gym Room Large Corner Plot High Spec’ Family Kitchen With Island Thorney Bay Location Beautifully Decorated

CALL 01268 510510

fisks.co.uk

CEDAR ROAD, CANVEY ISLAND £280,000-£290,000 Three / Four Bedroom SemiDetached Chalet Beautifully Presented Internally Modern Kitchen And Bathroom Spacious Lounge / Diner Large Dining Room Off Of Kitchen Seperate Study Room Or Fourth Bedroom

CALL 01268 510510

KINGS PARK VILLAGE, CANVEY ISLAND £160,000 Two Bedroom Park Home Double Glazed Throughout Well Maintained 17’ Kitchen/Diner Minimal Work Needed Communal Parking Sought After King Parks Location

CALL 01268 510510

fisks.co.uk

KINGS PARK VILLAGE, CANVEY ISLAND £185,000 Beautiful Double Width Park Home Two Double Bedrooms En-Suite And Walk In Wardrobe Off Of The Master Large Kitchen Diner Separate Utility Room Bright And Airy 19ft Lounge Fantastic Park Location

CALL 01268 510510

BENFLEET NEW BUILDS

Discover a beautiful collection of spacious one and two-bedroom family apartments on the edge of Benfleet.

As Benfleet’s leading local property experts, Fisks are proud to be the sole agent of the Forest View development. Fisks has been helping individuals and families find a place to call home in the area for over 50 years.

Forest View is unlike any new-build development you’ve seen before.

Built over five floors, the development contains 24 distinctive one and two-bedroom apartments. Each one of these spacious new family homes has a completely individual layout. So, while the finish is uniformly excellent throughout, every apartment comes with its own unique charm. Which one will become your future home?

With bright and modern open-plan living areas, high-end Beko kitchens, modern bathrooms, plenty of storage and landscaped communal areas, Forest View is so much more than a collection of apartments; it’s a place to call home.

Located just off Bread and Cheese Hill and within touching distance of South Benfleet’s excellent amenities, Forest View boasts an enviable position. It’s perfect for commuters, first-time buyers, new families or anyone looking to escape the bustle of the city and find a place to call their own.

OVERVIEW Forest View is a privately managed collection of 24 desirable modern apartments located just outside of Benfleet. The development has been thoughtfully designed to maximise space, built to the highest standards and is complemented by immaculately landscaped communal areas.

Each apartment comes with a 10-year warranty and a 199-year lease.

Ground rent is charged at £150 per annum for one-bed apartments and £200 for two-bed apartments, and is subject to a 25-year review based on RPI. A SPECIFICATION FOR MODERN LIVING We’ve chosen a finish that suits everyone’s tastes and ensures that every apartment is light, airy and ready for you to infuse your personality. Quality is guaranteed at Forest View, and to that end, your new home will benefit from things such as modern, spacious living areas with carpets throughout, high-end kitchen complete with Beko appliances, quartz worktops, Celsius bathroom with a 15-year warranty finished with Italian porcelain tiles and versatile storage space.

To register your interest in the Forest View development please contact Fisks today. Head on over to www.fisks.co.uk to view the full brochure.

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Here to help you on the following property matters Sales Lettings Property management Mortgages Solicitors Surveys EPCs Property maintenance Planning applications

Head Office 146a London Road Benfleet Essex, SS7 5SQ T: 01268 750000 E: office@fisks.co.uk

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CONTACT US FOR A FREE VALUATION 01268 565555 “Best Estate Agent in Essex! Fisks were fantastic from start to finish, both the Benfleet & Canvey Island branches. The staff are knowledgable, polite & friendly, we never had a bad person.

They got us viewings from both the branches. They kept us in touch on every viewing. They also kept us informed on every part of the process, which was very good as we haven’t moved in over 30 years.”

- Mrs C Stannard

“NO STRESS USE THE BEST... Excellent customer service... nothing too much trouble... all queries answered with ease... from valuation to completion we found the experience stress free. Very professional friendly staff, would definitely recommend... big thanks to Simon and his team ... till the next time!”

- Mr and Mrs Farrer