Fisks Gateway issue 79

The property & lifestyle magazine brought to you by FISKS / Issue 79

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Keep your kids happy on moving day Throw the perfect garden party Give your driveway some TLC Benfleet new builds This month’s properties

CONTENTS KEEP YOUR KIDS HAPPY ON MOVING DAY Follow our tips to make your life easier on moving day.

THROW THE PERFECT GARDEN PARTY It’s that time of year again - make your garden parties extra special with our tips.

GIVE YOUR DRIVEWAY SOME TLC It’s time to do that job you’ve been putting off.

BENFLEET NEW BUILDS In case you missed them last month, discover a beautiful collection of spacious one and twobedroom 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

magazine We start this issue with a bit of good news, according to one of Britain’s biggest mortgage lenders, house prices are likely to continue rising for some time despite hitting a new record high in May. Halifax said it showed a healthy 1.3% jump in the cost of a home in May, which now means the average selling price is a record £261,743.

This comes as homebuyers rush to complete their purchases before the stamp duty holiday begins winding down at the end of this month.

As always, if you have any questions regarding any of the properties in this month’s issue of Gateway then please do contact us. We’re here to help you every step of the way. Whatever your next move, make it with a SMILE!

John Pring FNAEA(Honoured) & MARLA | Director

Keep your kids happy on moving day...

Follow our tips to make your life easier on moving day.

Moving home at the best of times is stressful, but when you add kids into the mix, it’s got living nightmare written all over it. But fear not, Fisks have put together some helpful tips for you to make your life easier during the stressful time ahead.

GET THE KIDS INVOLVED EARLY ON No matter the age, we all like to feel in control. With that in mind, why not take your kids along with you to viewings? Giving them the opportunity to be involved in the decision making will play hugely in your favour during the whole process. If your kids need an extra bit of involvement, make them your personal ‘house viewing photographer’ - give them your camera phone and ask them to take photos of the property for later viewing.

SPEND TIME IN YOUR CHOSEN AREA By showing them fun stuff to do in the area - things such as parks, playgrounds and shops - your kids will likely get excited about moving and want to help you in the process. This tip is particularly helpful if you are moving to a place where they have to say goodbye to their friends.

LET THEM PACK This won’t be the most organised thing you’ll be suggesting but it does give your kids a sense of contribution. If you have any doubts about the attention span of your kid then why not instead give them the responsibility of labelling moving boxes, even just their own moving boxes will help.

PACK CONFORT ITEMS AND FOOD FOR THE BIG DAY Make sure to pack their favourite foods and a bit of entertainment for the big day - you don’t want a bored, hungry and/or tired kid on your hands, especially today of all days. For younger children, have their favourite toys on hand and, as it’s a very long day, their favourite blanket and soft toy. For teenagers, they will normally have a burst of energy when it comes to things that concern them, but then sit in the corner on their phone for the rest of the day - you probably know this already, but just leave them to it to avoid a family argument on day one.

GIVE THEM TASKS ON MOVING DAY Giving the kids fun tasks to do throughout the moving day will make your day (and theirs) more pleasant. Give them the job of DJing for the day, or get them to look after the cat/dog for the day if you have one. Use your imagination to keep them occupied.

Meet the team...

John Pring Director

Simon Pring Director

Ian Carey Sales Manager

Harriet Plampton Sales & Lettings Consultant

Penny Ash Property Manager

Nicola Rattenberry Director’s P.A.

Leanne Wright Administration Manager

Albie Poole Junior Estate Agent

Tina Webster Management Accountant

FISKS.CO.UK

We cover the whole of South Essex.

Contact us for a free valuation on 01268 565555

Perry Goodwin Digital Marketing Manager

Ben Nelson Junior Estate Agent

Kerrie Watts Property Consultant

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.

FEATURED PROPERTIES

LONDON ROAD, BENFLEET £380,000 No Onward Chain Newly Decorated Throughout Three Bed Semi Detached House Great Location With Easy Access To Main Roads Two Outbuildings In The Garden With Power South Facing Garden

CALL 01268 565555

FISKS.CO.UK

PRESTWOOD DRIVE, BENFLEET £350,000 Two Bedroom Semi Detached Bungalow Entrance Hall Fantastic Sized Lounge Area Lean To Conservatory Good Sized Rear Garden Driveway With Enough Space For 2 Vehicles

CALL 01268 565555

FEATURED PROPERTIES

CHURCH ROAD, BENFLEET £465,000 Four Bedroom Detached Property Modernized Throughout Ground Floor Cloakroom Four Good sized Bedrooms Family Bathroom Garage And Private Driveway Catchment To Good Schools

CALL 01268 565555

FISKS.CO.UK

DALWOOD GARDENS, BENFLEET £440,000 Stunning, Two Bedroom Semi Detached Original, Workers Cottage Dating From The Late 1800’S Extended Modern Kitchen Good Sized Master Bedroom Family Bathroom On The First Floor Driveway With Parking

CALL 01268 565555

FEATURED PROPERTIES

CHARLESTON AVENUE, BASILDON £389,995 Stunning, Modern, Three Bedroom End Of Terraced Property Show Home Condition Extended Family Home Utility Room Ground Floor Cloakroom Refitted Four Piece Bathroom

CALL 01268 565555

FISKS.CO.UK

SAXON COURT, BENFLEET £200,000 Two Bedroom Top Floor Apartment Good Condition Throughout Modern Kitchen Good Sized Lounge-Diner Allocated Parking Modern Fitted Bathroom

CALL 01268 565555

Throw the perfect garden party...

It’s that time of year again - make your garden parties extra special with our tips.

Now the sun is shining it’s the perfect time to throw that garden party. Our following tips will make sure you throw the ONE to remember.

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT No amazing garden party would be complete without great music preferable use a wireless speaker to avoid people tripping on wires, you don’t want Diana from next door having one too many and falling head first into your flower bed. If you’re inviting people that don’t see each other on a regular basis, then throw in a few party games to get everyone talking and involved - the games are often the talking point after the party.

FOOD & DRINK Parties shine when you have the right food and drinks for everyone, but get it wrong and you’ll fall flat. Your party needs a range of food and drink to cater for everyone. What makes a garden party extra special are those extra personal touches, like taking not of someone’s favourite party food or drink and providing it. And probably the most important thing any party host should know, you should never ever EVER run out of drinks.

If you’re being brave and providing cocktails (or mocktails for those driving), give them a test run before so you know what you’re doing, you don’t want to give your guests any unwanted surprises. This is the perfect time to delight your guests with your skills.

DECORATION It’s time to create the perfect atmosphere. Think about the theme you want and then build everything around it. What’s the colour scheme?

Is the party honouring one of your guests? Is it a holiday of some kind?

There is a whole host of ideas you can go with, but just make sure you bring the same decoration throughout if you want a truly stunning garden party. Do not underestimate visiting a bargain shop - let’s be honest, you don’t want to spend a fortune on decoration when drinks can come in at high cost.

SEATING You can never have too much seating, you don’t want people starting to go indoors because you haven’t provided enough of it. If possible, set up some seating out of the bright sunshine too, you don’t want to be giving your guests heatstroke.

LIGHTING & HEATING If you’re one of those people who never want the party to end, then make sure you invest in some outdoor lighting. Garden lights are a must have for any garden party, they keep people outside and make your garden feel more cosy after the sun has set. Why not even invest in some heating for those chilly nights too - this is England after all. A small campfire or wood burner is a great investment, not just for garden parties but for yourself too.

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

Our Ethos & Values

methods that you are comfortable with, such as high street shop locations with

We focus on our clients’ requirements

window displays, applicant mailing lists,

and instructions rather than just doing

text and email facilities, linked offices,

what’s quickest and easiest for us.

portals such as Rightmove, leaflet drops, floor plans, boards and branded cars.

Our comprehensive training program ensures that our staff channels their

These marketing tools have been tried

entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm

and tested for many years, but with the

for the benefit of our clients, whilst

ongoing digital revolution we have also

maintaining the professionalism and

embraced change. These new marketing

customer service associated with our

methods come in the form of a digital

brand.

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.

FISKS.CO.UK

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

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...

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

ARLA - the gold standard professional industry body.

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.

“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

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

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

“Fantastic team that pulled out all the stops and helped every step of the way. Friendly pleasant staff.”

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

- Mrs S Sheavyn

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

... come and put us to the test!

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

FEATURED PROPERTIES

CLEVELAND ROAD, CANVEY ISLAND £850,000 Luxury 5 Double Bedroom Family Home Recently Remodelled And Refurbished To The Highest Standards 20ft Lounge 25ft Kitchen 13ft Conservatory Double Garage With Large Multi Car Drive 2 Ensuites Plus Family Bathroom And Cloak Room

CALL 01268 510510

FISKS.CO.UK

CASSEL AVENUE, CANVEY ISLAND £300,000 Two Bedroom Semi Detcahed House 25ft Lounge/Diner Extended To The Rear Two Double Bedrooms Newly Fitted Wet Room Lots Of Potential Views Of Hadleigh Castle & Hadleigh Downs

CALL 01268 510510

FEATURED PROPERTIES

ORSETT ROAD, HORNDON-ON-THE-HILL £525,000 Cottage Style Bungalow 3 Double Bedrooms 19ft Kitchen Wet Room Well Presented Throughout Seperate Garage Off Street Parking

CALL 01268 510510

FISKS.CO.UK

KINGS PARK HOMES, CANVEY ISLAND £180,000 Outside Decked Area Spacious Throughout En-Suite To Master Open Plan Lounge/Dining Area Utility Room Central Location Secure Site

CALL 01268 510510

FEATURED PROPERTIES

LARUP AVENUE, CANVEY ISLAND £345,000 3 Bedroom Detached House Traditional Family Home 20ft Lounge 3 Double Bedrooms Double Glazed Throughout Attached Garage Off Street Parking

CALL 01268 510510

FISKS.CO.UK

EDITH CLOSE, CANVEY ISLAND £375,000 Open To Offers Four Bedroom Link Detached House Spacious 16ft Lounge Modern Fitetd Kitchen And Seperate Dining Room Three Double Bedrooms And A Smaller Fourth

CALL 01268 510510

Give your driveway some TLC...

It’s time to do that job you’ve been putting off.

A driveway is the first thing a guest, or potential buyer, sees when they pay a visit. Now that the sun is shining, it’s the perfect time to start giving that driveway some TLC. TIDY UP A little tidy up goes a long way. If you have trees overhanging your driveway, it’s time to give them a little chop - it will save you time cleaning the leaves in the future, and because they often block the view of your stunning home, it will make it look bigger too. If you have a gravel driveway, keep it as level as possible by using a rake - if your driveway is installed with any kind of gravel stabiliser grid then this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Gravel stabiliser grids are often reasonably priced and keep your driveway looking great throughout the year with minimal effort.

If you have a paved, asphalt or resin driveway, you should probably invest in a jet-washer.

GET PLANTING AND TRIMMING Keeping the surrounding areas of the driveway neat is as important as the driveway itself. De-weed, cut back, and plant to boost your driveway to the next level. Treat those pesky weeds peeping through the driveway with weed killer to avoid having to get on your hands and knees.

PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE EDGES Whatever surface your driveway is, always keep the edges neat and welldefined. If you have a lawn sitting beside them then keep the edges trimmed for a finished look. If you have boarders at the side of your driveway then keep the plants watered and colourful.

THE PERFECT LIGHTING As well as being practical and safe, the right kind of lighting can finish off your driveway and give it that ‘magazine broacher’ look we all aim for.

This can be accomplished cheaper than you think too, LED lights have never been cheaper and most operate with a single battery too. If you have pillars, consider pillar lights along the length of your driveway to create a WOW factor.

CONSIDER RESURFACING Whatever tips we give you to sparkle up your driveway, nothing will improve it if it’s cracked, tired looking or worn out. If you think it NEEDS to be resurfaced, then gravel will be your most versatile option. If you go with that option then we heavily suggest getting gravel stabiliser grids to make your life easier. Another good thing about choosing gravel is that it comes in an array of colours and sizes to suit whatever look you want for your driveway.

Benfleet new builds...

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

Benfleet new builds.

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 twobedroom 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.