Fisks Gateway issue 83

The property & lifestyle magazine brought to you by FISKS / Issue 83

INSIDE THIS ISSUE The most popular home improvements Save money on your big move The hottest interior trends this winter Benfleet new builds show home flats now available to view This month’s properties

CONTENTS THE MOST POPULAR HOME IMPROVEMENTS We take a closer look at what home improvements are on the UP to get you inspired.

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BIG MOVE Follow our tips and advice to save money on that big move.

THE HOTTEST INTERIOR TRENDS THIS WINTER Your interior design should not be taken lightly - it’s time to give your home that WOW factor.

BENFLEET NEW BUILDS - SHOW HOME FLATS NOW AVAILABLE TO VIEW In case you missed them last month, discover a beautiful collection of spacious one and twobedroom family apartments on the edge of Benfleet.

Welcome to our

magazine As you may well know, the stamp duty holiday ended on the 30th of September, which leads to many questions being asked by the public; Will the property market slow down? Will house prices drop? Will mortgage interest rates continue to fall as lenders compete with each other? Only time will tell when it comes to these questions, but one thing is for sure, the demand for properties hasn’t slowed down yet, and enquires are still very much a big part of our day here at Fisks.

As well as some great articles in this month’s issue of Gateway, we have some of our amazing properties for you to take a look at. Enjoy!

John Pring FNAEA(Honoured) & MARLA | Director

THE MOST POPULAR HOME IMPROVEMENTS...

We take a closer look at what home improvements are on the UP to get you inspired.

After the on-off lockdowns over the past year or so, many of us are reassessing our homes and lifestyle, but which home improvements are on the UP and which is right for you?

What home improvement are on the UP? Climbing a massive 25.3% during the year, but still behind extensions overall, are garage developments. Coming in at a not-so-close second with a 7.5% rise is people seeking permission for garden buildings and other works.

Why is this happening?

Thank you to the on-off again lockdowns most of us have been spending more time at home, and even though things are nearly back to normal now, the lockdowns have had a lasting affect on how people think about their homes by wanting to make the most of the space they already have.

How long does it take to get approved (or refused)?

It takes on average 55 days to receive a decision on a planning application across all regions of the UK. More than 85% of applications are approved, just 10% are refused, and just over 4% are withdrawn.

1. EXTENSIONS Accounting for 81.7% of planning applications, and still the most popular home improvement in the UK overall are extensions. They were most popular in northern regions of the country, seeing a 13.1% increase in planning applications in the north west alone.

2. GARAGES Garages had the biggest increase in applications throughout the year as people looked to convert or build a garage to expand their home. The increase of 25.3% hugely reversed the declining trend of previous years.

3. LOFT CONVERSIONS Loft conversions were most popular in the south east and London, where they accounted for nearly one in five improvement applications.

This comes as no surprise for places like London where garden space is limited.

CONSERVATORIES AND GARDEN BUILDINGS Conservatories and garden buildings were most popular in the south west and Wales, which reflects the more rural nature of these regions and the larger gardens of those living there. Remember, when picking a conservatory, most conservatory providers offer products with dimensions that do not require planning permission to be installed, so the popularity of conservatories may be a lot higher than thought.

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

Kerrie Watts Property Consultant

Ben Nelson 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.

FEATURED PROPERTIES

CLICK ON PAGE TO VIEW VIDEO TOUR

CRESCENT ROAD, BENFLEET £975,000 Luxury Five Bedroom Detached Property In South Benfleet Balcony Off Master Bedroom Show Home Condition Throughout Five En-Suites Landscaped Garden

CALL 01268 565555

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KENTS HILL ROAD, BENFLEET £450,000 Three Bedroom Semi Detached Property Large Extension Ground Floor Shower Room Master Bedroom With EnSuite Family Bathroom Front Drive

CALL 01268 565555

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KENNETH ROAD, BENFLEET £470,000 Two Bedroom Detached Bungalow Large Plot Tandem Garage Good Condition Throughout Four Piece Bathroom Potential To Extend Thundersley Location

CALL 01268 565555

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HOYMANS WHARF, SOUTH BENFLEET £215,000 One Bedroom First Floor Apartment Good Condition Throughout On Road Parking Loft Available With Loft Ladders Built in Kitchen Appliances Modern Fitted Kitchen

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DOVESGATE, SOUTH BENFLEET £670,000 Four Bedroom Detached Property In Good Order Throughout Four Large Double Bedrooms Cul-De-Sac Location Double Garage En-suite To Large Master Bedroom

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CHESTNUT GROVE, SOUTH BENFLEET £925,000 Large Four Bedroom Detached Property Large Living Space On Both Floors Two En-Suites Off Bedrooms Gym Hot Tub And Wooden Cabin Staying At Property

CALL 01268 565555

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BIG MOVE...

Follow our tips and advice to save money on that big move.

Moving home is expensive, especially when you don’t prepare for it in advance. So, with that in mind, we give you some helpful tips and advice on how you can save money for the biggest move of your life.

CHANGE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS As most of us know, changing all your contact details when moving home can be a hassle, but it’s best to get it done sooner rather than later. Tell your bank, your mobile provider, your car insurance provider and other bills such as your gas and electric a few days before you move. This way, if you have a surprise unaware bill popping up in your old home, it could lead to an overdue bill, which will just add to your expenses.

IF YOU’RE TRYING TO FURNISH, TRY FURNISHING FOR FREE Furnishing your new home can get expensive, so instead of going out and having a shopping spree, why not try local boot sales and charity shops often you can find a hidden gem. Why not even try looking at buying/selling websites like eBay too, or even Facebook Marketplace where you can even find furniture for free as long as you’re willing to collect it. If you do want something new however, see if you can pay it in monthly instalments to spread the cost.

HAVE A LOOK AROUND FOR GAS AND ELECTRICITY DEALS Just because you’ve been with the same supplier for years doesn’t mean you have to stay with them. More often than not you’ll find a cheaper deal if you look around a bit, and you’ll even find providers who will pay you if you switch, so make sure you do that research, you could be saving hundreds a year in your new home.

BORROW INSTEAD OF BUYING For obvious reason, borrowing is always better than buying - ask friends and family for paintbrushes, rollers and other tools when needed. If your new home is a new build then you probably won’t need to do this step as soon as you move in, but if you’re moving into a place that needs a makeover, this step is essential to save you money straight away.

REMOVAL COMPANY OR REMOVAL VAN Depending on the amount of furniture you have and how far you have to move, you need to work out if it’s cheaper to hire a removal company or do it yourself with a van hire. Getting friends and family to help you on the big day can drastically cut down on costs, especially if you plan on moving at the weekend as removal companies often charge more on those days.

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.

THE HOTTEST INTERIOR TRENDS THIS WINTER...

Your interior design should not be taken lightly - it’s time to give your home that WOW factor.

Now that summer is well and truly over in the UK, it’s time to turn your attention inwards and get your home looking amazing this winter. We have put together some of our favourite interior trends for you to take forward into the new year and beyond.

BRING NATURE INDOORS Winter or summer, this is perhaps the most common trending interior look.

We all want that fresh look throughout our home and this winter is no different. But, instead of just putting new plants everywhere where there’s space, think about natural timber furniture and how your can complement your chosen plants and colour scheme with it. Natural timber furniture goes great with both light and dark colour schemes.

PICK STAND OUT FURNITURE PIECES Sure, we all like to visit Ikea and have a bit of a spend up when seeing the prices of their furniture, but it is worth spending a little more and getting a proper eye-catching piece that lasts for many years to come. Carefully picked displays of shapely figures and organic forms will take centre stage in any room and become a huge talking point at those Christmas gettogethers too.

COMBINE CHECKS AND STRIPES Combining these two fun and on trend winter patterns will be sure to turn heads. Mix and match patterns in different scales and styles to create the perfect eye-catching look. Curtains, cushions, bedding - everything can be combined to create that unique look.

OPT FOR A CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY LOOK The contemporary country look is as good now as it was back in the day.

Paint with warm amber tones and complement with mellow meadow prints and beautiful embroidery. For an inviting look that lifts both home and spirit, mix and match natural textures. For a more modern kind-ofvibe, mix muted colours with characterful prints.

INCORPORATE DISTANT SHORES After the year (and a bit) we’ve had it’s the perfect time to bring that dream laid back beach lifestyle indoors - don’t worry, we’re not talking about bringing a pile of sand indoors and dumping it in your living room, we’re actually talking about adding a contemporary edge to that classic floral design. The distant shores trend features tropical lights, subtle monotones and soft lemons.

WARM UP WITH COLOUR It comes as no surprise that warmer colours start trending the moment the weather starts changing. Our top picks for warmer colours are burnt oranges and peacock blues as these colours will work very well even when the summer months are here again. It’s important to note to yourself what works best for the winter AND summer as you don’t want to paint those walls again and again.

FEATURED PROPERTIES

HOVEFIELDS DRIVE, WICKFORD £500,000 Over 2 Acres Of Land Two Bedroom Detcahed Bungalow Two Double Bedrooms Large L Shaped Lounge Double Conservatory Newly Fitted Bathroom Separate Annexe

CALL 01268 510510

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CREEK ROAD, CANVEY ISLAND £225,000 45ft Park Home Very Large Lounge Utility Room En-Suite South Facing Patio Close To Sea Wall

CALL 01268 510510

FEATURED PROPERTIES

KINGS PARK, CANVEY ISLAND £160,000 Good Size 2 Bed Park Home Ensuite And Dressing Room To Master Larger Than Average Plot With Raised Patio L Shaped Lounge/Diner Fitted Wardrobes In Second Bedroom

CALL 01268 510510

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SOUTH HILL CRESCENT, HORNDON-ON-THE-HILL £445,000 4 Bedroom Semi Detached Home Spread Over 3 Floors Ensuite To Main Detached Garage Three Double Bedrooms Summer House With Electrics

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FEATURED PROPERTIES

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BIRCH CLOSE, CANVEY ISLAND £350,000 5 Bed Semi Detached Chalet Great Value Home For Large Families 1 Downstairs And 4 Upstairs Bedrooms 30ft Lounge/Diner Large 11ft Square Kitchen Conservatory

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LIONEL ROAD, CANVEY ISLAND £425,000 3 Bedroom Challet Bungalow 3 Double Bedrooms Seperate Dining Room Decorated Well Throughout Off Street Parking For 3 Cars Close To Town Centre Ideal Family Home

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BENFLEET NEW BUILDS - SHOW HOME FLATS NOW AVAILABLE TO VIEW...

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.