Fisks Gateway issue 97

CONTENTS

TAKING CARE OF YOUR NEWLY PLASTERED ROOM

The dos and don’ts of plastering aftercare.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ULEZ EXPANSION

If you travel in and out of London, then you MUST read this.

TIME FOR A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

Is it time to make a change?

Welcome to our

magazine

As we quickly approach the holiday season, and a whole new year, I’ve thought about the year just gone - from Covid-19 finally taking a backseat, to the constant Government uturns, nobody can say that 2022 wasn’t eventful. Now, as we look forward to the year ahead, we can all but hope that it will bring, above all else, stability. This country is currently going through tough financial times, but I have high hopes that it will end soon.

As always, if you have any questions regarding the property market, reach out to us at Fisks - we’re always here to help.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Fisks. Enjoy!

John Pring FNAEA(Honoured) & MARLA | Director

If you’ve just had, or are planning to have, a room plastered in your home, then you’ve came to the right place. Getting the right answers for your questions and concerns are vital if you want to keep your plastering looking the best it can for many years to come. Let’s get started...

HOW LONG SHOULD I LEAVE MY PLASTER TO DRY

This depends on a number of factors such as weather and the humidity of the room. Plaster soaks up any moisture very quickly so it’s important to let it dry properly before giving it a paint. As a rule of thumb, plaster takes around 4 weeks to completely dry.

CAN I SPEED UP THE DRYING TIME

Yes, but use caution, you don’t want to dry the plaster out too quickly or it could crack and all that work, and cash, will go down the drain. After 72-hours you can speed things up by putting the heated on low or by opening a window. You don’t want the room too cold or too warm.

THINGS TO AVOID

No matter how tempting it may be, never put a dehumidifier on - this will dry the plastering out far too quickly and it will start to crack.

TIME FOR THE PREP

Just because you’re getting to the fun bit, don’t forget the essentials. Lay down dust sheets, cover furniture and get your brushes together to make your life that little bit easier.

HOW TO PAINT NEW PLASTER

It’s recommended to paint a mist coat as your first coat - what is a mist coat coat we hear you ask? Well, a mist coat is simply a watered-down emulsion paint. Painting new plaster can leave you with uneven brush strokes, a mist coat will stop this from happeneing. 1 part water, 4 parts emulsion paint should do the trick.

After your mist coat is dry, it’s time to paint your top coat and that all important splash of colour. Join us next month where we’ll be bringing you a rundown of 2023’s best colour schemes.

Meet the team...

Ian Carey Sales Manager

Harriet Plampton Sales & Lettings Consultant

Simon Pring Director

Nicola Rattenberry Director’s P.A.

John Pring Director

Tina Webster Management Accountant

Leanne Wright Administration Manager

Penny Ash Property Manager

Albie Poole Property Consultant

We cover the whole of South Essex.

Contact us for a free valuation on 01268 565555

Kerrie Watts Property Consultant

Ben Nelson 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.

Ebony Woods Office administrator

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ULEZ EXPANSION

If you travel in and out of London, then you MUST read this.

Whether you drive to the big smoke from Essex for work or pleasure, you should consider the following - if you didn’t already know, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanding from 29 August 2023 across all London boroughs - which means, if you own a vehicle that isn’t ULEZ compliant you could be facing huge new charges.

WHERE IS THE ULEZ ZONE EXPANDING TO?

Currently, drivers who do not have a ULEZ compliant vehicle are charged £12.50 a day when entering London’s North and South-Circular roads, but from 29 August 2023 that zone is expanding across the entire capital - from Enfield to Croydon, and from Havering to Hillingdon.

HOW DO I FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE IS ULEZ COMPLIANT?

Easy. Head on over to the ULEZ CHECKER and find out.

MY VEHICLE IS NOT ULEZ COMPLIANT, WHAT IS MY BEST OPTION?

If your vehicle is not ULEZ compliant, then you must act NOW before it’s too late. For many, the best way to get the most cash from your non-ULEZ compliant vehicle is to part exchange it.

WHAT DOES PART EXCHANGE MEAN?

When part exchanging, the value of your current vehicle is used as partpayment towards the cost of your new vehicle. This is a great way to cut down on the overall cost of your new vehicle.

I WANT A ULEZ COMPLIANT VEHICLE, DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Take a look at our short list below to get you started. If you’re still struggling, contact your local car dealership for any help. Nissan

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

“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!

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

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

TIME FOR A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

Is it time to make a change?

Many of us use the new year as a starting point. Whether it’s budgeting better, or getting more healthy, or even practicing mindfulness, the new year is a great time to start something new and make a positive change in your life. So, with that in mind, we suggest a few things for your New Year’s Resolution.

BUDGET BETTER

In today’s world where everything currently costs that little bit more, there’s never been a better time than now to budget better. Our advice? Grab a pen and paper and start writing down what’s going out of your bank each month - do you really need that subscription or £4 coffee three times a week?

MAKE TIME FOR YOU

The world is hectic at the best of times, so it’s important you take some time for yourself. Stress will lead to anxiety, anxiety can lead to depression, remember that. Grab yourself a cup of tea, your favourite book, and get lost in the pages.

COOK SOMETHING NEW EACH WEEK

As the saying goes “variety is the spice of life”. In 2023, why not try cooking something new and tasty each week. It’s easy to get another takeaway from the same local, but why not explore your own cooking skills?

DRINK LESS

As I write this, I am looking forward to having a nice glass of wine with family and friends to see in the new year, but it’s important to remember that too much of a good thing turns bad. Try drinking less alcohol in the new year - here’s to no hangovers in 2023!

QUIT SMOKING

It’s easy to see why this suggestion always makes an appearance on lists like this. Smoking seriously damages your health, so in 2023, do the right thing, and say goodbye to those cigarettes. You’ll get healthier and save a huge amount of cash, too. It’s a win win!

GET FIT

Now, we’re not talking about getting yourself abs here or anything, even a quick jog around the block, or taking the stairs when out and about will make a lot of difference. Try getting a friend or family member to explore the local area with you too and get fit together.