Since 2014, Medway Street Angels have been the support for the homeless community in Medway. They provide essential nutrition, help, support and advice to those who are in need. They are now relied upon by these people who are not sure where their next meal is coming from and are not sure where to turn next. They can help and support people get into accommodation so they are no longer required to sleep and live on the streets of Medway. Soup kitchens are run on Wednesday’s, Thursday’s and Saturday’s by the Medway Street Angels, providing hot or cold drinks and food. The charity is run completely by volunteers. They do amazing work within the Medway community, thank you!

To find out more about this amazing charity click here. 

What’s happening in the Medway Towns property market?

If you are looking to sell or buy a property or just generally interested in the property market then this is your Medway Towns property market update for May. Available properties for sale continued to rise during April which is good news for the buyers among you, however we are nowhere near normal levels of available properties for sale. This is due to 2 reasons in my opinion, many homeowners are using equity to make improvements to their current property rather than selling and properties are selling twice as quick compared to 2019 so it seems there isn’t a lot on the market as they are selling so quickly. In their reports, both Rightmove and Zoopla comment on the house price growth continuing to increase however Nationwide report on the house price growth slowing during April. This could be due to the increased stock levels on the market and the rising costs of living and mortgage payments. Another interest rate rise was announced this week, meaning buyers bottom line will be effected. The monthly outgoings of mortgage payments and an increase to cost of living may see buyers being a little more reserved with the offers they are making. Since the beginning of March, the average 2 year fixed rate has risen from 2.7% to 2.98%. Based on a purchase price of £300,000 with a 10% deposit, the monthly payments on that mortgage have increased by £40. Not a huge increase but in 6 months time this could be significant. So if you are a buyer, get yourself locked into a low fixed rate as soon as you can. In Medway, sales agreed decreased marginally in April but the average price of these properties is still on the rise. The amount of properties reduced also increased for the first time in over a year with viewings per sale also increasingly marginally. All in all, we are still in a very strong sellers market and things are starting to improve for the buyers amongst you. If you have any questions at all about buying or selling then please get in touch, I’d be happy to help whatever stage of the process you are at.

The living room is probably the most important area in your home. It’s the most inviting room in the house and the space where you do most of – you guessed it – living.

Some people can struggle to sell their Walderslade home and one reason can be because their living room isn’t up to scratch. It’s the area where you want potential buyers to walk in and be able to visualise themselves relaxing.

Many homeowners hire professional stagers to come into their home and get it all ready and in stylishly tip-top shape before viewers walk through the door.

However, you don’t always need a professional stager to come into your Walderslade home to get it ready. You can easily do this yourself.

So, here are 6 tips to get your staging right:

1. Update your furnishings: Consider replacing your dated curtains and furniture to freshen up the room. If you have old-fashioned furnishings or mismatched items that clash too much, this can put potential buyers off, so act now to avoid that happening.
2. Get painting: If your living room has any walls that feature bold or loud colours then a fresh lick of paint will help neutralise the room. It may not be your cup of tea, but bold colours and shades could be the reason why you’re not getting any offers. It’s so important to make your living room look clean, fresh and open. The way to do this is by stocking up on the white, cream or grey paints.
3. Tuck them away: If you have wires or cords sticking out from your TV, lamps or electronics consider tucking them away. One of the most unattractive things a potential buyer can be faced with when walking into your living room is the sight of a lot of tangled wires sticking out from behind your TV – so it’s time to get them tidied up.
4. Hide your photos: Make sure to de-personalise you room by hiding family photos. Personal pictures can distract buyers during a viewing. Sometimes the viewers actually KNOW the people in the photos and they start chatting about them rather than the house they are there to see. So, take down those personal photos and, instead, replace with artwork and stylish mirrors.
5. Clean up your coffee table: Declutter your coffee table by getting rid of your old magazines. A messy coffee table is enough to put anyone off your living room, so remove old newspapers and magazines and instead put some nice flowers in a vase in the centre.
6. Less is more: Remove any unnecessary furniture from your lounge to help open up the room. You want to make sure your living room looks spacious and inviting. Too many unnecessary items can put off a viewer and can make the room seem smaller.

So, if you rarely use that footstool, those corner tables or never switch that corner floor lamp on, get it all tucked away somewhere and open up your living space.

And, just like that, your living room is ready to be viewed!

5 Signs That A Fixer-Upper in Rochester Might Be a Money Pit

Deals are always appealing, especially during a hot market. So if you’re looking to hunt for a house in Rochester and you see the prospect of nabbing a fixer-upper for a too-good-to-be-true price, you may be tempted.

Just use caution – sometimes that hidden treasure ends up being a disaster. Here are five signs the fixer-upper you’re eyeing should be left on the market:

1. Bad Location There are some things in a new house that can’t be fixed, irrespective of how dedicated you are – like location. Check the home is not next to an unsafe natural formation. If there is unsteady or shifting ground then that could have implications for the house. Also, do you want good local amenities in Rochester such as good schools, excellent transport links, green spaces, shops or a nice, leafy garden filled with plants and trees? If there is nothing nearby then you might wish to think twice about buying
2. Bad Layout In any house, including fixer-uppers, the layout of the rooms may be a primary indication of how (or if) the space will fit your needs. Pay attention to how the space is organized – like where the kids’ bedrooms are in reference to the main bedroom. Always remember, though: you simply can knock out non load-bearing walls and make more open-plan spaces – as long as you recognize which walls are which.
3. Bad Plumbing or Electrical WiringThis is a quick and easy point to consider: if the plumbing or electrical system needs completely redone, leave that fixer-upper alone. The value of fixing those problems will far outweigh the good, potentially leaving you out-of-pocket.
4. Badly Done Renovations or Repairs If a house has had major renovations and continues to be listed as a fixer-upper, be warned. The renovations did not get done the first time – maybe for good reason – and may need to be revisited all over again. Similarly, be wary if the house shows signs of natural disaster damage (flooding, foundational damage), or if there are rooms added. They may be illegal additions that don’t have the correct paperwork which will cause you problems down the line
5. Bad Bones This is perhaps the most important thing to look at when fixer-upper-hunting, because these are the issues which will take time, money and energy, potentially turning your deal into an ordeal. The bones are the physical fundamentals of the house – the load-bearing walls, the structural integrity of what is holding it all together. If there’s anything questionable about the foundations or the drainage then this is often not the fixer-upper for you. We all love a bargain – but when trying to find a house, seriously contemplate what could turn a fixer-upper into a money pit.

With all of these handy tips, you ought to be ready to walk into a Rochester home and tell what needs a lick of paint and a few minor repairs compared with what could drain your finances.

For tips on how to secure a property to buy click here.

Planet Ice in Gillingham is Medway’s only indoor ice rink. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of facilities on and off the ice. If you’ve never skated before then public open sessions are available 7 days a week with skate hire. During other times parent and toddler sessions, classes that teach all aspects of ice skating and birthday parties are held here. The Invicta Dynamos also play their home games here in the NIHL South Division 1. The 1000 seater spectator arena allow fans to enjoy the game whilst the café provides food and drink to all visitors 7 days a week. To find out more information click here.

If you would like to buy a property in Chatham but unsure how much money you need then here’s everything you need to know. Firstly, it would be a good idea to speak to your bank or a financial advisor to find out how much money you are able to borrow from the bank based on your salary and financial circumstances. Once you’ve established your budget, you need to save a minimum of 5% of that budget as your deposit. (if you are looking to buy an investment you will need a minimum of a 20% deposit) You will also need to ensure you have the money saved to pay the stamp duty on the budget you have decided on.

The larger amount of deposit you have, the lower your mortgage will be, the lower the monthly payments will be and the less interest you will pay over the term of your mortgage.

Once you have had an offer accepted on a property to buy in Chatham, you will need to instruct a solicitor to complete the legal work for you. Their costs can vary but a budget of £1500 approximately should be sufficient.

You may also wish to consider getting a survey on the property you are buying. A basic mortgage valuation is the lowest tier of survey. Costing around £200 approximately. A homebuyers survey gives you a more in depth analysis and a full structural survey is the highest level costing up to £1000 approximately.

If you live in the Medway Towns and are looking to buy a property in Chatham I would love to help. Please feel free to contact me on 07557783325 or email tom.dix@exp.uk.com.

https://youtu.be/Dz7Uerk_dhc

Buckmore Park has been a symbol of British Karting for decades. Offering karting days for all ages, including birthday parties and corporate events. Championship races are also held at Buckmore.

Buckmore Kart Circuit is located at the top of Blue Bell Hill in Chatham.

For more information, prices and to book a track day click here.

When your Medway house hits the market and viewers start to come into your home, the whole experience can take its toll on you mentally. It’s never easy having strangers walk through your home, pick things apart and rummage through your cupboards and drawers and then ask you: “How much do you want for it?”

As challenging as it may be though, here are the five things you should NEVER do when showing your Medway home to potential buyers:

1. Leaving Personal Hygiene Items Out. Store all personal items out of sight. Some Medway homeowners will leave toothbrushes, razors, trimmers and shampoo out in their bathrooms but this can make a buyer feel uncomfortable while walking through your Medway home. These are intimate items after all and sometimes they’re not pleasing to the eye, so put them out of sight
2. Leaving Valuable Items Out in Plain Sight. Valuable possessions should always be hidden away. Never give buyers the impression you are affluent as they may try to use this and negotiate a better deal for themselves if they think you can afford to make concessions, potentially leaving you worse off. You also have complete strangers walking through your home who you don’t know and will probably never see again, so it’s best to lock anything valuable away just to be on the safe side.
3. Allowing Controversial Items to Be Seen. Not everyone will share your political views or lifestyle choices so if you have fridge magnets, posters or magazines that could have viewers talking for all the wrong reasons, get rid of them. For example, if you’re a taxidermy collector, or have real animal skins and fur around your home, put these away until the viewers have left. The last thing you want to do is send viewers straight for the front door as soon as they’ve walked in.
4. Cluttered Up Closets – As invasive as it sounds, potential buyers will always open up cupboards and closets while viewing a house- storage can be a big selling point after all. So, if you’ve shoved all your clutter in them with the aim of hiding it, you can give off the impression your home lacks storage. Plus, it just doesn’t look good.
5. Get Emotional – You may have lived in your home in Medway for a number of years and it’s understandable that you’re attached to it and all the memories that come with it. However, when your Medway property hits the market, you need to get out of ‘homeowner mode’ and become more business-minded. Always remember that everyone has their own taste in decor, so if a viewer makes a criticism about something in your home, please don’t get emotional or defensive. Remember, you’re a businessperson now.

Staging a home for sale in Medway is hugely important. If you’re unsure about how you should present your home to a potential buyer then please get in contact with me, I’d be happy to help. Click here for my top tips on staging your home for sale.

Home-Start Medway offer help and support to families in Medway with children aged under 5. Raising a young family can be tough for everyone and Home-Start Medway provide services to parents and children to help give them the best start as a family. They can help you if you have a child under 5 and require their support. This could be for financial worries, post natal depression, domestic abuse, illness, disability or just there to give advice and support to you and your family. As they are a charity, all work is done by volunteers, if you are interested in finding out more about being a volunteer with Home-Start Medway then click here.

Thank you for the great work you do Home-Start Medway!

To find out more about Home-Start Medway click here.

Your front garden is one of the most important areas of your home to stage as it’s the first thing viewers see when they arrive. Tom Dix Estate Agent Medway 7 Tips When Staging Your Garden For Sale

Here are 7 tips to get it right:

Paint your front and garage doors to give a fresh look to your home

Power wash your drive and pathways

Make sure your lawn is cut and your garden is tidy and weed free

If you have a fence then consider painting it

If you have the space, add a bay tree in plant pot to each side of your front door

Replace your old door number with a new one

Get a new Welcome mat for outside your front door

For ways to improve your kerb appeal in Medway click here.