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William Charles Sales & Lettings - Estate Agent Gravesend, 6 Stone Street, Gravesend (2026)

25/01/2023

Budget-friendly spring days out with children that will not leave you bankrupt
There is plenty to do at this time of the year even if you are watching the pennies

The early couple of months of the year can be a tricky time to keep children entertained.
After the incredibly exciting festive period where children would have been spoiled with countless gifts and visits to Father Christmas himself, spring can sometimes feel like a bit of a slow time for things to do.
Luckily, there are plenty of activities and days out you could do throughout spring to keep your little ones interested, without having to spend an absolute fortune.

Make the most of the improving weather with a picnic

Over the last few months we have seen some bitterly cold weather, with many days plunging below into freezing temperatures.
Luckily, the spring season brings along better days and some sun - and the occasional shower.
If the forecast is looking positive, then consider packing up a picnic basket with sandwiches, crisps, cakes and all manner of treats and head out to your local green space.
Here you can enjoy a cheap lunch, play some games and take a look at how the changing season is having an impact on the greenery around you.

Head out on a flower hunt

While on the theme of enjoying the great outdoors, there are a number of flowers that will start to appear in the weeks ahead.
Bluebells and daffodils start to spring up throughout spring and are a great marker for the start of the season.
There may be popular wilderness hotspots near you which are infamous for these types of flowers, so make sure you do a bit of research before you head out.

Visit a farm

Many farms will host open days where they throw open their doors for visitors.
Spring is the best time to go as you are more likely at this time to be able to see the transformation of nature - including tiny chicks hatching!

24/01/2023

Smart home technology which could boost your security
The safer you feel in your own home, the better

The world of smart home technology is fantastic for making your life easier in so many ways, one small step at a time.
From the day you install your first home assistance speaker, such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home, you will slowly learn more and more fantastic things they can do.
While automated morning alarms, voice controlled lighting and even the ability to open and close your curtains without standing up, are all brilliant uses, you can actually use smart home technology to boost the security of your home.
Luckily, the market is flooded with plenty of pieces of tech you can pick up to link up with your smart home system to increase security.

Doorbells

One of the first pieces of home security many will invest in when exploring the world of smart home technology is an upgraded doorbell.
Gone are the days where their only function is to send a ring throughout the home to alert you that someone is at the door.
Now, these clever little doorbells can connect to your phone, enabling you to see and speak with those who are at the front door.
Some smart doorbells also offer a live video feed of the space outside your door, to be able to see and review anything happening on your property.

Cameras

Additional cameras can also be purchased, which you can place around the inside and outside of your home.
These will once again provide you with a live feed of what is happening at your home, fed directly into your phone which you can review in real time or can check back on recordings.

Motion sensors

The market for smart home technology is regularly flooded with the best and newest ideas to help automate your home.
Another product available are motion sensor alarms, which will alert you to any movement within the device's set area.
Simply set one of these devices in an area which you want to keep an eye on and once again you can be alerted on your phone to movement there.

23/01/2023

Big boost for property market as mortgage rates drop
It is great news for prospective house buyers

Those in the housing market are being boosted by reports of a drop in mortgage rates.
This drop in mortgage rates is seeing new home buyers flood back to the market in a boost for the industry.

There has been a big rise in the number of buyers inquiring about properties, according to market giants Rightmove, following a reported mortgage rate drop, which is seeing buyer’s confidence boosted as they seek to purchase properties.
Rightmove have said that demand from buyers has rocketed a massive 55 per cent, when compared to the two weeks in the lead up to Christmas.

Bosses at the online property giants have said that following the festive period, agents up and down the country are having to revise yearly expectations heading into spring, which is regularly a busy period for the property market.

In fact, January 5 was the third-busiest day ever for people asking estate agents to value their home. This rise could possibly continue into later in the year, it has been said.
This big jump in demand is fantastic news, with sellers who are already in the market and are reasonably priced likely to benefit from the rise in demand, according to reports.

The average two-year fixed rate contract has reportedly fallen to 5.63 per cent, from a peak of 6.65 per cent back in October.
The data has even been labelled as a “positive sign”, by Rightmove.

On average, asking prices rose by nearly 1 per cent this month, after dropping over the last two months.
Asking prices do typically see a boost in the first month of the year, however this was the largest rise since January 2020.

If you are thinking about moving, please contact us today.

20/01/2023

Upcoming sports events in the Gravesend area for you to watch or try for yourself
There is always something new to spectate or do

A whole host of thrilling sporting events are set to take place in the local area in the coming weeks.
Signing up to take part in a heart-pumping event or even just securing tickets to watch a spectacle are both fantastic ways to stamp a date in the calendar to look forward to.
Luckily, we live in an area of the country which regularly hosts a diverse range of new and interesting events.
We have done the hard work for you and collected a bit of information about two eagerly anticipated upcoming events which might take your fancy.

Rumble Wrestling comes to Dartford

One fantastic sporting event on the way to the area is Rumble Wrestling.
This is set to take place at Fleetdown Community Centre, in Swaledale Road, on Saturday, March 4.
Wrestling is a very popular sport and regularly attracts big crowds up and down the country to see blood-pumping, yet family friendly, action.
This is the Fleetdown Centre’s first wrestling show of the year and will feature plenty of high flying action, as well as a ladies match for the first ever time.
To encourage youngsters to attend, cut price tickets are available for children.

Rumble Wrestling comes to Dartford, Fleetdown Community Centre, Dartford, March 4 2023 | AllEvents.in

Dartford Half Marathon 2023

Many people across the globe would have promised to take part in some form of running or fitness challenge as part of their new year’s resolutions.
Luckily for anyone in this area, they do not have to wait too long for a popular running event.
The Dartford Half Marathon is this year set to take place on Sunday, March 5 from Dartford Harriers Athletic Club.
This is a long-running event which is this year set to mark the 46th edition.

Dartford Half Marathon 2023, Dartford Harriers Athletic Club, March 5 2023 | AllEvents.in

20/01/2023

Everything you need to know about Burns Night
It is an annual event to celebrate a famous Scotsman

A famous Scottish celebration is only just around the corner, but what exactly is Burns Night?
Set to take place on Wednesday, January 25, this date marks the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, who is a famous and celebrated Scottish poet, who was born in 1759.
The celebratory day is held across the world and is now known as Burns Night.
Many mark the date by gathering with friends for a formal dinner party.

What do people eat on Burns Night?

A number of traditionally Scottish dishes are served and eaten to mark the day, including haggis, neeps and tatties.
Desserts can include cranachan, clootie dumplings and a traditional cheese board.

How did this tradition begin?

The very first Burns Night was held back in 1801, when nine of Burns’ friends got together on the fifth anniversary of Robert’s death at Burns Cottage, in Alloway.
The friendship group ate haggis and enjoyed performances on Burns’ works.

What happens at a traditional Burns Night meal?

While those who celebrate Burns Night tend to have their own traditions and ways to mark the day, each Burns Night meal tends to follow a similar running order.
The night starts with the host saying a few words, before the Selkirk Grace is read, which is a traditional prayer reserved for Burns Night.
This is followed by the meal, including a piping hot haggis, during which the host performs the famous Address to a Haggis poem, before the main is served followed by a dessert.
Following the meal, the Immortal Memory, which is another Burns recital, is performed, then there is a Toast to the Lassies, Reply to the Toast to the Lassies, before a final recital.
To mark the end of the night, the host gives thanks to their guests, before everyone takes to their feet and sings Auld Lang Syne, crossing their arms and joining hands like many do at New Year.

19/01/2023

How decorating before you put your property on the market could add real value
Curb appeal is a massive aspect of selling your home

It is an old adage that selling a house can be one of the most stressful things you can do in life, but we are here to tell you that is far from the truth. While many anticipate a mountain of paperwork and endless chasing of loose ends, selling your property can be a breeze when you are going through it with the right seller and staying organised throughout.

Starting the process as early as you can will help to make this easy and get things straight in your head.

One underappreciated method to help sell your home is to do a spot of redecorating.
While you may wish to save your redecorating energy for your new home, by spending some effort on your existing property, you could see it fly from the market and start knocking down those dominos to ensure you are moved into your new home as early as possible.

Curb appeal

Curb appeal is a feature that many talk about when selling their home.
This literally refers to the view that buyers have of your home before even passing over the threshold - from the curb.
Take a look at your property from the outside and consider how you could make it more appealing to buyers.
Make sure your front lawn, or any shrubbery and plants, are well maintained and attractive, while a fresh lick of paint on door frames or around windows can really make your home pop - especially if your nearby neighbours have not updated their frontage for a while.
Afterall, first impressions count for a lot, even when it comes to property sales.

Have bright and clear walls

Moving inside, it is crucial that when buyers are walking around your home they can envisage themselves living there.
This can be tricky if there is too much clutter in the way of their imagination, so consider clearing most of the walls of too many decorations.
You could even get the paintbrush out and apply a bright, clean colour to the walls, which can make rooms appear larger than they actually are.

18/01/2023

Ready for a fresh start? Why January is a great time to look for a new job
Our jobs play a huge role in our life, so make sure you are where you want

January can be a funny old month for many of us.
Following the excitement and bright lights of Christmas and New Year, the slump back into the working world can hit some hard.
This is a time when many may start to realise their current line of work is not right for them anymore or they believe their life has a different calling.
Luckily, the first month of the year is actually a really good time to browse the job market, for multiple reasons.

Employers look to expand

It is not just prospective employees that are looking ahead in the new year, but employers as well.
Employers and big bosses may feel a new wave of motivation in the new year to expand their business in a certain way or offer a new service, therefore they will need to recruit new people.
This regularly sees a flood of new job opportunities appear on employment websites across the internet.
Meanwhile, hiring managers may have received their budgets around this time of the year so are more likely to recruit now.

More vacancies could appear

As annual bonuses and raises are handed out at the end of the year, unhappy employees may have been hanging onto their role until the festive period before calling it quits.
This can then open the door for you to apply for their old role to fulfil your dreams.

Your own motivation is powerful

If now is the time when you are feeling motivated to find a new job, then listen to your head.
It can be very easy to tell yourself that you will look for a new role ‘in a few months’ and try to put it off.
Before you know it, it will be 2024, and the cycle will reset.
There is a lot of power in your own self-motivation so make sure you strike while the iron is hot.

17/01/2023

Three films set for UK release in the coming weeks that you need to see
‘Let’s all go to the movies’ and see some fantastic flicks

It is set to be a brilliant month ahead for film-buffs, with plenty of great flicks due to be released in the UK.
Among February’s offerings are an animated return of a beloved Dreamworks character and a horror mystery film starring a Marvel cinematic universe actor.
Here is a bit of information about films which are certainly on our watchlists.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Friday, February 3 marks the release of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Fans of the Shrek films and the original Puss in Boots, from 2011, are sure to enjoy this sequel set a decade after the first film.
Our hero, Puss in Boots, who is a Spanish hero and lover, is now down to the last of his nine lives.
An unstoppable bounty hunter, known as The Big Bad Wolf, is right on his tail as Puss attempts to restore all of his previous lives and escape a fate that he fears.

The Whale

Another film set to be released on February 3, this year, is The Whale.
This is set to star Brendan Fraser, who is known for 1990s title roles in George of the Jungle and The Mummy series, as well as Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink and Ty Simpkins, from Jurassic World.
This follows a reclusive and morbidly obese English teacher who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.

Knock at the Cabin

Knock at the Cabin marks a hattrick of eagerly anticipated titles that are set to be released in UK cinemas on February 3 - meaning the fight to be the top dog on the blockbuster list will be fierce.
This mystery horror film from M. Night Shyamalan features Marvel’s Dave Bautista and Rupert Grint, of Harry Potter fame.
While on vacation, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice in order to avoid an apocalypse.

16/01/2023

Boost for buyers as major lenders announce cut fixed mortgage rates

Is a mortgage ‘price war’ is on the horizon?

Two major high street mortgage lenders have made cuts to their fixed rate mortgage deals, in what could be a huge boost to buyers. This move highlights a shift from lenders to attract new mortgage business amongst home buyers and those looking to re-mortgage, and experts are predicting a price war could begin following the moves announced by both TSB and Nationwide.

TSB has announced a reduction to its five-year fixed rates for buyers and those re-mortgaging by up to 1.3 percentage points. This means that a borrower taking out £200,000 on this new rate of 4.99 per-cent would save £1,872 across 12 months, when compared to the previous rate of 6.29 per-cent.

Nationwide, meanwhile, has introduced a fixed rate reduction of up to 0.6 percentage points.
To put this into context, a new home with a 15 per-cent deposit can get a five-year fixed rate at 4.79 per-cent, which is a fall of 0.6 percentage points and has been reported to be the biggest drop on offer by a lender.

The two banks have reduced the cost of borrowing at an important time of the year, and it is now expected that other lenders could do the same as they attempt to attract customers.
This comes as a welcome boost at the start of the year, after a tricky few months in the property market towards the end of 2022.

This shows that there it is still a great idea to talk to financial advisors during the house move process to find the best mortgage deals on offer.

If you are looking at moving this year, please contact us today to talk about finance options available to you and for a FREE, no-obligation valuation if you are looking to sell.

13/01/2023

Unmissable upcoming shows that are set to grace the stage in the Gravesend area
Grab tickets now to make sure you do not miss out on a spectacle

A number of fantastic shows are set to take place in the local area in the coming weeks.
Whether heading out to see an expertly performed show from a household comedian or going on an emotional rollercoaster whilst watching a dramatic production, there is always something fresh to see.
Luckily, we live in an area of the country which is regularly blessed with plenty of options for live entertainment.
We have done the hard work for you and collected together a bit of information about two upcoming productions, which we believe are certainly worth a watch.

Cartoon Circus Live

One eagerly anticipated show on the way to The Woodville theatre, in Gravesend, is Cartoon Circus Live.
This is a laughter-packed and family-friendly show which combines the comedy of a pantomime with the thrill of a circus.
The hour-long show will feature classic British slapstick comedy, mind-boggling magic and illusions, the amazing girl in the spinning bottle, a huge dancing bear, flying diablos, cartoon characters, plates spinning, an acrobatic human slink and much more.
This show is set to take to the stage on Tuesday, February 14.

Cartoon Circus Live (woodville.co.uk)

Shake It Up Shakespeare

The Woodville theatre is a real hotbed for fantastic live entertainment right now, with another production just on the horizon.
Shake It Up Shakespeare is set to appear at the venue on Friday, March 10.
This promises to be a totally unique experience, as the incredible talents behind the show use the language of the world’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare, along with audience suggestions and an overactive imagination to create a brand new Shakespeare-style play during each performance.
The show will feature live music, songs and plenty of laughs as themes, characters and language are all weaved together to form an unforgettable evening.

Shake It Up Shakespeare (woodville.co.uk)

13/01/2023

Everything you need to know about Chinese New Year
There is still plenty to celebrate in the coming weeks

Chinese New Year is a celebration which is only just around the corner.
Also known as Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival, this is the annual celebration to mark the start of the new year in China and other east Asian cultures, including Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
This year’s Chinese New Year is set to take place on Sunday, January 22, with the next not being until February 9, 2024.
This is a holiday which is celebrated and observed by millions across the globe.
The day is marked by removing the bad and the old, in order to welcome in the new and the good.
This is a time where people worship their ancestors and pray for a good harvest ahead.
Lion dances, dragon dances and more are amongst the colourful activities which are held during the holiday.
People will clean their houses in the run up to the new year and dispose of unwanted items, before redecorating with lanterns and red couplets and investing in new furniture, including flowerpots.
As this is an important time of the year for family, many who live far from home will travel back to their origins to be with their loved ones.

The Year of the Rabbit

2023 will be marked as the Year of the Rabbit, bringing an end to 2022’s Year of the Tiger.
Each year is designated as a different zodiac animal, which is based on the moon and a 12-year cycle.
This coming year will actually be the Year of the Wooden Rabbit, as there is also a cycle of five different elements, wood, fire, metal, earth and water.
We have not seen a Year of the Wooden Rabbit for roughly 60 years.
Other animals to feature on the Chinese zodiac are dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, pig, rat and tiger.
The Year of the Wood Dragon will begin on February 9, 2024.

12/01/2023

Outdoor heating you could introduce to your garden
You can still make the most of your garden even though it is winter

During the cold winter months it can be very easy to neglect a large part of our homes - the garden.
With the days relatively short and nights regularly bitterly cold, many of us will be excused for rarely stepping foot into our gardens.
However, with the right addition of outdoor heating, there is no reason why you cannot invite friends or family around and spend an evening in the garden.
Luckily, there are so many different devices and features you could invest in which give out heat, depending on your space, budget and design preference, so make sure you spend a bit of time researching before making the plunge.

Chimney

A self-standing chimney can be an eye-catching addition to any garden and will not look as out of place in an outdoor setting as some of our other suggestions.
These terracotta fireplaces can be purchased hand-decorated at garden centres or online and can be a really charming feature.

Patio heaters

Patio heaters are a fairly cost-effective and easy to set up solution for adding heat to your garden.
Simply place one near the main seating area of your outdoor space to warm up your guests.
You can select either gas-powered or electric heaters for your garden.
Electric heaters are very simple to turn on and off as and when you are finished using them, while the gas-powered options are safer for the environment to use.

Fire pits

One fantastic heat source you could choose is to add a fire pit to your garden.
Not only is this effective to run but can also become a stunning centrepiece for your garden, which you can add seating and features around.
You could either purchase a fire pit or could craft a brick-based one for yourself.
Fire pits also have the added bonus of potentially being able to be turned into a space for cooking as well, by adding a tripod over the top.

William Charles Sales & Lettings - Estate Agent Gravesend

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