Author: Russell Betts

Introduction

Location has always been the one of the most important factors for anyone seeking a new home. Every town or city have areas that either appeal or not, based purely on the sort of lifestyle you chose. This can be made more difficult if you are moving into a completely new town, especially if you do not know anyone to ask.

 Luckily, Leigh on Sea offers a remarkable diversity in not just style of property but location. There is something here for everyone. Perhaps this blog will help those who do not know Leigh.

The Different Areas of Leigh on Sea

For the sake of argument Leigh on Sea can be effectively divided in three areas. The sea front, the middle and the North bordering Rayleigh the area around the A127 Arterial Road. There are more specific areas but for this blog purpose let us keep it simple. As to the West and East, it is effectively bordered between Hadleigh on the West and Westcliff on Sea to the East.

Each area is different and has its own history and personality. The type of property will also appear differently in each area. Regardless of which area you chose, nothing is too far, and one can reach the main shopping areas relatively quickly. 

The Sea Front

Before the railway line divided the direct access to the sea front in the 1800s, there was a fishing village called Old Leigh. This remains extremely popular, especially in the summer. There are genuinely incredibly old cottages here and a few small lanes. It benefits from several pubs, which in warm weather, overlooking the sea can become terribly busy. Few houses come up for sale in Old Leigh (as it is locally called) but if you can move here the pace of life is even slower than the main town. The mainline train station is also found here, making a commute to London extremely easy (about an hour away).

During the Victorian era, sea views for the wealthy became exceedingly popular and moving slightly West, you have Marine Parade, Cliff Parade and Grand Parade. As their name implies, these houses are Victorian splendour at its best. Most of the houses and flats here have superb sea views. The roads are higher and command a great vista. One can imagine the rich showing off along here in the last century.

There are new developments too. In the last few decades, very modern apartments have been built. These are also for those who can afford the best. If you would like a house or modern flat along here, do not be surprised if you start at the top end of £800,000 and continue way beyond a million.

Most of the roads from the sea front run northwards from here and most are lined with early twentieth century family homes. You will find detached to terraced properties here. Most of them are large and in quieter streets and roads than you would imagine. If you are really looking for something almost unique, take a drive down Canvey Road. These houses were built in the 1920’s and retain the style and layout of what many consider the chocolate box ideal of houses of this period. Well-manicured hedges and tree lined roads.

Middle Leigh

Closer to the sea front but dividing the area into two, is Leigh Broadway. There are other shopping streets, but this is the prominent one. Unusually for these days, Leigh Broadway has managed to keep many boutique shops, offering ladies fashion, Haberdashery and Gentleman’s outfitters. There is also a bespoke tailor too, in fact two in the town. If one is a foodie, the Broadway has plenty of restaurants, cafes, and pubs Whether you want to fine dine or just get a Take-Away it will be here. All cultures represented.

The grid pattern of the streets going Northward predominate here too. The slightly narrow roads of the Victorian era and the earlier 20^th Century does slow the traffic somewhat, reducing the flow of traffic. The property here can be quite similar. Mostly built in the Early Edwardian era, they are normally terraced with a small front garden and garden to the rear, but do not be deceived most are exceptionally big inside. Family homes designed for four children and possibly a maid. They do come onto the market but at a price. £600,000 plus is quite reasonable. 

Before reaching what, I am calling North Leigh is The London Road. Running West to East of the town developed mostly in the 1920, s, it was the main road into Southend.

London Road is where you will find the more well-known shops. All the major supermarkets lie along this route, Tesco, Sainsbury’s Waitrose, Iceland. You will also find another array of restaurants and pubs. DIY Tyres and probably because it was on the major route from London to Southend, many car dealerships.

The London road is long and house styles vary but are predominately from the 1920’s.

Once again, the streets tend to be in a grid pattern, but from northwards from here they become increasingly more modern.

North Leigh

The West side of ‘North’ Leigh is where Belfair’s Park and Pound Woods Nature Reserve are located Houses here tend to be more modern, and if you want exclusivity, these are well sought out areas. House prices here can also be close to a million and if you border either the park, Nature reserve or the local golf course, you may have to have deep pockets.

The area is quiet and well maintained as one would expect.  Greenery surrounding. These are family homes that have plenty of garden and greenery around.

The area more to the East has newer properties too, but these are more modest and contain a lot of bungalows. Built in the 1950’s and 60’s the road and streets are equally well maintained. Here you will find more modest house prices. These are the familiar types of streets found in many towns, but still Leigh.

Over the A127

Still classed as Leigh, the area north of the A127 arterial road is the most North of the town. Before one reaches the outskirts of Rayleigh, you have properties of all ages. Bungalows, terraces and detached. There are equally nice pubs and restaurants, but it takes much longer to get to the sea front.

Conclusion

Leigh on Sea is a wonderful place to live. It has almost everything one could need in a town without the hustle and bustle found in most places. You can feel at home here, safe and in an environment welcoming and friendly. Over the past few years its popularity has grown. People with the means from London are realising that for just one hour’s journey, life can be relaxed and satisfying.

It is no wonder that in 2016, Leigh 0n Sea was named ‘The Happiest Place to live’ in the UK.

Amen to that!

Selling your home is never an easy decision.

Not only is it your home, but it is your taste, your décor, and your style and full of memories. We are all not the same and therefore you must accept that what people see, may not impress them or to make it worse offend them.

So, to make you house saleable, you must consider giving it up as being your home and make it something that for a few months be a strange environment. This is the first important decision one needs to accept.

So, what do you do first? This is perhaps the simplest of questions to answer. Look at your property with fresh eyes. This is not the time to be intransigent or unsettled with yourself. It may hurt a little but call on a close friend or a neighbour and ask them to look around your house.

Let them point out the corners or areas that you have seen so often that you have ignored or neglected. It is surprising how small details are often more important than we realise, and potential buyers will not be sparing with their criticism.

Once you have completed your walk through and been given the findings, it’s time to prioritise.

Décor

If you can, make any room a neutral as possible. It does not have to cost much, try to make the living room look as big as possible, try rearranging the furniture and remove items that take up space.

The pink wall in your daughter’s bedroom may be better white or cream. The same goes for other rooms. Wallpaper is both time consuming and expensive to change, so why not ensure that the furniture next to it is as neutral as possible. Remove the ‘lovely’ red and green vase you like so much and buy a cheaper white one for a while and whilst the curtains in the lounge may be the perfect red, if you can, get something less you.

Blinds

Blinds are always a cheap but effective alteration. Go through the house like this and keep saying to yourself, I want as many people to like this room as possible, I must remove as much of my taste as necessary. There is one golden rule that we should all obey, remove as many personal photographs as possible. They are both a distraction to the viewer but interestingly does not allow them to think of the house as their own.

Curb Appeal

We have all heard of curb appeal. Go outside to the front of the house. This is the first thing the potential buyer will see. Simple things first, is the grass cut? Does the gate not quite close or does it look shabby?

These are easy fixes and can be done quickly. Perhaps the most important area is the front door and the surrounding area. This is what their friends will see first when they arrive. Make sure that it is in good order. Welcoming, clean, respectable. Any plant pots close by, make sure they are at least filled with something living and tidy. Everything should say, you are welcome.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you do not need to always replace the kitchen or the bathroom. These are common misconceptions as most buyers replace any kitchen within a few moths of purchase anyway. Likewise, unless the bathroom has a royal blue suite (that could be an issue!), it will be fine.

The important things to remember therefore are try and make it as neutral as possible, declutter and remove very personal items. Allow the potential buyer to see their furniture in the space and not be overwhelmed by yours. Lastly, and most important of all, if you do not want to do any of this, the one thing that is vital, keep the house as clean as humanly possible. Untidy rooms, gardens and kitchens reflect on you and believe it or not that is noticed by the viewers.