Penyards to double its offices (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Penyards to double its offices

5:10pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Winchester By Warwick Payne

PENYARDS, the Winchester-based estate agency, is doubling its branches.

It will open five new offices later this year with the company’s boss saying firms can either “thrive or survive” in 2012.

Managing director Graham Evans added that it would elevate Penyards into the biggest 50 estate agencies in Britain.

The expansion plans coincide with his 35th anniversary in the trade, having started his career in Folkestone.

He said: “I was 20-years-old back then and I’m 55 now and I’m given to believe that ‘sentence’ is one of the longest served by anyone in this area.”

He arrived in Winchester in 1994 as a consultant for Penyards and then bought the firm with his wife, Lisa, in 2001.

Mr Evans said: “I would say 2012 is a year where businesses will need to decide whether they thrive or survive. The decision we’ve made is that we want to thrive.”

As a result, Penyards has struck a deal with New Forest estate agent David L Fells to run branches in Burley and Brockenhurst.

It is also opening new offices in Sway and Ringwood and a fifth new branch is planned later in the year.

The expansion will mean that the firm will cover everything from Salisbury to Petersfield and from Basingstoke to Lymington. It will be increasing its staff from 27 to around 40.

Mr Evans said while times were tough in some parts of the property business, Hampshire was more resilient.

He added: “Hampshire is a remarkable county. We have two national parks, it’s a beautiful place, there are great road and rail links and good regional airports and schools.”

Since the economic slowdown, he said there had been an increase in lettings and more people downsizing.

But he added that there was still plenty of demand for country and character properties, in which Penyards specialises.

He said: “I’ve been through four recessions now and all of them have been different.

“From my experience, each one has forced the industry to change and we’re looking forward and expanding.”

Mr Evans is not the only long-serving member of staff, as many of his team have been at the firm for a decade or more.

He added: “I would say at this time as we start 2012, we probably have the most educated and experienced staff that we’ve ever had.”

Visit penyards.com or call 01962 860300 for more details about the firm.