One of the best things about being a multi branch agency is getting to know and love each of the very distinct towns in which we operate. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Perry Bishop and Chambers and as we have opened up offices in and around the Cotswolds, we have developed a strong rapport with the communities we now serve including Cheltenham, Cirencester, Stroud, Nailsworth, Tetbury Faringdon and the surrounding villages.

As well as becoming a fixture on the High Street for anyone on the move in each of these areas, we pride ourselves on celebrating and actively promoting the many great reasons for choosing to live in each of these thriving towns.

Our branches have a dedicated Facebook page, where details of local events are posted and shared. We have also produced a number of video interviews with the proprietors of other local independent businesses – part of our Shop Local campaign – which are posted on facebook and on our YouTube channel. As well as spreading the word about the brilliant local retailers that grace our High Streets, these also help build a picture of our towns for people considering moving to the Cotswolds from outside the area.

Every year each branch also champions a local charity, with a donation going to their chosen charity partner from every property they sell. Our teams also take part in various fundraising events throughout the year, to bolster support for these and other very worthwhile local causes. This year Tetbury Hospital, Longfield Hospice, Allsorts, The Churn Project and Nailsworth Donkey Sanctuary have all benefited from these partnerships. We were also proud to help launch Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice’s Ride for Ryder and contribute to the costs of putting on FollyFest, Faringdon’s annual music and community arts festival.

We look forward to hosting a quiz in September in aid of Winston’s Wish and throughout December our branches will once again become collection points for food donations for the homeless in our respective communities.

Garden rooms are now increasingly popular  with home owners looking to create an extra living zone and the cost is often considerably less than extending the property itself.

Martin Lawson of Swift Garden Rooms; John Langley of JML Garden Rooms and Rachel Wichall of eDEN Garden Rooms tell you all you need to know before you build one.

Map out your spot
Think about where your room will sit in your garden and how much floor space you’ll need. “Our most popular starting size for a useful additional room is 4 x 3m,” Martin Lawson says. “Try measuring a room in your home and you’ll see it’s a good dimension for a flexible, comfortable additional space.

“A company that can provide bespoke sizes may help you extract the best use from a confined section of your garden,” he adds. “Your room mustn’t cover more than 50% of your total, original garden area, but that’s rarely needed.”

“Around 13 sq m is a good size room that offers flexible use,” John Langley says. “For example, you could fit in a double-desk office, or enough room for a few pieces of gym equipment. It would fit a double sofa bed and also allow enough room if you’d like some kitchen units, a sink and a fridge down one wall.”

Don’t discount small or awkward
Think your garden’s too teeny? You could be wrong. You don’t necessarily need tons of space for a functional garden room, Martin says.

“We’ve squeezed quite significant buildings into some very restricted spots – not always simply, but always effectively,” he says. “Buildings can often go very close to garden boundaries, meaning that even a confined space of, say, 3 x 3m could accommodate a very appealing and practical new room – perhaps an office, gym or kids’ room.”

Garden an awkward shape? That could be OK, too. “Generally, our rooms are rectangular,” Rachel Wichall say, “but we have been commissioned to do more unusual-shaped garden rooms that fit into a corner or awkward space.”

Set your budget early on
“The variety of garden buildings on offer ranges from posh sheds that can start at £2,000 to £3,000 to permanent, high-end, detached extensions,” Martin says. “These will start at around £20,000 and can reach more than £100,000, depending on the size and specification. Before you start comparing designs and suppliers, take some time to decide what you want.”

Know your Planning Permissions…
Don’t leave this to chance. “You should make sure you know where you stand in relation to Planning Permission,” Martin says. “The majority of projects are possible without a full planning application, but there are many exceptions, and when you’re making a significant investment, you owe it to yourself not to risk a knock on the door from a planning enforcement officer.

“Either find an experienced supplier who really knows their stuff, approach the local planning department directly, or seek the help of a planning consultant,” he advises. “Lots of people think they’re immune, only to be tripped up when they come to sell their home and the buyer’s solicitor requires proof of conformity.”

Assuming your home benefits from Permitted Development Rights, Martin says the building should be no more than 2.5m above the original ground level and cover no more than 50% of the garden. It should be positioned behind the front elevation of the house, and it mustn’t be used for overnight accommodation or permanent living.

“There’s excellent advice on the government Planning Portal,” Martin adds.

…and your Building Regulations
“Just as with Planning Permission, this is complicated, so find the right advice,” Martin says. “All electrical work must be certified – no exceptions. A building with less than 15 sq m internal area will usually be free of any other requirements, but any larger and the proximity to boundaries becomes important in relation to fire-spread measures.

“Buildings bigger than 30 sq m always need Building Control approval, and any room that is to be lived in or used by the general public must also be registered,” he says.

Decide its purpose
“Many people are looking for an extra family zone – either for children and teenagers to have some space of their own to enjoy with friends, or to allow them to accommodate overnight guests from time to time,” Rachel says.

“The most common thing we’re asked to create is a multi-functional space,” she continues. “It may be an office by day, but a family room in the evening and an entertaining space at the weekend. Adding bathroom facilities, such as a wet room, can help to future-proof a garden room, as it opens it up to more uses at a later date.”

Consider calling in the experts
“For people looking to build their own garden room, if you’re experienced in construction, there are suppliers who will provide you with a ‘flat-pack’ approach for you to install yourself,” Rachel says.

“The main consideration, though, is the quality of the materials and the workmanship in installing the garden room, which is unlikely to be of the same standard as using a professional garden room company,” she says.

“If someone wants a high-quality garden space with residential-standard insulation, decoration and finish (which stands the test of time and has a guarantee), then using a garden room expert is the best way to achieve this,” she adds.

Whether you choose off-the-shelf or bespoke will be one of your biggest decisions, Martin adds. “Truly bespoke rooms will usually be offered as part of a consultative design process, from companies who manufacture to order. If you’re looking for a permanent, high-quality garden room, find a company tuned in to creating rooms that perfectly match your wishes. You’re more likely to get a building that gives greater satisfaction and therefore better value.”

Article courtesy of houzz

Launched less than a year ago across their five Gloucestershire branches, Perry Bishop and Chambers’ Lettings and Property Management service is proving popular with first time landlords as well as with established landlords looking for a reputable agency to manage their property portfolio. Since the recent introduction of the Tenant Fee ban, which caused a degree of uncertainty in the lettings market amongst agents and landlords alike, Perry Bishop have benefited from further new instructions.

Whereas many agents chose to recoup their losses from the fee ban by immediately putting up their management charges, Perry Bishop and Chambers chose not to pass on the cost in lost fees to their landlords. A number of landlords facing a hike in prices from their existing letting agency have voted with their feet and chosen to move their business to Perry Bishop. “We are here to offer advice, to guide our landlords through any changes in legislation rather than see these as an excuse to clobber them with additional charges,” explains Lettings Manager Tammy Powell (MARLA).

The agency’s marketing approach to lettings has also helped them create stand out in a crowded marketplace. “We treat every new lettings listing in the same way we treat every new property we bring to the market to sell,” says Tammy. “Professional photography and floorplans set us apart, enabling us to show off our landlords’ properties in the best possible light, attract the best rental yield and deliver the best tenants.”

To find out more about Perry Bishop and Chambers Lettings and Management service and the associated costs of their service offerings please visit perrybishop.co.uk/lettings. If you need advice on what fees you can and can no longer charge post the Tenant Fee Ban please call our lettings team at any of our Gloucestershire branches (Cheltenham, Cirencester, Stroud, Nailsworth or Tetbury). Press Option 2 for Lettings, Option 3 in our Cirencester branch.

As a privileged VIP guest, we would like to extend a warm invitation to our Wimbledon in the Barn event:

Join us for a relaxing afternoon on the penultimate day of this years Wimbledon and enjoy the complimentary Pimms, strawberries and cream on offer in the Barn Restaurant.

Bring your loved ones along on the day to take the tour of the beautiful show apartments and wellness facilities on offer to our owners.

Discover for yourself what a happy and fulfilling retirement looks like at Steepleton.

Saturday 13th July, 12pm – 3pm

To RSVP please call on 01666 504418

Cirencester Road,

Tetbury,

GL8 8FQ

A superbly constructed detached bespoke barn style property set in a delightful semi-rural location with outstanding panoramic views over the surrounding area of outstanding natural beauty.

With a large garden there is also the option to purchase a paddock by separate negotiation.

The plot measures 0.49 acres and the paddock 0.71 acres.

Open House event Saturday 13th July – 10am till 12pm.

The Stables,

Hyde Lane,

Swindon Village,

GL51 9QN

Call us on 01242 246980 to book your appointment.

Independent multi-branch estate agents, Perry Bishop and Chambers, have once again made the cut in the prestigious Best Estate Agent Guide. Compiled by Rightmove and the Property Academy, only the top 3% of agencies in the country appear following rigorous assessment.

There are 15,000 estate agents and 25,000 branches across the country and the Property Academy, together with its Principal Partner Rightmove, have assessed every single one to find and shine a light on the very best. They have analysed over 3 billion data points and carried our 50,000 mystery shops, making this one of the toughest accolades to achieve.

“This is a tremendous accolade,” says Perry Bishop’s Managing Director Phillip Bishop. “And a great endorsement for the exceptional customer experience our agents provide.”

At a ceremony in London on 10th October, Perry Bishop and Chambers will collect their Best Estate Agent Guide award and learn if they are a winner amongst winners when all listed agents are whittled down to the very best in each region for both sales and lettings.

Acer Close, located in the heart of Charlton Kings, is a select development of just five beautiful family homes designed and built with care by Boo Homes, comprising:

Italian designer kitchens with quartz worktops and Neff appliances

Laufen bathrooms with Karndean flooring

Engineered wooden flooring in halls, kitchens and utility

Two parking spaces per home

3, 4 and 5 bedroom options

Balcarras School catchment

Join us on Saturday 29th June, from 10am – 12 midday,  to take a look for yourselves around this very special development.

Acer Closer

Charlton Kings

GL53 8JL

Call us on 01242 246980 to book your appointment.

Hurry, one is already under offer!

Of one thing you can be certain – when it comes to the Faringdon community, we love quirky!

So when it was announced that Faringdon was on the route of the OVO Women’s international cycling Tour, there was absolutely no doubt that the stops would be pulled out to ensure that our lovely little market town was going to give the cyclists a true welcome!

Spearheaded by our Town Crier, the message quickly spread that we would paint the town pink! Businesses and community groups were asked to acquire an old bike and give it a new lease of pink life. Our team’s creative minds got bubbling and we raided the local charity shops and then all gathered at Sarah’s house one evening with the neon pink spray can and as many pink home accessories as we could find. We were pretty impressed with the result!

As the day approached, there was a definite buzz around the Market Place (outside our office) and also along the route that the tour would take. Nearly 40 bikes were decorated and placed in strategic positions and all the shop fronts in the town were decorated with balloons, flowers, bunting and more!

On the day itself, our ever-eccentric Town Crier donned a pink pigeon outfit and was cycling around the town to the sound of cheers everywhere he went. The entire route was packed with well-wishers, including classes from all three schools, and there was such a wonderful sense of excitement for the entire day.

The cyclists themselves whizzed through the town in a matter of seconds, but we rather hope that we offered them a cheer and a chivvy to help them along the way!

Sadly, Faringdon didn’t make the edit for the tour highlights on ITV, but we were delighted to be featured on the Tour website, with a number of local dignitaries being interviewed.

Just another occasion demonstrating the fabulous community spirit that makes us proud to have a branch of PBC in Faringdon!

Gerry Millington

Client Manager l Perry Bishop and Chambers

Negotiation is a skill and unless you do it every day, you are unlikely to be very good at it. Include the emotion of buying your next home and you may be terrible at it! Fear not, if you are looking to buy somewhere else after your sale has completed, you can now take advantage of our Onward Negotiation service – designed to save you money when negotiating on your next purchase, wherever you are buying in the United Kingdom.

Speed of sale may be as important as price for the sellers of the house you want to buy
There is one goal when entering a negotiation and that is all parties must be happy with the outcome at the end of it, and that doesn’t always revolve around price. The sellers of the house you want to buy may be relocating for example, and in their case speed or certainty may be more attractive to them than £5,000 more. Some sellers will have experienced a previous sale collapse and so need to find a new buyer as soon as possible. Time may be more important to them than price.

Benefit from the service of an Expert Negotiator
The seller of the property you want to buy will have a negotiator working to get them the highest price. We will provide you with an expert, a professionally trained and experienced negotiator, to help you pay the lowest price. If we are unable to save you any money, then there is no fee. If we are successful, then we will invoice a percentage of the saving when contracts exchange*

*If you go on to buy a property which is for sale with Perry Bishop then we are unable offer this service

Many people on the move have their heart set on a particular town or village and in some cases on a particular road! If they cannot find the home of their dreams, they may consider buying a plot of land where a brand new bespoke home can be built. Our specialist land and development team are experts in marketing building plots, many of which start life as part of someone’s large garden!

Recently, for example, our land team successfully sold a plot in Cirencester to a couple who wanted to live on a specific road in this popular market town. They were looking to buy a house and initially had no intention of buying a plot. However, when a plot of land in their chosen road – with full planning consent – came to market, they soon realised the benefits of building a brand new home in their dream location.  The department have also recently marketed a plot – again a portion of someone’s garden – in a much sought-after Cotswold village. They received numerous bids from several interested parties.

If you have a large garden, which you think could have development potential, contact our specialist land and development team for confidential and professional advice on 01285 646770.