An independent estate agency based in Somerset and Bristol, covering the Southwest, has completed its first acquisition.

The Property Centre, which was set-up six years ago in Taunton, has purchased Kordtards Ltd, formerly trading as Gibbins Richards Lettings.

Property Centre has generally focused on sales, but has in more recent months made the strategic decision to expand its lettings offering. This follows the opening of a second office in Bristol.

“After opening an office in Bristol and going from strength in the city, The Property Centre turned its attention to property Lettings,” said Charlie Rooke, operations director at The Property Centre. “Starting as we mean to go on, we decided to purchase a well-established lettings business.”

All 10 members of staff at Gibbins Richards Lettings, a long-standing independent agency covering all types of residential property in Bridgwater, Burnham On Sea, Taunton, Wellington and Wiveliscombe, have now joined The Property Centre.

After completing the acquisition of Kordtards Ltd, Rooke informed EYE that The Property Centre intends to expand further, with the estate agency planning to open a third branch.

“Our business has two offices, one in Taunton which now houses lettings too, and one in Bristol. We are also soon to open a third branch in Bridgwater,” she said.

Dan Saunders, lettings director at The Property Centre, has warmly welcomed the new members of the team.

He said: “What a pleasure it’s been to welcome such seasoned professionals into our business. I’m massively excited about what they bring to the table and the direction that this acquisition is going to take The Property Centre as a brand.

“We are a couple of weeks in now and it’s been a pleasure getting to know everybody in the team and having our own team expand so rapidly. We are so, so honored to be taking the baton from Marc Richards, former owner [of Gibbins Richards Lettings].