Property agency John Truslove extends reach to Black Country with GI Sykes property deal

Family building firm GI Sykes is redeveloping a town centre property in Stourbridge after a £215,000 sale deal sealed with the help of property agency John Truslove.

The shop and premises at 165 Lower High Street were sold as part of a string of properties, handled by Ben Truslove, joint managing director of John Truslove.

Jason Sykes, a third generation director at GI Sykes, said: “We already owned 164 Lower High Street and are redeveloping it into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) with commercial premises on the ground floor.

“When we found out the next-door property was coming up for sale it just made sense to acquire it. It also allows us to make more use of the car parking area to the rear of both properties.

“We have already agreed with a tea and cake business to lease the ground floor retail premises. The upstairs is fairly derelict, and we will redevelop that into a two-bedroom flat and a single bedroom flat for rent.

“The help Ben Truslove and the team gave us was excellent and I can recommend them. They helped the whole process go as smoothly as possible.”

With the fourth generation already working at the company, GI Sykes was established in Stourbridge almost a century ago by Mr Sykes’ grandfather and has grown to directly employ a team of around 60, as well as using local subcontractors.

As well as specialising in commercial building, roofing, decoration and maintenance work over the last 25 years GI Sykes has built up its own portfolio of commercial and residential properties.

Ben Truslove said: “We are a Worcestershire-based firm but as this sale demonstrates, our reach includes the Black Country and we are pleased to have successfully concluded the sale for our client. It is good to see such a prominent town centre building being brought back into full use.

“Our strong reputation is winning more business with clients in the Black Country as we go forward, providing our top quality services to tenants, landlords, purchasers and vendors alike.”

For the year 2021, joint managing director Ben Truslove was ranked second most successful dealmaker in the UK in the 2021 EG Radius On-Demand Rankings. He negotiated 89 sales and lettings during the year in a top ten dominated by partners from all the UK’s leading property agencies. He was the top industrial and commercial property agent in the West Midlands.

Brierley Hill-based law firm Stephensons Solicitors acted for GI Sykes in the sale negotiations.

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