The EEC, led by Bezrealitka, is investing in sustainable reconstruction. They enter the interior start-up Room Story

Interior reconstructed by startup Room Story. Source: Room Story Even a general renovation does not have to be expensive if you restore the quality elements of the original interior and replace only those that have passed. EHS (European Housing Services) tries to use this approach in its microdevelopment activities. He is now investing in the startup Room Story, which is one of the pioneers of sustainable reconstruction in the Czech Republic. Their price is halved, but the value of the property will increase in the same way as the classic ones, and even in times of material crisis, they manage to meet deadlines.

EHS unites the largest digital real estate service Bezrealitky, real estate agency Maxima Reality, the service Your administrator, the Czech real estate trust and now also Room Story. In recent months, this group has made more than 60 purchases of houses, flats, cottages and chalets at a total price exceeding CZK 300 million and has returned a third of them to the market. By the end of the year, it wants to invest more than 100 million crowns in the reconstruction or refresher of real estate as part of its microdevelopment activities. However, more expensive renovations are becoming an increasing threat to its business model, which envisages a rapid return of purchased real estate to the market.

The price of reconstructions has risen by up to a third in the last year. They pay extra for building materials, the delivery of a number of them is unpredictable, which in turn makes construction work more expensive. "Given that our microdevelopment activities are low-margin, the rise in renovation prices is a key issue for us," says Hendrik Meyer, EEC Chief. "We are doing all the renovations with the understanding that we want to sell the property to ordinary people at a fair price. This puts a lot of pressure on us, but it brings great results. "

Hendrik Meyer leads the EEC. Source: EEC

Sustainable renovations cost half, the value of the property will increase as well as the classic ones

Thanks to this, the EHS group has found its own way to renovate the properties. It chooses the path of so-called refreshes. In other words - what can be used in a house or apartment is repaired and renovated during reconstruction. Other parts of the interior are replaced. Real estate thus does not lose architectural elements from the original interiors or atmosphere, at the same time they reach the market faster and cheaper. The interior startup Room Story brought this key know-how to the group.

Interior reconstructed by startup Room Story. Source: Room Story

"The vast majority of general renovations today work by completely clearing the original space and then installing new surfaces, tiles or doors. I know from my experience that especially in older houses it often means replacing the original quality materials with new ones, but with lower quality and aesthetic value, “mentions Alžběta Mrázová, co-founder of Room Story. "The absurdity of this approach is also evidenced by the fact that our journey will achieve almost 50% savings, while increasing the value of the property and the quality of life in it, as well as a comprehensive reconstruction."

"It's great that we can increase the value of the property in a way that is also perfectly sustainable. The new owners do not pay extra for the new materials that replaced the old ones, but on the contrary, they will appreciate the original parts of the interior, "Meyer mentions. "After decades, the forgotten wooden floors will light up in the flats again, and the original interior doors and windows will become the main interior elements. We return not only their value but also their soul to houses and flats. "

The idea goes to the Czech Republic and the world

Interior reconstructed by startup Room Story. Source: Room Story

Startup Room Story has undergone hundreds of reconstructions of apartments, offices, hotels and boarding houses or public spaces, this year their implementation was nominated for the interior of the year. European Housing Services believes in its idea of ​​sustainable reconstruction so much that it enters it with a 25% stake. Hendrik Meyer, head of the EEC, will also become the company's second executive. The price of the transaction was not disclosed. The common goal is clear: To support microdevelopment in new localities, to maintain the quality, price and pace of reconstructions. And gradually transfer the unique know-how to the whole of the Czech Republic and the countries where the EHS will expand with its activities.

"Even abroad, we can compete with our combination of speed of reconstruction and access to the original architectural elements. With Room Story, we want to test how scalable our approach is and how it will be adopted by foreign markets, ”Meyer mentions. "Personally, I think we have discovered an approach that will soon become the new norm due to the material crisis and inflation."

However, the EEC does not want to stay only with the building reconstruction and quality revitalization of interiors. The first concepts will also test the evaluation of apartments through the installation of smart home elements or their own furniture solutions, responding to current trends - such as unique built-in work areas.