Advertisement

Saving the planet

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0

Imaginative eco-friendly apartments are an attraction for young expats

Ambitious entrepreneurs should know that entering the serviced apartment market is not as simple as renovating a property and advertising it.

The full story involves a to-do list only the diligent can complete on time, especially when trying to be eco-friendly.

While it could take between six and nine months from identification of the property to launching it, Dinesh Nihalchand, a founding partner of Serviced Apartments, said his company was able to do it 'because we are incredibly hard working'.

The to-do list also includes calculating the risks of filling the building, creating a design brief, planning a design strategy, talking to contractors, negotiating prices, making sure people deliver what they promise and on time, creating a project time line and building operations platform (including employing the right housekeeping and maintenance people), ensuring the branding strategy is correct and then advertising.

'It takes a lot of imagination,' Mr Nihalchand said. 'The basic underlying formula is intimacy through the power of design. Build a budget around that base, one shareholders are happy with, and you've got a business you trust will translate to young expats who will come and pay for that lifestyle and, in fact, they have.'

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2-3x faster
1.1x
220 WPM
Slow
Normal
Fast
1.1x