Market for Closed complexes. What makes a residence luxurious.
Published in Pari Newspaper
22.05.2008

For the modern man luxury becomes equivalent to more leisure
Usually the first association with luxury refers to large and spacious home, expensive furniture, heavy carpets, expensive pictures. Most people imagine hydro- and heat insulation of facades, high-quality joinery, flooring from natural materials, high-technology appliances, hand-made accessories, high-class white and black technics, etc. All of them are elements of luxury but they alone do not make a residence luxurious. That is because luxury is a feeling for comfort and coziness and this is namely what people mostly seek when choosing where to live.

Comfort
In Winslow Developments we analyze the attitude of the people who search for a residence each week. To be luxurious, most of all it has to be comfortable. This is achieved by a developed environment (good location and infrastructure), planting, alleys, water areas, facilities such as a sports playground, underground parking, fitness, pool. A part of luxury is also the good and functional architecture of the buildings and apartments. The well organized maintenance and management of the common areas and parks as well as security are also a very important element.

Space
As regards the interior arrangement, a modern and convenient decision would be a long and relatively wide living-room, combined with a modern kitchenette at the expense of smaller bedrooms and corridors. The huge bedrooms and separated kitchens are out-of-date.

Factors
Our findings on the market show that there are six major factors that influence the choice of a new home amongst which price is at the last place. First in significance for the modern man is the residence location. People want the region to be prestigious, with a developed transport and communication infrastructure, easy and quick access to business centers, hypermarkets, places for entertainment and recreation.

The second criterion is the uniqueness of the project itself. A lot of residences are purchased still at a design stage which means that the future owner decides to purchase when he is convinced of the good concept for life that he is offered. The third condition for the residence of the modern man is the quality of construction, and the fourth – the availability of additional facilities – enough parking lots (the modern family often has more than 1 car), fitness, security, individual heating with no loss of “heat”, etc. The social environment also matters. To be surrounded by people with similar social status and lifestyle with whom you can keep good relations and even establish business partnerships.

Leisure
For many people a luxury means leisure. For the modern man leisure is a deficit. That is why it is important for him to be able to go in for sports near home, to relax in the SPA center or to feel undisturbed of where his child plays. The nice view is also a luxury. On the other hand, many of the acquisitions which have been considered a luxury till recently – a private SPA center, private parking, private kindergarten, private swimming-pool and sports playground – are more accessible today. People from the highest circles are not the only ones that can afford them. You do not have to be extremely rich in order to have luxurious things in your life. You just have to find the residence that offers you a good concept for life.

Maintenance matters
- It is good when purchasing a residence in a complex of closed type to have an organized maintenance by an investor or an external company and to conclude contracts with the purchasers. It is important that all be aware of who will maintain the complex, how much it will cost and what it will include.
- It is good to choose a company with experience in property management because there are still few companies that provide a high-quality service.
- The underestimation of the preliminary planning of the property management might be a corner-stone and lead to many problems for residents which are sometimes impossible to solve.

Quality is recognized in the architecture and execution
Purchasers evaluate not only the estate but also the environment, infrastructure, facilities, maintenance and management and last but not least – the sale and after-sale service that they receive.

Arrangement
The high-quality project is recognized in the functional architecture of residences and the common parts of the buildings – it is good not to have sharp edges, to have service rooms in the apartments, with a possibility to install a washing machine / drying-oven and a boiler and/or a closet. In the larger apartments can be even envisaged closets in bedrooms, light kitchenettes, etc. That is why if you are searching for a residence, irrespective of whether to live in it or for an investment, please try to answer the following questions: Does this project offer me enough comfort?

Materials
At design stage the purchaser could hardly assure himself in the quality of the final product but if the investor is experienced and has realized high-quality projects then this can be a kind of a guarantee. The high-quality construction is recognizable by the materials which are used – ceramic bricks, high-quality heat insulation, granitogress or stone without, of course, they being economized to the maximum. The quality of the execution and control over it is also important – this is also an evidence for the professionalism of the entrepreneur and constructor.