Investing in real estate is one of the most reliable ways to save and multiply your funds, a pillar of stability in the unstable times that Ukraine is currently experiencing. Are there any risks for Ukrainian investors abroad, particularly in Turkey? Which regions are of the greatest interest for investment, what are the advantages and potential pitfalls of this industry?
With these questions «EliteExpert» turned to a person whose history and experience in the field of construction speak for themselves. Furkan Alioglu is the co-owner of the construction company ALIOĞLU INŞAAT, which continues the family tradition of business with a thirty-year history.
BEGINNING OF THE PATH
Furkan, your company is well known in Turkey, but you are not so well known in Ukraine or other countries yet, let's get to know each other better...
ALIOĞLU INŞAAT construction company was founded by my father, now five of his sons work in it, including me. My father started in the construction business back in 1996, when construction conditions were quite difficult and the quality of work was often compromised by unskilled workers. And since quality was always in the first place for him, in 1998 his father came up with the idea of creating his own production of building materials.
After that, "ALIOĞLU" company not only resumed the construction of residential buildings in Turkey, but also continued to produce high-quality building materials at the same time, which became our competitive advantage. This combination of materials production and construction allows us to control quality at every stage: from the first brick to the last floor.
In 2018, the real estate market in Turkey experienced a boom, especially in the south of the country, in Mersin. We managed to successfully take advantage of this moment and start active construction in the region. We currently have four properties that have already welcomed their new residents — Lavinya life, Lavinya 1, Lavinya 2, and Atlantis — and eight more are under construction.
By the way, long-term investments in land plots have also become part of our sustainable development strategy. Regardless of economic fluctuations, we always have the resources to continue building and creating homes that become ideal places for our customers to live. Having our own plots of land makes us more resilient to economic changes, allowing us to maintain stable prices for our customers.
How deeply do you personally immerse yourself in the construction process and control?
As I already said, five brothers work in the company, and each of us is a specialist in our field. We monitor everything - the purchase of building materials, construction works, the infrastructure of residential areas, we are responsible for communication with investors and partners - that is, we are completely immersed in the process.
I am an architect and engineer by specialty, and I personally design buildings and control the entire construction process, I visit all our facilities every day, and I communicate with builders. This is what gives a correct understanding of the situation, and at the same time allows you to quickly correct the problems that arise.
In addition, one of my brothers deals with the purchase of construction materials, the other is responsible for legal documentation. Thus, the company maintains full control and understanding of processes at every stage: from the emergence of an idea to the commissioning of the building.
Our approach differs from those developers who are only interested in receiving income, therefore control over the process is transferred to subordinates, which often affects the quality of the works themselves. Our approach, in addition to the quality of construction, has a positive effect on the cost of apartments in our facilities, which is also important for buyers.
PLEASANT BONUS — CITIZENSHIP FOR BUYING A HOME
Where, in which cities and what class of real estate do you build? Who mostly buys it from you and for what purposes?
Today we work in the south of Turkey, in the city of Mersin. This is where our construction of eight new residential complexes is underway.
The standard construction period for one house is 24 months, but most often we are ahead of schedule and meet 18 months. At the same time, in any case, in order to strictly comply with the contract with our investors, we do not put homes into operation ahead of schedule.
As for the segmentation of our objects, we have offers for every taste and wallet — starting from budget options and ending with extra-class housing.
At the same time, people buy housing from us both for their own residence and for renting out, which is very profitable in Turkey, since the value of real estate here will only increase in the future.
Last month, we launched a project where a studio apartment can be purchased for 32 euros. On the other hand, there is a "luxury option" in the residential complex "Lavinya Queen" with a cost of 130-140 thousand euros and an important bonus - the possibility of obtaining citizenship for this investment.
In general, we can satisfy a buyer with any wishes: from a studio for 32 thousand to luxury apartments with a sea view for 220-250 and villas for 500-900 thousand euros.
QUALITY MARK: "WE OURSELVES LIVE IN THE HOUSES WE BUILT"
Recently, Turkey has experienced a series of devastating earthquakes, thousands of buildings have failed, leading to the arrest of some developers. This is a question that worries all potential customers, so tell us if your company takes into account the danger of natural disasters?
Indeed, Turkey is in a seismically active zone. And that is why the safety and sustainability of every house we build is our top priority.
For many years, we have invested in the study and application of advanced technologies to guarantee people not only comfortable, but also safe living. Each of our buildings is designed with the strictest standards in mind.
All our objects undergo multiple inspections and tests for earthquake resistance. Our goal is for our clients to feel protected and sleep soundly, knowing that the home is built with all possible contingencies in mind. And we are proud that we can provide people not only with beautiful and comfortable houses, but also with real confidence in the future.
Yes, and in confirmation of the quality of our construction, I and my family will live in one of the houses being built in the city of Mersin.
It sounds like you are a customer oriented company…
In our company, the customer is the center around which everything revolves. Every brick we lay, every plan we develop, every decision we make comes from understanding and taking into account the needs of the people who will live in our homes in the future.
We are proud that our company actively cooperates with many partner agencies that provide us with direct feedback from our investors - about a hundred such agencies.
This information allows us to predict trends and adapt to changing market needs in real time.
When we heard about the need for budget apartments up to 40 thousand euros, we started to act in this direction. As a result, within a week after the launch of the project, 400 of the 600 available apartments were booked!
And when our investors expressed interest in luxury housing with panoramic sea views, we turned this dream into reality by buying a plot on the first line from the sea - now the residential complex "Laviniya Premium" is being built there.
In addition, we understand that buying real estate in Turkey does not always mean that people plan to live there permanently. For many of our clients, the purchase of an apartment becomes a business, which allows you to receive a stable income from the rental of housing.
Therefore, even after the completion of construction, our company offers real estate management services, including the organization of its rental. We take care of the entire process - from the selection of reliable tenants to regular monitoring of the condition of your property.
In what direction do you intend to move further, it is obvious that you have a lot of plans... what challenges are ahead of you in the future?
Our approach to construction remains unchanged: quality above all else. We are currently working on projects in Mersin and are experiencing an active increase in interest in our facilities. On the other hand, we faced the problem of a shortage of skilled builders in the region, so we don't want to rush it by using unprofessional workers and losing quality.
The fact is that for our company, quality is not just a priority - it is a promise given to each of our clients. We understand how important it is for our buyers to get a home that will serve them for many years, which is why we are not ready to compromise by hiring unqualified employees.
Overall, we have great projects in the pipeline for which land has already been acquired. However, our principle is to finish what we started first, and only then move on. We will complete all the started projects, with quality and on time, with all the infrastructure, and only after that we will start the next ones. In addition, perhaps in a year or two, the wishes and needs of buyers will change, so we prefer to listen to the market and build housing that will be relevant in a specific period of time.
Our goal is not only the construction of high-quality and comfortable buildings, but also the creation of real home comfort for each client, where every stone is laid with love and care for future residents.
Olena Ovchinnikova spoke
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