Real estate firms now going into furnished homes
Donna Racho
It all boils down now as to who can further go the extra mile.
The cutthroat competition in the Philippine real estate sector has led more developers to realize that selling their respective property projects must now be packaged with prime, value-added services that go beyond lip service, the glossy fine prints and the savvy marketing ploys, to ensure that buyers can wheel in the best deals possible.
And Megaworld Corp., the country’s largest residential condominium developer, knows this only too well.
In January this year, Megaworld created a new marketing division it called Prime Properties Group (PPG) dedicated specifically to provide topnotch after-sales services to new customers. This division, which is offering highly personalized touch sans the steep add-on costs, is deemed to spark significant changes in the local realty industry.
The PPG, which targets to cater to the specific needs of the sophisticated and meticulous segment of the market, was initially set up to exclusively handle all the completed and ready-for-occupancy units of Megaworld and offer value added services to new clients like free interior design.
Recently however, Megaworld officials announced that the company is further expanding its already revolutionary after-sales service through the newly formed Leasing and Resale Management Services.
“We hope to go beyond the expectations of our clients. Here in Megaworld, we are always anticipating their needs to ensure they gain the best market value for their units,” says Donna Racho, VP for sales and marketing of Megaworld PPG.
“It’s like a concierge service wherein we will give full assistance. We will be extending our after0sales service to a bigger group which now includes previous existing unit owners,” Racho adds.
With the said program, unit owners of any Megaworld property who would want to sell or lease out their units will be assisted in scouting potential buyers and lessees; in negotiating and selecting bank financing options; and in maintaining and refurbishing units, among others.
“Basically it’s an added value for our buyers. Also, we see that there’s a lot of demand for such services as there are really those who buy for investment,” she further shares.
The new program began only a few weeks ago with the Eastwood township in Quezon City as the pilot project. It is hoped that the Leasing and Resale Management Services will help increase the sales of Megaworld developments.
“PPG was created with a long-term vision of providing the best services to all our clients. Thus, we think of ways on how to reach out to all our clients by letting them feel like VIPs even if they already want to sell their units,” Racho says.
To avail of such services, owners need only to enroll to the said program and this will be handled by the specialty group, which is tasked to look after units that are to be leased out or
A furnished unit for sale mega
sold.
“It’s actually a very basic registration process, owners need to only enroll in our program, register all information needed, sign the services agreement and provide us a list of furniture and appliances,” explains Philipp Llave of Megaworld.
“From there we will look for possible lessees and make offers and counter-offers until we reach a mutual agreement, then we set the contract and facilitate the move-in. In between we also conduct periodic visits to ensure that the unit will always be in tiptop shape. We also have our own housekeeping to handle the maintenance of the units,” Llave adds.
Meanwhile, Racho also notes that those who want to rent or buy the units will also be able to avail of the group’s free interior design services, which is now available to RFO [ready-for-occupancy] unit buyers.
PPG currently markets and sells RFO properties across Megaworld’s townships like Eastwood City, McKinley Hill, Forbestown Center and Newport City, as well as in-city projects in Makati, San Juan and Quezon City.
