Desislava Lyubenova and Galina Vasileva launched their consulting company ProjectOne in 2018. Their focus is on the housing market, for which they provide comprehensive consulting and brokerage services for residential housing investments - from the concept development, through the creation of a marketing strategy, advertising and communications, to sales and after-sales services. That way they optimize the product that will be delivered to the market, reduce the risks associated with its sale and improve the return for investors.
Shortly after founding the company, they met River Park investor Mr. Ori Niv, and the opportunity to participate in the creation of the project appealed to them. Thus began their fruitful partnership.
We met with Desi and Galya to find out how River Park attracts buyers and what the latest trends in the real estate market are.
1. River Park promises to be a “new generation complex”, but how does it differ from other gated communities?
Desi: River Park is the only project of its kind in Sofia not only because of its scale, but also its planning. We are not just creating another gated complex. We are creating a home for generations to come. That is why we decided on a different (albeit harder to sell) concept - the complex has only houses, and to meet the needs of more people, we have different sizes and layouts of the houses. We have planned large green belts as well as playgrounds and community spaces... In the planning phase, we focused on the comfort of the people who will one day live here and raise their children. We wanted to create a place where we too would be happy to live and raise our children.
2. What is the most distinguishing feature of the houses?
Galya: The architectural plans have undergone several improvements, so we can use the spaces to be as functional and cozy as possible for their owners. We are glad that buyers appreciate it and we receive very positive feedback from people who come to our meetings. All houses are planned with large rooms and straight angles in order to avoid the loss of space in corridors and staircases. The row houses for example are almost square in shape, and unlike the narrow and long corridor-type row houses we are used to seeing, you don’t feel cramped inside. On the contrary - the spacious outer walls with large windows allow more natural light to enter deeper into the premises. Also, the house is only on two levels - the living area is on the first floor and the sleeping area on the second. This makes it much easier for families with young children, because they do not have to climb hundreds of steps a day with heavy baskets of clothes and toys. We also have wonderful terraced garden spaces (thanks to the richness of the landscape), of different shapes and sizes, which allows people to have more personal space - to play with children, have dinner with friends outdoors or just relax.
3. For whom is life in River Park?
Galya: River Park will be appreciated mostly by people who want to live in an exceptional environment and maintain good relations with their neighbors. They would be happy to build close friendships - just like in the suburbs we know from the movies. One day one mother will pick the children up from kindergarten, the next day they will visit the others’ house. Each family will bring sweets to the neighbors on holidays.
This is the profile of people looking for a home here - those who want to know their neighbors.
Desi: Indeed, life in gated communities feels very different. It is important for buyers what kind of people will live around them, who their immediate neighbor will be, whether they have a child or a pet and often ask questions about that. Here socialization is easier and close relationships are created quickly. This is aided by shared spaces and especially playgrounds and gardens for walks with pets. Especially now that we all spend more time at home, people realize that gated communities are an excellent living environment. Here they can go out in the yard and in the green areas, and communicate without restrictions.
4. What are the most frequent questions your prospective buyers ask?
Desi: Buying a house is very emotional and one of the most important steps in people’s lives. They usually come prepared and ask several meaningful questions. In a nutshell, the most important questions are about the size of the rooms and whether there is room for an office, which has become quite a pressing issue when it comes to working from home. They are interested in shared spaces and yards - everyone wants to have green areas in which to sit and relax. The neighbors are also of great importance - what kind of people buy properties in the complex, because they realize the importance of the people they will live with. We are glad that we have the opportunity to sell a living environment that meets their deepest desires.
5. What else impresses people who are interested in River Park?
Desi: They are pleasantly surprised by how many playgrounds we have. Usually in gated complexes there is one single children’s playground, situated as far away as possible so as not to “disturb” the residents. Here we placed them all around the complex, and they are tailored to suit the age of the children. But in addition to the children, we have thought about the other residents of the complex. There are jogging alleys, an outdoor gym, sports pitches, and several barbecue areas. There are also several dog parks, which are large in size and divided into two - for small and large dogs. We have also taken care of their maintenance so that they remain comfortable and pleasant for a long time. In addition, at River Park there are a lot more green areas. At the current stage of construction this is not yet visible, but as soon as we plant the first plants and trees, they will quickly become a hallmark of the complex.
6. And how does River Park win its buyers?
Desi: Large plots of land on which a large-scale project the size of River Park can be developed, with public transport and proximity to key amenities, are practically nonexistent in Sofia. The location here is key and when they look at it, people take into account all the activities in their daily lives. For a family, time is always planned to the minute. Near River Park there are several public transport stops (including a planned metro station), kindergartens and schools, sports facilities, dining and entertainment venues, which are all important for a family. Buyers also appreciate the accessibility of the mountain through the Simeonovo lift, with its first stop just a 5-minute walk away from the complex. They also benefit from the clean air, the park environment and the opportunity to take a walk in nature with their children without having to leave the complex. They appreciate the fact that their children can play, have friends, which happens naturally, without requiring additional commitments, traveling through traffic jams and additional planning.
