“The key to success in the real estate sector is in comprehensive and professional management” Inmopolt certifies its processes with ISO 9001 in guaranteed income management

The expert analyzes the transformations of the real estate market and the relevance of having comprehensive services of trust.

Luis Martín Guirado has more than 30 years of experience in the financial and real estate sector. Highlights his 7-year tenure as Chairman at BNP Paribas Real State, executive positions at Credit Suisse, Managing Director at Roan Consulting Real Estate, Vice President of Citibank and COO at Genesis (MetLife – Banco Santander). In 2014 and 2015 he held the position of Director of Transactions and Market Intelligence at Sareb. In the RKS-AM group he has been Director of Socimi’s Ktesios and QPQ, as well as general manager of Servicer, specialists in residential rental. He was also Corporate Director of Business Development at Gesvalt until 2022.

Also, he was president of RICS Spain (2009-2013), is a member of the Council of Residential Specialists and, in addition, holds the position of Advisor of the Real Estate Committee of the College of Road Engineers of Madrid.

artín is a Canal and Port Road Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, with an MBA from IE Business School and an AMP from INSEAD. He also holds a diploma in Marketing of Financial Services from ESADE and is a member of RICS (Fellow RICS). Currently he is Of Counsel in the area of Valuation Services at Andersen and advises on Corporate Development for the Inmopolt Group.

What lessons has the real estate industry learned after the pandemic?

I think there are three important lessons. The first is that we had undervalued the design of residential assets. We fell into the trend of building apartments with one or two bedrooms, without a terrace, with strict square meters, and we forgot that our homes are spaces where we must combine personal life, freedom and work. After the pandemic, in my view, there has been a significant change in customer preferences. Today terraces, common areas and open spaces are more valued.

The second lesson, at a global level, has been the rapid and profound adaptation to the digital world, up to «digital nomadism». We all learned to telework and saw that it was not necessary to be near the workplace. This has driven certain locations, such as Malaga, the Balearic Islands, Murcia and Alicante, where many professionals have decided that they can combine their working lives, both physical and digital, without being tied to a fixed location.

The third lesson relates to owners of rental homes during the pandemic, who faced tenants who stopped paying. Many of these owners realized they needed a trusted end-to-end service that would guarantee their incomes, even in extreme situations like a pandemic. I know of cases of investors who tried to manage their properties themselves and ended up overwhelmed. This highlights the importance of professional services capable of solving present and future problems.

In addition, the pandemic has taught us how volatile the world is. Everything can change in a moment, and that’s why it is crucial to have professional managers who support us and get us out of problems when they arise.

I understand that Inmopolt has been one of those managers who, during the pandemic, was able to take the situation forward. Why was the 360º service key?

Inmopolt was a clear example of success thanks to its proactive management. We offered solutions to tenants through telephone calls, which allowed us to maintain a near-zero default level. In some cases, we split the rents into two or three payments, which was well received by the owners who trusted Inmopolt. The key was proactive service and proximity to tenants to avoid blockages.

Our work is synonymous with excellence in management. There is an expression we use internally: «worry-free», which means «no worries». It summarizes what the owner expects of us: that we take care of everything, from renewing contracts to solving problems, so he does not have to worry.

Inmopolt has recently obtained the ISO 9001:2015 certification in guaranteed income management. How does this service work?

Yes, exceptional work has been done throughout the life of Inmopolt, but in concrete terms an extraordinary effort has been made by the entire operations department of Inmopolt over the last 5 months to structure, organize, document procedures, the standards that were required for ISO 9001:2015 identification and we are very proud of our work.

The Advance Collection service by Inmopolt, without commissions and for only a flat rate of 50 euros per month, brings security and tranquility to the property, both of the owners who have a home and use that rent to pay other charges, such as the mortgage. From Inmopolt we are assuring you that every month, before the 5th day, your rent will be paid, regardless of whether the tenant pays the rent or not, and whatever happens, avoiding to the property any problems for non-payments or delays. Also to the Family offices and services, we provide that security and peace of mind. This guaranteed collection is at no additional cost to the property. From Inmopolt we close the circle that in some cases is very tedious for owners: we market, manage and guarantee.

In Inmopolt we understand that giving security to the property, besides performing a 360o service in the homes, is motivating many owners who were hesitant to put their properties on the rental market, encouraging companies like Inmopolt to sell, manage and guarantee them. All without commissions and with a flat rate no more expenses than 30 euros or 50 euros, more than 20 years of experience and service at your fingertips. Cleaning, assistance community owners, change of supplies, active search for tenants, scoring of solvency and suitability.

They have B2C and B2B business. What are the differences between offering a service to an individual and a company?

The difference is not in the ends, since both the individual and the company seek to maximize the return on their investment with the minimum of problems. What changes is the level of demand. Companies require a level of reporting and certifications that demonstrate that the management of their assets is done properly. Moreover, while individuals tend to invest in addition to a pension, companies and funds tend to be more volatile and demand constant reports of service levels. Finally, the B2B business, with companies and funds, requires coverage throughout the national territory as that offered by Inmopolt.

Inmopolt also provides advice on real estate transactions for both individuals and companies.

Yes, this service has emerged naturally. As we gained the trust of our clients, many have asked us for advice on continuing to invest in other types of assets, such as co-living, hotels or ships. What we do is analyze the product, its feasibility and profitability, offering consulting throughout the process, from due diligence to investment.

What are Inmopolt’s next moves?

According to what I have been told by the chairman of Inmopolt, there are three development lines. First, a natural organic growth, continuing with our expansion in Spain, as in Madrid and other provinces. Second, strengthen growth in the B2B sector by offering our services directly to investment funds and wealth managers. And third, internationalization. We want to position ourselves as a trusted service provider for international investors, especially Latin American investors looking to invest in Spain.

In relation to the situation of the real estate sector in the Region of Murcia, what is your view on the lack of new construction?

It is a fact that in Spain there is a deficit of new construction. According to the studies, between 150,000 and 200,000 homes are needed per year, but we are building about 80,000 or 90,000 licenses, with deliveries of 60,000 or 70,000. In regions such as Murcia, there is not enough new construction to meet current demand. In addition, there are several problems: lack of manpower, high construction prices and difficulties in financing access to housing.

We need to find a solution for families and young people to be able to emancipate themselves. I cite as an example the efforts being made by the Community of Madrid, which is, I believe, a leader and an example. It is financing up to 100% of the architecture for people under 30, through guarantees that it is giving the Community of Madrid, guaranteeing young people to buy what they can not finance. This is being done through fiscal effort, through initiative, and it needs to be done.

What is your role as Senior Advisor at Inmopolt?

y role is to understand the company’s strategy, support its growth and contribute ideas that can strengthen its development. I focus on advising and serve as a point of bounce ideas to go configure what the management of the company wants to do. I also help commercially, through my contacts and institutional relationships, to keep the company expanding. It is not executive but advisory work, helping management to make the best strategic decisions.