What is house flipping? Where does the name come from? Radical home staging explained step by step as a case study by Partners International experts Agnieszka Marchocka, interior designer, and PI Art Director Marcello Sora.
House flipping may not be a popular term in everyday language, however in real estate register it comes about quite frequently. The term represents a buy-restore-sell process which is an effective method of making profit on renovated real estate. The idea has been borrowed from the american market and becomes more and more popular among domestic investors. What are the make-dos of the process? Affordable real estate in need of restoration gains higher market value after a thorough makeover.
Like in a fairytale, a mediocre apartment as a result of professional redesign and redecoration turns into a fabulous venue anyone would wish to live in. That was how Joanna Czapska, Partners International Managing Director with 25 years of experience in real estate, envisioned the idea when she was approached by an investor with an apartment in the heart of Warsaw – 156 sq.m. in Wiejska street, located in a historical building.
PI: Can you tell what the biggest challenge of this makeover was and how you delegated responsibilities between yourselves?
Marcello Sora: We found out that Wiejska apartments did not evoke much interest with our customers. Partners International Managing Director Joanna Czapska addressed Agnieszka, whose interior design projects and own house in Biały Kamień make a big impression, to cooperate in the Wiejska apartment makeover.
Agnieszka Marchocka: In fact, Joanna expertly created a dream team of visionaries and enthusiasts. The biggest issue with the Wiejska apartment was its lack of particular style, inexpensive furnishings and incoherent design. While working on that project I experienced deep support and trust in my choices on Joanna’s part.
MS: My role was to maintain the right direction of this project. The interior was a real challenge – an attic with skews one meter high, yet with a splendid location. Our main idea was to adjust the level of interior design to its top location.
PI: What did you start with?
AM: We raised the ceiling to enlarge space while preserving the attic style of the apartment.
PI: So the number one goal was to let in more light into the interior?
AM: Definitely yes. We needed lots of natural light. The example was the bathroom – difficult to fit in any amenities in the original project. However, combined with newly acquired windows, it turned into real bathing suite with free standing bath tube.
MS: Any apartment is easier to live in when there is more light inside. Furthermore, to increase the comfort of living, we divided the apartment into two parts: the living area including the kitchen, the dining space and a spacious living room, and the intimate area, situated further into the premises to maintain privacy of the occupants.
