TRIMEX REALITY is a leading development company in northern Moravia and Silesia. For over twenty years, it has been undertaking residential and commercial projects that are transforming the region and creating modern living spaces as well as new investment opportunities. In this interview, Robert Švec, the company’s owner, discusses the services provided, his perspective on housing affordability, notable projects, and potential investment opportunities.
TRIMEX REALITY is among the top development companies in northern Moravia and Silesia. What services do you provide to your clients?
We offer our clients a truly comprehensive and customised service that encompasses all stages of the development process. With over 20 years of experience, we can now guide a project from the initial concept to the successful handover of the keys to the new owners.
We begin by looking for appropriate land, where local knowledge is crucial, along with understanding zoning plans, regulations, and the municipalities’ future development plans. We can identify sites with genuine investment potential by utilising a combination of technical tools, analyses, and personal connections.
The next step is to secure financing. We collaborate with various banks, financial institutions, and private investors, which enables us to provide flexible financing options. This allows us to structure a project in a way that ensures it is both feasible and economically viable.
We also develop the project concept in collaboration with architects and designers, creating designs that satisfy aesthetic, practical, and economic criteria. This process includes project preparation and engineering, which involves obtaining all necessary permits and communicating with the authorities.
We select suppliers through a tender process, seeking established partners who demonstrate quality and reliability. Our project managers oversee the construction, managing everything from scheduling and budget control to addressing any unexpected complications that may arise.
Before construction begins, our marketing and sales efforts are initiated. We develop strategies that integrate online and offline channels, focusing on branding and the project’s visual identity. We also take care of client changes so that buyers can customise their homes to suit their needs.
The goal is to ensure that clients do not have to worry about minor issues; we manage all aspects of the process diligently and guarantee results through our extensive experience.
The issue of affordable housing in the Czech Republic is frequently addressed. What do you believe is the primary reason for the low number of flats being constructed?
The main barrier is the complicated and prolonged permitting process. Two decades ago, obtaining a building permit required only a few basic documents – project documentation and a couple of statements and opinions. Nowadays, the amount of documentation needed has increased significantly, often surpassing smaller companies’ capacity and necessitating developers to employ specialists solely for handling administrative tasks.
This extends the project preparation timeline by years and greatly raises expenses. We estimate that the administrative and permitting requirements alone can increase the final cost of a project by as much as 25%. Naturally, these expenses are passed on to flat prices, impacting both end buyers and tenants.
Another consequence is the inadequate supply of housing. The lengthy approval process results in fewer buildings being authorised than the market can accommodate, leading to demand far outstripping supply. In the Moravian-Silesian Region, this issue is even more pronounced: when people are unable to find modern housing locally, they frequently relocate to other cities where there are more options available.
Legislative changes and the simplification of the permitting process are crucial if we want to keep up with countries like Poland and ensure affordable housing for the middle class. Modern construction does not require more paperwork; instead, it calls for faster and more transparent processes.
You have been on the market for over 20 years. What are your reference projects?
Throughout our history, we have completed dozens of projects of various sizes and types. Some of the most notable ones are:
• Atrium Slezská – 129 flats, a new landmark in Slezská Ostrava.
• Bílá Perla Residence in Opava – phase 1, 125 residential units.
• Renovation of the Bílý Kříž hotel – conversion of a historic mountain hotel into modern flats with views of the Beskydy Mountains.
• Čeladná Residence – 24 terraced houses in the centre of the village with complete infrastructure.
• Podhůří Residence in Frýdek-Místek – 66 apartments and 12 houses.
• Nová Bělá villa houses – 74 flats of various sizes with the option of front gardens.
• Vřesina terraced houses – 17 spacious houses for large families.
• Bydlení Poruba – 76 flats, including atrium units and a parking garage.
• Nová Polom – our largest project, with over 150 building plots, 36 houses, and a currently emerging village centre with 104 flats, commercial premises, and a unique public space connecting history and modern architecture.
We have also participated in projects such as Byty Hlučín (143 flats), the Polská apartment building in Ostrava-Poruba, Byty v Parku in Slezská Ostrava and Ostravská brána in the centre of Ostrava.
Since you launched your business, you have been investing in various types of real estate. What investment opportunities can you offer?
We divide the investments we offer into residential projects with long-term growth potential and commercial properties with a yield character.
In the residential segment, we recommend that investors enter the project at the initial stage, specifically “off plan”. This enables them to select the best units and take advantage of the value appreciation during the construction phase. Currently, we have the following offerings:
• Flats and non-residential premises in the Nová Polom project.
• 13 terraced houses in Ostrava-Poruba on Vřesinská Street.
• A project in the pipeline on Slavíkova Street in Poruba – 150 apartments, commercial premises, a health centre and offices.
• A luxury project on Sadová Street with a direct view of Komenský Sady Park for a select group of discerning clients.
• Flats in Valašské Meziříčí – Štěpánov Residence, 56 residential units.
Our unique projects feature a parking garage specifically for historic vehicles, complete with servicing and maintenance facilities, aimed at collectors and vintage car enthusiasts.
In the commercial sector, we have, for instance, a former grocery shop in the heart of Ostrava that has been fully renovated and is now occupied by new tenants. The goal is to provide a stable income while also contributing to the revitalisation of the historic city centre.
Thank you for the interview.
