Even though Rami Atef Salem, 32, is an engineer himself, he found it hard to find someone to redecorate his home. Hence, Social Buildingz.
EG: Why did you start? What’s the passion behind it?
Rami Atef Salem: I asked myself why not to have a platform to bring together all décor companies in the market, evaluate them and rate them to help anyone looking for someone to do up their home. Social Buildingz came into being in mid-2018.
EG: What is your background?
RAS: I graduated from Cairo University in 2011 in Construction Engineering and Management and I have ten years’ experience in the field.
EG: What are the issues you are solving and what is your value proposition?
RAS: We are helping the homeowner who needs to renovate their home as most of them are not experienced and have no knowledge of what to do. Social Buildingz is a free professional consultancy to arrange ideas and requirements by submitting their request on our website. We convert it to a design then find the best prices to apply this design and get the best results under Social Buildingz guarantee.
EG: Tell us more about the process, users, business model.
RAS: The process starts with clients sending their request to our website, then the consultant calls the client.
Their requirements are converted to specifications and a preliminary estimate on our website. If the client is happy with the estimate, the client signs the contract and makes a down payment to finish the design.
The design then is sent to two to three contractors from our 1,500 verified contractors to get the best prices.
Finally, the contractor who will perform the work is selected and Social Buildingz follow up the work until completion.
Our business model is mainly commission-based for every task and it varies from 2.5-5 percent depending on the size of the project.
EG: What are your main challenges?
RAS: The continuous increases in the prices of materials, which delays homeowners’ plans.
EG: What are your achievements and future plans?
RAS: We now can provide payment facilitation options from major banks and lending facilities.
We hope to help developers to add to provide their fully customised homes for the most competitive prices and payment facilities. We have closed more than 300 deals so far.
Our clients are mainly busy homeowners, Egyptians living abroad and tourists.
EG: Do you think the ecosystem is helping you?
RAS: Sure, the ecosystem helps us to get connected to mentors and other startups that helps us to grow.
