The aGoe awards https://agoe.cat/ are held annually in Girona, corresponds to a group of senior volunteers where advice is given to small businesses, self-employed and micro-enterprises.
As a finalist in the last event organized, HousesWithHeart was awarded for its project, which aims to give way to uninhabited houses where there is no real outlet for sale, then rehabilitate them and rent their rooms in order to provide affordable housing to people who due to their personal and work circumstances cannot, or do not want to, maintain a flat.
In this way, new life is created in Catalan heritage buildings, preventing their deterioration and illegal occupation, providing a return to the owner, and generating a new vision of sharing life with its residents.
INTERVIEW GEMMA DE MIGUEL
HOUSES WITH HEART
-What motivated you to undertake this project?
My passion for closed old houses comes to me from a young age, I had always dreamed of renovating them to become
a home.
On the other hand, from my travels around the world I was inspired by the networks of hotels and English residences, here
the business idea arises to create a network of shared houses in the territory that contributes to solve the
Bleeding problem we suffer from lack of affordable rent.
-To what extent are the professionals involved in your project decisive in the development and
company success?
Team is everything, cooperation is the only way to build a company, and everything, to life. Two people adding up
efforts aimed at a common goal, are more than the sum of one and one, increases exponentially.
I am very grateful for the work of each of the “helpers” and professionals who have helped to launch the
project, and the inspiration of trainers and tutors from entities such as aGOe. The business center, for example, is vital.
-If a young entrepreneur aspired to lead a project similar to the one you had launched, what three
advice would you give?
That you have good legal advice for the agreements signed, that you carefully filter the profiles of the residents, and that you look for a mentor in the real estate sector (which is not easy).
-If you started again from scratch, would you follow the same path or change some of the ones you did?
He would sign a better deal in the first house.
-On average, how many hours do you spend at work each day?
Hard to say, when you are an entrepreneur you even dream of the company, and ideas come to you during the dream. Also when you meditate. I am a fan of the “surrender” experiment, which shows that more effort and hours of work do not translate into achievement, but that the activity should be combined with frequent breaks and meditation.
Americans distinguish between “work on the business” and “work in the business.”
Personally, I find it hard not to get carried away by the activity, especially now at the beginning of the project, but often
I stop at least a weekend or two a month, turn off the wifi, and go into meditation retreat. This refreshes the
my mind, and reminds me that neither I nor the project are essential, and that my work is not the ultimate meaning of the
my life.
-Can you detail how any day is in the development of your project?
There are two phases in the pace of the project.
One is home management and negotiation to acquire new homes.
This is relaxed… manage, perfect the system and many meetings and visits to home providers and
financing, team meetings.
The other phase is the start-up of a new house, this is a time trial, hectic. Once the agreement of a
home begins the period where you invest time and money while no income enters. You usually agree on a deficiency, and for
therefore, it is a challenge to have the house operational and 100% occupied in the shortest possible time.
-How has the development of this project affected your personal life?
What personal life?!? … Yes, yes, yes !! Bromeo… I try to apply what the book “The one thing” says (translated to
Spanish), and I spend some time a day talking to friends, making coffee, and nurturing emotional ties.
-What motivates you the most to continue?
Test myself to what extent I am able to achieve it.
-What support do you expect from aGOe, and how does it have to help you?
Mentoring, mentoring, mentoring.
Thanks Gemma.