Siblings Edward and Rebecca are the brains behind developers and finishing contractors I.T.P. Ltd and their newest venture, Maduma Real Estate. Their office phone does not stop ringing, and their relatively young age – both are in their early thirties – does not get in the way of their successful joint operation and provides a dynamic synergy to their ever-growing customer base.
Infrastructure & Turnkey Projects Ltd is better known by the industry simply as ‘I.T.P.’, and it was founded in 2017 by Edward Borg, now its managing director. Maduma Real Estate was set up to cater for I.T.P.’s growing clientele and the wider property and development market needs. The whole point of this close collaboration between these two entities is to provide clients with a “one-stop stop”, Rebecca states, that takes care of everything, from the selling or purchasing of property to its complete finishing.
There are already two elements behind Maduma Real Estate. Firstly, as its name indicates, the original function of the company was the importation and supply of tiles and stonework, including marble. The company’s love for exquisitely beautiful tile and stone work does not limit itself to the natural and the traditional, and their range demonstrates the modern evolution of both tile and stone. As for the material used by I.T.P., Edward categorically states that he only works with what he deems best, having personally tried all there is to try himself. The company also provides sanitary ware, bathroom fittings, and drain systems – among many others – and across all its products, it appeals to customers who not only want a high-quality product but an equally high-quality service.
To all its clients, Maduma Real Estate guarantees the efficient conversion of capital into property, or vice-versa
Beyond its range of products, the company also caters for clients who are looking to enter the real estate market, either as homeseekers or as developers. Their clients include walk-ins interested in selective orders, end inhabitants looking to buy their forever home, investors looking for commercial property, as well as developers looking for a partner. To all its clients, Maduma Real Estate guarantees the efficient conversion of capital into property, or vice versa, as soon as possible.
The key advantage offered by Maduma Real Estate which distinguishes it from an already vast array of real estate agents is that it can handle everything the client needs to facilitate what is otherwise a notoriously stressful and time-consuming process. Other estate agencies only provide one service, which means that clients would then need to source and liaise with other suppliers and developers. At Maduma Real Estate, however, clients can find everything under one roof, which makes the process both more convenient and economical. The company’s economic model therefore exploits the benefits of the economy of scale, and if clients were to work independently, they would not be able to enjoy the competitive prices offered by Maduma Real Estate, Rebecca observes.
Anyone buying property through Maduma Real Estate can benefit from its close collaboration with I.T.P., so it has the advantage of being a sole point of reference for clients.
Put simply, the clients make their demands and Maduma Real Estate delivers. Their passion for the provision of customer care stands out and is evidenced by their repeat clients who trust them fully. Edward even calls their enterprise a “boutique” for the value it places on client satisfaction rather than client numbers. They take no shortcuts when it comes to the quality of their products and services, with their ethos centring on what Edward calls their “attention to detail”. Rebecca adds that their business focuses on providing ease of service, and they also offer a discount package so that clients interested in their real estate may also take advantage of their discounts on a host of related appliances and accessories.
in order to corroborate its fundamental mission of being a one-stop shop to the industry – from the selling or purchasing of the property to its complete finishing – Maduma Real Estate also supplies Spanish tiles
Their choice of the suppliers they work with is the result of a marketing exercise that identified a property buyer’s main needs, so they carry lines by local brands that cater for kitchens and bathrooms, living and outdoor spaces, as well as home security. The discount packages they offer are similarly the result of this, so that prospective clients can benefit from the company’s collaboration with top brands.
Rebecca’s background in communications and marketing means that their business efforts are all grounded in the identification of market needs. Their property portfolio is more about quality than quantity, and while it is not large, it has been meticulously curated to feature property that promises value for money and which meets the market’s demands. Maduma Real Estate can therefore boast of property for both habitation and development purposes, and it also comes at different price points to cater for a wide budget spectrum.
Their choice of property as well as their choice of suppliers stems from their focus on customer needs and satisfaction. The same principle can be seen in the choice of tiles they have available. Their range appeals to different tastes, different budgets, but also, to different deadlines, so their range is categorised according to these variables in order to facilitate the selection process for their wide variety of clients.
In addition to collaborating with local suppliers, and in order to corroborate its fundamental mission of being a one-stop shop to the industry – from the selling or purchasing of the property to its complete finishing – Maduma Real Estate also supplies Spanish tiles, which are internationally renowned and comply with EU regulations and environmental requirements. Although they are open to other foreign suppliers, they are keen to maintain the balance between good quality and affordable pricing.
they are keen to maintain the balance between good quality and affordable pricing
And balance, rather than compromise, is the key word in this business. Without mitigating the quality of their products or services, the company is able to bypass expenses that the client would have to bear out without forgoing client satisfaction. For example, their careful selection of tiles ensures a stock that is sufficiently varied and adequately supplied, and their strategy facilitates the process of buying and installing these tiles; however, this also means that the company does not have to fork out money on warehouse storage space and additional loading costs. It keeps such expenses down – as well as its personal profits – to make its products affordable without compromising the quality or the supply. It also guarantees that there are no unnecessary delays for their clients’ orders. The company has also learnt from the recent pandemic and focuses on avoiding disappointing its clients at all costs.
Such precise calculations can perhaps be traced to Edward’s background in accountancy. After several years working for one of the top five financial institutions in Malta, he set his sights on his own business, which he worked on part-time for eleven years before finally deciding to change careers. Edward says, with a chuckle, that he was always a hands-on kind of person and that running his own business suits him far better than working in an office ever could.
The work gradually increased, and after working on his own for three months, Edward was able to hire employees within a year and now manages a team of nine. Today, I.T.P.; that is, Infrastructure & Turnkey Projects Ltd, carries out electrical work, plumbing, installation of gypsum soffits as well as tiling, in addition to excavation, construction, alterations and renovation. Moreover, the company has an in-house notary and architect who work closely with its clients’ architects, and where possible, it also handles the relevant permission applications with the Planning Authority.
Edward also has a background in technical design and a holds a certificate in masonry. While this combination is rare to come by, he jokingly admits that he knows at least one other accountant with the same qualifications. In fact, Edward still remains very much involved.
During the day, he is often onsite, playing the role of project manager, and he does not mind getting his hands dirty, especially when there are tight deadlines or important projects. However, he is also learning how to step back from his supervisory role as he trains his employees to become more autonomous, and he has also hired a project manager as his right-hand man.
I.T.P. … also handles the relevant permission applications with the Planning Authority
And he needs this help for his thriving business; on a given day, the company might have construction work in Cospicua, tiling in Swatar, tiling in Santa Venera, plumbing in Msida, and membranes in Luqa. Edward and his team work around the clock to maintain operational efficiency, with Edward saying that he sometimes works late into the night to keep up. The efficiency his clients benefit from is the result of this very hard work behind the scenes.
So what’s next for Maduma Real Estate? Their auspicious start was certainly not a matter of beginner’s luck but rather, the fruit of a carefully thought-out business strategy and consistent dedication to its application. They have many more ideas in the pipeline which aim to simultaneously diversify and streamline the products and services they offer, as the company reaches its consolidation stage. The way forward, as Edward states, is all about doing more of what they are already doing, and emulating the success they have already enjoyed so far.
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