Mondi stands up for the importance of the second owner

Rob Smulders is the first in a short series of interviews. Rob is the founder of Mondi.Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Rob Smulders (48), happily married to Ellen and proud father of two children Sofieke and Martijn. I am founder and director of Mondi, the interest group for (future) owners of a (second) home abroad. I am a Brabant Burgundian, a real hockey lover and if possible, I like to sit on the mountain bike for beautiful tours through the woods and single tracks. I also keep my condition on track by running regularly.

What does your company do? 

Mondi is an organization that stands up for the interests of its members and provides them with practical and preventive information to successfully purchase a (second) home or investment object abroad or a recreational home in the Netherlands. Where or from whom members ultimately buy is Mondi no matter, as long as our members buy successfully and can especially enjoy their purchase for a long time. Even if they encounter obstacles after the purchase, they can call on Mondi as a member.

The Mondi membership is particularly recommended to (future) owners of a property or investment object abroad. Whether they are in the orientation phase, have already bought a house or want to sell it again. They have many questions and want to know the legal, fiscal, financial and practical consequences of their decision. Mondi advises its members collectively and also personally, depending on the membership.

How does your company differ from other companies in the industry?

Mondi is unique and anticipates questions from members, which all stakeholders address through publications and members through a protected environment. Mondi.nl and Mondibelangen.be Benefiting greatly from benefits of up to tens of thousands of euros, Mondi also separates the wheat from the chaff. There are quite a few one-day flyers and fortune seekers active in the international real estate market.

Why did you choose that?
This is a confluence of circumstances. In 2001 I started publishing a magazine for international real estate, living and living. Many questions came to the editors ranging from small practical problems to situations with large financial and emotional consequences.

I felt that we should provide people with information more preventively in order to prevent problems, but from an independent interest group. That turned out to be a hit.

What experience in your professional life zal You never forget? 

There are countless of them. The most recent is that we become 100 percent owner of a resort that was valued at 28 million euros in 2011. We are in the final phase of a share transfer that can take place, after the financial, tax and legal due diligence investigation including depreciation has been completed.

596 buyers saw their investment in Egypt go up in smoke due to lack of money from the developer. The developer invoked force major because of the Egyptian revolution from January 2011. Result: an unfinished new resort on the Red Sea. From a hopeless situation with bankruptcies, hope arises, without me having to undertake legal proceedings for it. Walk the diplomatic path, isn't it?

Do you have a good tip for (prospective) owners of a second home? 

When purchasing a home abroad or a recreational home in the Netherlands, do not save on expertise. Prospective buyers act too quickly out of good faith. This leaves room for errors of judgement due to other laws (which may even differ per region), rules, cultural differences and language barriers.

Anyone can successfully become an owner of a (second) house or holiday home, provided that you are professionally supervised. Mondi acts solely out of the interest of its members and offers a lot of benefits. That membership is so recouped.