Batumi is a Party Town but Buying Real Estate in Batumi is NOT all Fun and Games

With at least ten big casinos and as many as thirty smaller ones, Batumi has certainly earned its nickname “The Las Vegas of the Black Sea”. Situated 15 kilometers from Turkey, where gambling is illegal, the draw of this town is strong for those keen to roll dice late into the night. At Ruebush Group we have several very clearly defined principles to minimize risk when investing in Batumi real estate – some of which are very specific to this city – which we have learned over ten years here, and our dealings with hundreds of properties.

Royal Casino In Batumi

With at least ten big casinos and as many as thirty smaller ones, Batumi has certainly earned its nickname “The Las Vegas of the Black Sea”. Situated 15 kilometers from Turkey, where gambling is illegal, the draw of this town is strong for those keen to roll dice late into the night.

Those tourists may fill our hotels, but our investors tend to prefer a somewhat different risk profile.

At Ruebush Group we have several very clearly defined principles to minimize risk when investing in Batumi real estate – some of which are very specific to this city – which we have learned over ten years here, and our dealings with hundreds of properties.

In future articles we plan to go into each of these principles in finer detail, whereas here we’ll simply set out a broader picture to give you an idea of the key philosophies which we bring to this industry.

Beware a Bargain

Some people believe they can get on the bottom rung of the ladder with a simple apartment in a high-rise and find an income, or sell later. There’s too much competition for that to be true anymore, if it ever was. The average number of views for an apartment in Batumi on Airbnb is just 20 per month, whereas ours are 30,000 views per month, and we’re consistently fully-booked. The contrast is clear to see.

Even if you’re buying to live in a property, or as a second home, you will want to ensure that the space and utilities are installed to high standards, both for your comfort and safety. Cutting corners will prove to be costly in the long run at best, and at worst downright dangerous.

Know-How or Know Nothing

Finding good contractors is not easy unless you know this country intimately. There is no license required to call yourself an architect in Georgia. Much less to be a plumber, electrician, or general contractor. The economics often incentivize contractors to take shortcuts, or they may not even know that higher-quality options are available. Sometimes materials and even electrical equipment are counterfeit. Your team needs to be able to spot when something is not right.

Quality or Horror Story

Dangerous wiring, plumbing that leaks, concrete turning to dust, steel rebar rod that is too thin for the loads, leading to catastrophic structural failure – the stories we’ve heard about contractors cutting corners, or even accepting substandard materials in good faith – should convince you to instead choose the highest quality company and team to invest with. Ruebush Group employs the best people in Georgia, with decades of experience at the very highest level of construction.

Not only do we make sure that every contractor and delivery is of the highest quality, Ruebush Group also goes above and beyond when it comes to the fit and finish of our rooms. Our bed linens and pillows are custom-made to provide a level of comfort that you wouldn’t even find in a big-name hotel here, and we provide different thicknesses of bedding during summer and winter, to ensure the maximum possible levels of happiness and comfort for our guests.

Real Estate For Sale In Batumi - Seaside Park Hotel
Real Estate For Sale In Batumi – Seaside Park Hotel

Boutique or Branded Name

There is a dubious business model in Batumi where you can buy a unit in a building with a big international name over the entrance. We won’t single them out, but you’ve likely seen them advertised. There are many problems with this, not least that your biggest competitor is right there in your building. Your clients likely won’t be able to enter via the lobby, will have to pay to use the pool or gym, you’ll get bad reviews, and your income dwindles to zero.

Furthermore many short-term thinking builders hide behind big brand names, hoping that you won’t notice they installed the wrong gauge of electrical cabling, flimsy drywall, or took any number of other shortcuts to save a buck.

With a Ruebush property your managed and maintained rooms are marketed as bespoke experiences. Our properties routinely come up in the top 20 of searches because our rooms look unique, and our guests are routinely thrilled, so they feel compelled to post great reviews about the positive experiences of their stay with us.

Efficiency or Risk

Purely from a financial standpoint a hotel room is vastly more efficient than an apartment. The property has a full-time reception, concierge, caretaker, housekeeper and security. Compare this with the example of a standalone apartment, where someone has to take a taxi to the property to deal with every spill and other minor issues.

If you are seeking an apartment in Batumi for personal use, or even for rental income, Ruebush Group specializes in properties specifically designed to perform at maximum on Airbnb and other booking channels. But understand the performance and efficiency will be less than an equivalent hotel room.

For maximum efficiency and income, you may want to consider buying a hotel room in one of the luxury properties designed, built, and operated by Ruebush Group.

Roll of the Dice?

So many aspects of investing in a developing country are challenging. We’ve devoted ten years to mitigating those issues and instead turning them around to make attractive experiences for guests and partners alike. The local essence we imbue in our boutique designs allows visitors to feel part of Georgia, rather than holed-up in a standard cookie-cutter international-issue hotel room. 

The caliber of construction and finish we employ ensure a remarkable experience for guests who can explore the beauty of Batumi and Adjara with a sense of immersion which continues when they return to their hotel space. 

We look forward to welcoming you into our family of property investments, so get in touch today and we’ll discuss how to maximize your returns based specifically on what you’re looking for, and to help ensure that you’re making a smart investment, and not simply rolling the dice.