The Era of “Fake Estimates”
In August 2016, the market was boiling. Everyone around was shouting: “Turnkey renovation for $100!” But behind this number was a trap. It was just labor and basic materials. The client would get caught in an endless process of choosing tiles, buying wallpaper, and dealing with unpredictable expenses. The price was “from,” and the final result was always a surprise.
Why did I decide to go against the flow?
I am a third-generation construction engineer. I graduated from the Odessa Academy of Construction and Architecture (OGASA).
I had experience that few could boast of:
- Reconstruction of the Sea Terminal
- Construction of the ChMP Stadium for Euro 2012
- Renovation of five-star hotels and business centers
- Over 100 completed apartments and houses
When I opened my own construction company (RSU), I understood that clients needed not a process, but a result and a fixed price. That’s how “Remontomania” appeared – the first honest package solution.
The first package: $199 for a real “All Inclusive”
We launched a product that seemed crazy to the market. For $199, the client received:
- A design project with visualizations (as a gift!)
- Labor and materials
- Decorative plaster and drywall ceilings (which at that time were the standard of quality)
Evolution and Resistance
Moving forward was incredibly difficult. People were drawn to the “hundred-dollar” offers from competitors, and we had to literally explain on our fingers that our $200 was the final price, while their $100 was just the beginning of a long journey.
But we didn’t stop. At the beginning of 2017, we realized that one package wasn’t enough, so we made a major upgrade:
- Optimal: added a kitchen, curtains, and air conditioners.
- Maximum: move in and live with full equipment and appliances.
Why This Matters Today?
This story is not just nostalgia. It is the foundation of our philosophy: transparency is more important than flashy numbers in advertising. We were the first to dare to name the final price in Ukraine, where everyone was used to vague estimates.
We created a product that changed the rules of the game. Since then, dozens of companies have tried to copy us. But this is the difference between a creator and an imitator:
- The original always looks forward. While others copy our old packages, we are already implementing new technologies and service standards.
- The copy is always one step behind. You can copy a brochure or a service description, but you cannot copy ten years of experience, a three-generation engineering school, and the responsibility we take for every completed project.
We are not afraid of competition. Being imitated is the best recognition of our professionalism. But it is important to remember one thing: a copy will never become the original. We continue moving forward, setting the bar that others have yet to reach.
Take a look at this photo. It’s August 2016. This is our very first showroom. There are no glossy panels, hundreds of employees, or a fancy office. But here already existed the idea that would later transform the renovation market in Ukraine.
Many people never saw how we manually selected each laminate and wallpaper sample to fit within that honest $199. They don’t know how many nights were spent on calculations to prove that a turnkey renovation is not a trap with hidden costs, but a transparent and proper product.
August 16, 2016 — the date we released the first “Remontomania” brochure and officially declared war on hidden estimates.
It was a true engineering revolution. While others lured clients with low “labor” prices, leaving them alone to deal with purchases and chaos, we launched an honest product.
We were the first to offer the market transparency and clear, high-quality service. It is precisely for this honesty that thousands of clients came to trust and love us.
If you look closely at our brand, you will notice a passion for honeycombs. And this is not a random designer choice—it is a deliberate engineer’s manifesto.
In nature and architecture, honeycombs (perfect hexagons) are the most perfect and strongest shapes.
For us, honeycombs are a metaphor for the ideal renovation. Just as bees build their cells with mathematical precision, we at RSU structure every stage of your project. In a package solution, just like in honeycombs, there is nothing extra—only a strong framework, precise logistics, and a flawless result.
2016: We didn’t just package renovation—we digitized it
When we launched “Remontomania,” my goal was to eliminate the client’s biggest fear: uncertainty. That’s why, alongside the package offer, we introduced something the market had never seen before: our own digital platform.
Why was this revolutionary?
The market was used to “murky” schemes, where you had to call the foreman constantly and collect receipts from your pockets. The plans were in total chaos!
We made renovation as transparent as glass. We gave clients peace of mind and confidence by digitizing every step. Today, Roomskey is already a cross-platform application.
On February 2, 2017, we realized that one package was not enough for the client. We made a major upgrade, which is still successfully sold today:
- Optimal Package: We added what was so lacking—kitchen, curtains, air conditioners, and all climate control equipment.
- Maximum Package: The ultimate solution. All furniture and appliances included. The “Move in and live” formula in its purest form.
They say great projects begin with drawings, but our project began with faith
Today, as we update our digital platforms and release new brochures, I keep these sketches as a reminder. A true original cannot be bought or copied. It is born in the pains of creativity, in debates, and in these simple pencil lines.
Take a look at these shots. This is exactly how I sketched each Remontomania package.
Honest business in turbulent times: Why our prices changed
We always set ourselves an ambitious goal – to keep the cost of “Remontomania” stable for as long as possible. We wanted our packages to remain that unshakable standard that people could rely on for years.
We fought for every cent in the budget, optimized logistics, and negotiated with suppliers. But reality had its own rules. The economic situation in the country and currency fluctuations left us no choice – to avoid losing the quality that is sacred for RSU, we had to index the prices.
Every price change was accompanied by a new edition of our brochures. But for us, it wasn’t just a “recalculation.” With each new edition, we:
- Improved the content: adding new materials and technologies.
- Refined the packages: making them even more aligned with the demands of the time.
- Maintained transparency: the client always saw the current and honest price, without asterisks or hidden fees.
Yes, prices changed, but our rule remained ironclad: once a price is fixed in the contract, it does not change until the end of the renovation.
Flipping through these brochures from different years, you can trace not only the history of inflation or currency fluctuations. This is a living chronicle of how the RSU brand grew and strengthened.
Yes, the prices in the brochures increased. We openly acknowledge this because we never played the “cheap renovation” game. But if you look closer, you’ll see that along with the price, the value also grew:
- From the first basic solutions – to “move-in ready” packages with furniture and appliances.
- From simple reports – to a sophisticated digital platform and 24/7 online control.
- From a local startup – to the status of a trendsetter in package renovation solutions in Ukraine.
