Taking a leaf from the book of inspirational businessman Sir Richard Branson, who says that “a business is simply an idea to make other people’s lives better,” Ludwina Dautovic has seized a golden opportunity. While others have been speculating about an uncertain future marked by the glaringly obvious housing affordability crisis, Ludwina has come up with a solution.
The Room Xchange is Ludwina’s fifth tech investment and provides a means for better living. Her latest business venture matches busy people or empty-nesters with travellers and independent youth. Guests receive free accommodation in exchange for a couple of hours of help around the house each day.
Standing behind a bright idea
Ludwina is a lady who describes herself as having gumption and she can list a string of profitable career changes to prove it. From sales to education, events and life coaching to media production, Ludwina’s shown she knows how to create a successful business from little more than a novel idea, the right people around her and a commitment to hard work.
The idea behind The Room Xchange came to Ludwina when her daughter’s friend came to stay. Ludwina enjoyed the company and help around the house. In return, her daughter’s friend enjoyed rent-free accommodation for performing chores like laundry, tidying up and grocery shopping.
A new approach to the room-letting ecosystem
Ludwina saw that there was value in a pay-per-use arrangement for hosts and guests and that it presented something different to what was already on offer from other accommodation sharing platforms like Airbnb. The set up would suit many young people who can’t afford to get into the housing market, or simply don’t wish to lock themselves into a mortgage. For those who do work long and hard to own their own home, having someone help maintain the house also makes sense.
Accommodating a better lifestyle
“The match-up we provide with The Room Xchange is fantastic and supports the living of life,” says Ludwina. She doesn’t agree with people who argue young people are shying away from fulltime work and home ownership because they’re lazy. “It’s inspirational the way young people are living today,” she says. “Why wait until you’re 50 to start living with passion? Having a 22 and a 24-year-old myself, I know that young people have good values around making money and the environment, their social values — they’re good, reliable people with great ideas.”
The Room Xchange key facts
- Company name: The Room Xchange
- General Manager: Ludwina Dautovic
- Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
- Industry: Services & Consulting
