By Escarlin Pozo
El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO – Seven years ago, this journey began in the world of real estate. His work as an agent started in a bedroom. This is how Eric Luciano, CEO of the agency “Luciano Aquino Inversiones,” began recounting his story.
Its evolution is described as a sustainable development in which each step has been supported by the work done and by the trust of collaborators and construction companies.
Time has witnessed their growth. Today they have three offices in the country, having inaugurated their main headquarters last year in Santo Domingo East.
When he started his work, he specified that his actions were focused on sales, later incorporating advice in the legal, project management and construction fields.
“This service, which we included in our portfolio in 2021, has given us the opportunity to collaborate more closely with developers and have a greater reach as a company,” Luciano said.
Among the new developments achieved this year, he mentioned that the firm is taking the first steps to expand its services to one of the most exclusive and wealthiest tourist markets in the country.
Eric Luciano. (External source).
“We are preparing all the necessary machinery in terms of infrastructure, technology and personnel, to give our all in this new challenge,” he stated in an interview with El Inmobiliario.
Another of its advances focuses on the digitization of the agency through the incorporation of administrative and real estate productivity software.
Despite the cost of these technologies, which is why they are being introduced gradually in the country, he understands the importance of incorporating them, as they allow for increased efficiency in the company.
Adding even further to the wave of innovation, they revealed that they have integrated personalized artificial intelligence into their corporate processes.
More than an agency, a family
In their day-to-day work as a real estate firm, Eric says they have a very strong philosophy: that their work environment embodies the essence of being a true family.
He stated that this is the essence they seek to project in each new talent that joins, which is fundamental for the growth of their team, which already has 30 real estate agents.
Looking to the future, they intend to increase their service offering to both experienced and new developers in the country.
“We are not looking to be the best agency, nor the biggest, nor the one that sells the most, we are looking to do the best and most honest work possible together with our collaborators and for the results of our joint effort to be our calling card,” he declared.
In that regard, he explained that their business model will continue to focus on "identifying" areas with high real estate potential where they can become pioneers in their development and that of their community.
Internationalization as a key objective
Luciano Aquino Inversiones became an agency that has participated in international fairs, making its presence felt in the United States and Colombia.
For Luciano, it is of utmost importance to continue this path of internationalization, so he "eagerly awaits" the opportunity to participate in an event in Europe, such as the International Tourism Fair (Fitur).
Real estate sector of the Dominican Republic
Speaking about the country's real estate market, he revealed that one of the positive aspects is the economic capital that has been directed towards real estate development, which "represents large volumes of business for us as agencies.".
Despite the positive outlook, he emphasizes that growth without a solid foundation can be detrimental, as it attracts people without adequate training who seek to enter the market as advisors.
The downside of this scenario, he points out, is that unqualified people enter the sector without offering professional advice, which creates confusion and problems for customers over time.
Another of their points is the massive opening of agencies by people with little experience and without qualified administrative staff, which results in poor agreements with builders and the acceptance of low commissions, affecting established companies, just to make their way in the market.
“If our regulatory body, the Association of Real Estate Companies (AEI), manages to constitutionally regulate our sector before the Dominican State, this disorderly situation can be corrected, and attract more investors to the development and purchase of real estate in our country,” he said.
Similarly, he pointed out that this regulatory framework would allow existing real estate agencies to improve their work by operating within a set of rules that promote healthy competition and collaborative growth in the sector.
