By Escarlin Pozo
El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO – His entry into the world of real estate was no accident. Agent Erick Melo began to delve into this sector thanks to the influence of his father, Pablo Melo, who has become his great mentor.
Since then, nine years have passed in this profession. However, her training goes further, as she holds a degree in marketing from the Catholic University of Santo Domingo (UCSD).
This training, along with other qualifications, has equipped him with the skills to work as a real estate advisor over the years. As he himself points out, this job requires a variety of skills and knowledge.
“I think that an advisor has a touch of everything because to be a good advisor you must be a good salesperson, handle options, know the product, know the market, etc.,” he stated in an interview with El Inmobiliario.
In his role as a senior associate at Plusval Inmobiliaria, Melo is responsible for working with residential and investment properties in Santo Domingo.
Erick Melo. (External source).
During his work, he says that the human element is woven in by feeling satisfaction when he sees a family acquiring a home and, as he pointedly expressed, he is filled with even more joy when this property is their first.
“It feels good when someone puts their trust in you and receives what they were looking for,” he said.
Professional commitment and development
One of Erick's favorite pastimes is an activity that every professional should do: reading.
He says he keeps himself up-to-date by reading books on current topics and also invests his time in studies such as the diplomas he has taken with Clever University and Juan Carlos Ramírez.
Regarding her daily routine, she says she divides her time between spending time with her family and fulfilling her work responsibilities.
In this last aspect, he explained that his work in the office generally takes place in the early hours of the day, with the afternoon, from Monday to Friday, being when he is in full execution showing properties and attracting clients.
He also revealed that another of his responsibilities focuses on designing strategies for real estate projects for construction companies.
Challenges and opportunities of the current market
Speaking about the reality of the sector, he stated that it is in full growth, describing the market as having "limitless" development.
Similarly, he assured that there are currently projects that cater to various purchasing power levels, as well as the interests that arise in terms of demarcation.
On the other hand, Melo analyzed the other side of the coin, indicating that they are experiencing an increase in the price of materials. However, he stated that this has not prevented construction from continuing nor has it halted sales.
The real estate agent noted that, in the current context, many people have shown interest in entering this profession due to the boom it has experienced in recent years.
However, he warns that, despite the positive aspects that this growth has brought, it has also generated significant challenges.
“That’s good in one way, but on the other hand it has also trivialized it, and we have agents who are not trained or who do not have the education needed to do a job like this,” he said.
Therefore, Melo advocates for regulation of the profession. First, he emphasizes the need for greater training in the sector. He also underscores the importance of the Dominican government supporting builders and the National Congress promoting a law that professionalizes the real estate business.
