“I don’t tolerate lateness or the traffic jam story because there are always traffic jams here; those stories make me anxious and impatient.”.
SANTO DOMINGO – Maja Fasting loves the words punctuality and honesty. These are two principles she champions every day with her team at Tropical Living, because she understands their importance in the work of a real estate agent.
She imported punctuality from her country of origin and considers honesty fundamental, so much so that she is not worried about a business disappearing for telling the truth about a property.
“We are advisors and we are selling for housing or for investments, it is very important that we present all the information we have, if it is valid, it doesn't matter if it is negative, we tell the client because in the end he is the one who makes the decision, but taking into account all the points he needs to know,” says the German woman who landed in the Caribbean 15 years ago.
Maja arrived in the Dominican Republic as an expatriate. An expatriate is defined as a person living in a country other than their country of origin, either temporarily or permanently, for various reasons. She previously worked for a European tour operator agency.
She leveraged her move into real estate to offer services to foreigners in the same situation, which has made her integration much easier, as she understands the needs, tastes, and preferences of this population; and this makes her a key ally for owners who rely on her work to define the adjustments that need to be taken into account in the properties.
Being a foreigner hasn't been an obstacle for the friendly Maja, who has already adopted some Dominican customs, although she still shows resistance to others. "I can't stand lateness or the traffic jam story because there are always traffic jams here; those stories make me anxious and impatient.".
She leads a team of four young women. Her work areas are distributed across Santo Domingo, Juan Dolio, and Las Terrenas. A key advantage is her fluency in four languages (English, French, German, and Spanish), which gives her a strong advantage, as she has a portfolio of European and American clients. Furthermore, she has a strong connection to the sea, a common interest among foreigners.
Loving what you do makes things easier, and Maja puts her whole heart into her work. “It’s a passion for me. This profession means it doesn’t feel like work, and that’s reflected in the client’s experience, who realizes it’s not a 9-to-5 job. I love working in real estate, getting to know the clients, seeing where they’ve come from, and listening to their experiences in other markets.”.
Although she loves the heat, she misses the four seasons of her native Germany, "autumn with its colorful leaves, the snow in winter and the Christmas holidays that are celebrated very differently in my country.".
As an organized agent, Maja is affiliated with the Association of Real Estate Agents and Companies (AEI), where she currently serves on the board. “I encourage all agents to join because they will have the opportunity to always receive up-to-date market information and training courses, which are very important for their daily work.”.
He understands that the role of family is important in the life of a real estate agent, given that it is a job that demands nights and weekends, so a lot of flexibility is required from the clan.
A network of good Dominican friends keeps her grounded when she forgets she's not in Germany and that things work differently in the Dominican Republic. She finds the style of meetings in this country appealing, because where she comes from, a meeting is for discussing specific topics, while here it becomes an opportunity to get to know each other and share a moment. "They're much more welcoming, and in the end, negotiations become easier. I love it.".
This experienced real estate agent is passionate about her career, which is why she's concerned about agents who go out on the streets with no knowledge whatsoever. That's why she recommends that new agents first seek training, as she believes there's nothing more embarrassing than dealing with a representative who doesn't even know the most basic aspects of the profession.
