By Raquel Salas
Special for El Inmobiliario
On December 2nd, while enjoying lunch at a restaurant near Madrid's Plaza Mayor, a conversation arose that led me to reflect on a crucial issue: the delays in the delivery of real estate projects. This will be the focus of my first article of the year, a call to action for everyone involved in the sector.
Amid laughter and anecdotes, stories emerged of investors who, at the time, placed their trust in certain developments hoping to celebrate the holidays in their new homes. However, many of them now find themselves mired in uncertainty, victims of a lack of information, indifference, and poor communication from the developers in whom they placed their trust.
Today, I invite independent agents, real estate companies, developers, and everyone involved in the promotion and sale of projects, especially those still in the planning stages, to make this the year of transparency and timely communication. What does this mean? It means anticipating uncertainty through effective communication. From my experience as a public relations specialist for real estate developments, I can say that construction delays are, in most cases, predictable. As the saying goes, "forewarned is forearmed.".
It is a serious offense not to inform investors about delays in the delivery of their projects. Even worse is not to tell them in advance that they will receive their properties well beyond the grace period stipulated in the contract. In the last six months, I have witnessed the distress and frustration of many families affected by this lack of communication. My primary tool for raising awareness is this news outlet, and I would like to extend an invitation to you.
My invitation is clear
Let's be careful and thorough when choosing to promote and sell a development. I love seeing how new developers, before launching a campaign, do their due diligence, sending out forms and requesting the necessary information to ensure the development is reliable. Securing projects is a responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. Just because a project is selling like hotcakes doesn't mean it's trustworthy.
Riding the wave of sales without considering potential collateral damage can lead to a period of stress and uncertainty, directly affecting the investor and, indirectly, a whole network of stakeholders, from agents to the legal departments of developers and real estate companies. In unforeseen circumstances, even agents can find themselves embroiled in lawsuits.
How can this scenario be avoided?
The key is to investigate the developers involved in the project, establish effective communication, and ensure the company acts transparently and responds promptly. It's crucial to pay attention to every detail and not downplay any red flags that may arise.
I want to give you the following manifesto for 2025
In this new year, we are committed to being agents of change in the real estate sector. We recognize that trust is the foundation of our relationship with investors, and therefore, we are committed to maintaining open and honest communication. Every message we send, every update we share, will be a step toward building a more transparent and responsible environment.
We are committed to prioritizing ethics in our practices. Promoting projects should not be merely a sales tactic, but an act of responsibility towards those who place their trust in us. Every decision we make will be guided by the principle that our clients deserve the best, and that includes providing accurate and timely information about their investments.
We will promote education and ongoing training in the sector. We believe that a well-informed agent is an empowered agent.
Finally, we are committed to listening. The voice of our clients is fundamental to improving our services. We will establish feedback channels that allow us to understand their needs and concerns, ensuring that each one feels valued and supported. Together, we will build a real estate future where honesty and transparency are the cornerstones of our work.
I close this article hoping this manifesto will be useful to you in this new year that has just begun. Honesty and transparency are the pillars that will build a more solid and reliable future for real estate. Let's make 2025 a year of responsibility and commitment to our investors!
The author is: Public Relations Manager for Mystiq Developments, CEO and founder of Positive Refocus, Director of the RP Media Group, Integrative Coach for personal development and motivational speaker certified by John Maxwell Leadership, co-founder of the introspective podcast Green Dogs, author of "Before Saying Yes" and "Time for Me"
