“The ideal path for agents every day is to study and prepare. Staying up-to-date is essential these days.” Olga Gómez, Executive Director of AEI.
SANTO DOMINGO – An agent's success is closely linked to their education and the time they dedicate to the business. A true real estate agent must be focused; mixing the profession with selling other products is “nonsense,” because real estate is a serious and demanding profession.
Ms. Olga Gómez, executive director of AEI, Association of Real Estate Agents and Companies, has more than enough authority and experience to advise with knowledge of the paths that an agent must take to succeed in the profession.
She has been involved in the Dominican real estate sector since 1979, providing leadership and high-level training within the profession, and is affiliated with international industry associations and federations. She is currently passing on her extensive experience to new generations through her organization's training program for aspiring real estate agents.
“I believe that those who lack focus will fail; it’s like medicine, which has its specializations and markets. A real estate agent isn’t just about bringing a client to someone or finding a property; it’s about advising a business from beginning to end, and for that, you have to be prepared,” the veteran states.
For Bienvenido Paulino of Plusval Dominicana, being part of the real estate business requires a dedication akin to that of a pediatrician or gynecologist, given the constant availability to serve clients and respond to their needs. “It has to be 24/7 if you want to be a successful real estate agent. At Plusval, we require as a condition of joining that the person be exclusively dedicated to this; it has to be their sole source of income and their livelihood.”.
The experienced agent understands that to guarantee quality, one must distinguish between those who only seek remuneration and those who provide service because "those who seek money are just passing through" and those dedicated to the profession ensure good service.
Doña Olga elaborates that the real estate profession, in its various forms, in Latin America, is a highly respected figure, always up-to-date in studies and specializations, and "that is the ideal path we have, the agent who is concerned every day with studying and preparing.".
He values that this year's enrollment at the AEI corresponds mostly to young people who are venturing into the career, which, he says, excites its authorities because they represent the future of the sector.
Claudia Castillo, general manager of Top Inmobiliario, believes it should definitely be a full-time job. “It requires our total concentration to achieve optimal results; it’s not just about selling or renting, we are advisors to our clients and we support them in all tax, legal, and other aspects.”.
He adds that in real estate work there are no weekends or holidays because it is precisely on those days when the greatest demand from clients for property visits occurs, so "we must take this on with dedication and the ability to fulfill 100% of our commitment.".
