«Clients now want
three and four-bedroom apartments and houses to renovate»
As DECISÕES e SOLUÇÕES’ National Coordinating
Director, how do you achieve success?
The half century of
life that I have already lived has taught me that in order to be successful in
any area it is fundamental to have a purpose in life. I regularly advise my
teams to ask themselves three questions: «Where, specifically, do I want to be
in six months’ or a year’s time? What legacy do I want to leave in this world?
How much am I willing to sacrifice in the next few years?» Reflecting on these
three questions will give a good perspective for analysing how our life is now,
how we want it to be and finally what we can and need to do to get there. You
have to be persistent, know how to hear ‘no’, learn to listen, be curious and
be able to count on the help of a more experienced professional.
What are clients’ needs currently?
A DECISÕES E SOLUÇÕES
client needs personalised and independent advice, with 360º solutions, with
regard to buying, selling and renting property, as well as with regard to brokerage
of credit, insurance, remodelling works and house construction. The pandemic
led families to appreciate the different areas of properties, especially
outdoor spaces, whether a garden, a veranda, a terrace or a yard. On the other
hand, «easy access to the Internet» became a consideration, to connect to the
world, a direct consequence of telework. Clients now want three and four-bedroom
apartments and houses to renovate. However, for the second home market, or for
rental properties, the demand for apartments is still on the rise. Location
also underwent significant changes. The most sought after locations are now on
the outskirts of the large cities, followed by coastal areas and, finally,
rural areas, a property profile associated with a more serene environment and
greater contact with nature. At this stage, urban centres are only sought after
by investors looking for «opportunity properties». In the case of Credit Brokerage,
clients from our network of outlets need to know the solutions for home and
personal loans that best suit their profile, and also find solutions to reduce
their costs, through the transfer of home loans, presented by our banking
partners. In the case of Insurance Brokerage, we work with both families and
companies looking for the best market solutions.
Is the digital world one of the factors in
sustaining a business?
In 2020, the pandemic
presented itself as a challenge to businesses. For DECISÕES E SOLUÇÕESoutlets
there was a change in service relationships in order to keep them on their feet.
The main lesson we have learned was the importance of the digital world for our
business, we never talked so much about Digital Marketing. So the way forward
is to stand with both feet in the digital age, although you can't replace the
charm of personal relationships, especially in real estate.
In which
way do the company’s future plans embrace sustainability when it comes to Real
Estate, for example?
Sustainability is a factor to be taken into account
when listing property at DECISÕES E SOLUÇÕES. Our clients look for more sustainable
solutions, not only because this type of house allows a saving in terms of
energy costs, but also means a greater commitment to the environment, in order
to minimise the ecological footprint. DECISÕES E SOLUÇÕES real estate branches
focus on highlighting sustainable properties when it comes to promotion,
firstly because this type of buildings is duly certified, therefore, these are
properties with quality guarantee and, secondly, because they have a high
environmental, social and economic value that is real, not based on financial
speculation. By investing in a sustainable home, our customers are ensuring
that they pay a fair price.Our branches are committed to reducing the use of
paper by investing in digital, avoiding waste, recycling materials and
conducting most of the training sessions and meetings online, promoting the
reduction of fuel consumption and associated emissions.
Being a woman, in a management position, in a group
like DS, what advice would you give to all women? Being a woman and
being a leader in a group like DECISÕES E SOLUÇÕES was an evolutionary process in
my career, in which gender had no influence or impact whatsoever. In this brand
meritocracy rules, our employees progress according to their competence,
performance, effort, dedication and aptitude for the position. As for my advice
to all women, I can share some, such as working with mixed teams; promoting
equal opportunities for men and women; believing in ourselves, working on
self-confidence, seeking help from a mentor or someone you admire; using
emotional intelligence to deal with the normal difficulties of a successful
path. Be persistent, because frustration will be part of life; accept what
cannot be changed; do not undervalue work, knowing that being a woman, mother
and daughter is reconcilable with work; if you want to be a mother, be so
without fears and without postponements, because it improves the view of the
world and of others, brings new experiences of resilience and self-knowledge,
which are very rich and applicable to everyday life at work.