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The work
Previously, I mentioned that I am a German who has become Mallorcan, and that’s true, but roots are roots. As a good German, and therefore cap quadrat, I have never been able to let go of the business vision of Germany. Germans work hard and play hard, focusing their workday on total productive efficiency. Order, organization, privacy, space, and punctuality are the values that stand out most in our personality in the work world.
But dear reader, if you are from Mallorca, you will know what I mean: here, they go at a different pace. The more you stress, the worse you live. Many things are left for tomorrow, and other problems are solved with a “ja ho veurem,” which literally translates to “we’ll see,” but figuratively means “let’s cross our fingers and hope it solves itself.” Here on the island, worries diminish, and they are fans of the saying: “a poc a poc i amb bona lletra,” which means “little by little and with good handwriting.”
I feel very grateful to my environment because it has allowed me to take control of my life and choose and shape my path, especially when I took the step of moving to the island and had to make a living.
Initiation into the world of real estate agents
My career in the real estate sector began many years ago, specifically in 2002. When I got divorced, with two children, many animals, and a house to renovate, I had to find a way out. Luckily, I had a friend who worked at Engel & Völkers in Andratx, and they were looking for more agents. She knew I spoke German, English, and some Spanish, and I already had experience in the construction world.
In Germany, I built a house, renovated another, and carried out horizontal divisions. Even as a child, I drew little houses; once, I drew my house in Canada for my entire family, with my parents living in the center, my brother in one wing, and me in the other. No one was convinced by the idea.
When I was offered to be a real estate agent, it wasn’t really what I wanted. In my head, this profession was a fusion between a car salesman and an insurance representative, honestly, with an ironic tone. I accepted the job because I had no other choice; I needed it, and as luck would have it, I found my calling. Additionally, it’s a job where you meet many people who are, in most cases, very interesting. Many clients end up becoming friends.
The first three years were very complicated; I didn’t sell much. It was also one year after 9/11; there weren’t many clients, people were afraid to travel or simply to fly. At that time, selling was done in a more aggressive way with which I didn’t identify. However, I knew I could do it because I loved meeting clients, visiting houses, and socializing.
Little by little, I developed my own style and learned that my way of selling was very similar to that of an advisor. In the following three years, I made three very important sales that helped me gain a lot of confidence. That’s why, when new salespeople come, I assure them that this job is not as easy as it seems. You need two to three years to settle in properly.
Step by step
I started the first few years as an agent in Portals, and in 2005, I was offered the position of director in Santa Maria. I wasn’t sure whether to accept the director position because the market in Santa Maria wasn’t as developed, and there wasn’t as much activity as in Portals, but I knew I could identify much better with the properties in the center. So, I said yes.
In 2006, we opened in Inca because the central area is too large to cover with just one office. In 2008, the darkest moment arrived: the crisis.
As a result, and due to commission cuts, I spoke with the executives. In that meeting, I asked what it would cost to buy the franchises in the center and south of the island. I decided to take the plunge; having the franchises under my responsibility would allow me to make some decisions that I couldn’t until then. After leaving the meeting, in the car, my heart was racing, and I thought, “Tina, where are you going to get all this money from?”
I managed it, along with my husband, Alex, who renovated a house, and just at the right moment, a client appeared. I had to take out a mortgage, which I paid off after five years. But I achieved my goal.
The Team
Actually, I have been building the team, my big family, since 2005. Lisa and Torsten have been working with me for almost twenty years. Another fundamental person in my team and for the company is Tanja, who has been working with Engel & Völkers for more than twenty years and in my team for over a decade. Carol and Silke are also essential, soon reaching a decade here in the company. Honestly, I have been very lucky to have people like them along the way.
It is true that more agents and assistants have passed through, and that your work life is, or should be, just a part of your life, and a person must make career decisions for themselves and not for the company.
I have many valuable people on my team, and it’s difficult, eh, it’s difficult to find them. I need them to deal with all the clients we have because right now, many see me as the first point of contact. What I do is direct the client to my agents because I couldn’t handle everything, and this way, my workers benefit.
At Engel & Völkers, we take great care of the company’s image; in the end, it’s a brand, but the ones who really sell are the people. Clients come to us for the brand’s value, but the ones who make the brand valuable are the workers who strive every day to sell properties. I would love to tell you about each one of them; don’t worry, I will introduce them to you.