Romanian Real Estate market, 2010: Punish the crooks but also appreciate and respect the serious professionals

Part 2

(to read part 1, click here)

How did I finally rent my current office?

After almost 4 months of search, I can admit that I had reached my limitsThey provided me the offer, I saw the place and I negotiated with the owner directly (with the collaborating agent present, but without the usual "this is the price, don't talk about it" approach). It was a matter of 2 meetings with the owner, so as to reach an agreement and a third one to arrange the details of the contract. All of us took what we wanted: I had the deal I was searching for, the owner found a tenant who suited his strategy (I guess), while the collaborators of ours received their commission, exactly as they should. (especially because the owner of my previous office suddenly changed attitude when she realized that I would really leave). Thank God, one of the serious collaborators of mine gave me the solution. Small company, but effective.

Why is that so difficult to have in our daily business and collaboration?

I can not hide behind my finger, Romania is not USA

I know that many people get upset when I say all the above. They know that this is the truth, but they just don't like to read it, to be known in public. But on the other hand, I can not lie, I can not hide myself behind my finger. Romania is not USA, as many people compare it with. Romania is… Romania, with its advantages and disadvantages. I receive plenty of emails from people who tell me that they have exactly the same problems and that this is the reality that someone lives, when he wants to invest in any type of deal: To rent or buy anything. What I notice lately is an (impressive indeed) try of many people to pretend that all problems are solved and now prices can start rising again, using some very "questionable" arguments for this.

In the previous years, the market went up "to the sky" because foreigners injected billions in it. These foreigners will not return and accept to be treated bad, as they used to, by people who consider that they "make you a favor", when they simply do their work: Serve you as client. As I serve my clients, as hundreds of serious people serve their clients in Real Estate and all other segments.

Serious professionals: The only serious hope of the market

Yes, Romania is one of the best places to invest. Yes, it has excellent potential. Yes, I continue saying that "Romania is not my destination, Romania is my destiny". But even now, after 15 months of visible crisis and 2,5 years of frozen market (because since Autumn 2007 there were very few transactions), we still face the same problem of mentality: The majority of people wants easy, fast money, by all means. In the past, when Europe was very expensive, thousands of foreigners came here and accepted bad behaviors, lies and treatments, hoping to compensate with big profits (as some people even officially promised…) Also thousands of Romanians were brainwashed to believe that "the target is to have a property, wherever, and then you can do whatever, reach unlimited wealth and treat people how you wish". This was imposed by the media, by many of the market people. If anyone tells me no, I can come back with THOUSANDS of examples.

In the same time, many serious people were desperately watching the crooks around them earning money, tricking clients and doing all sorts of "smecherii". Ofcourse these hundreds of professionals did not disappear, the market was good for everyone. But now, these people are the most needed ones. If this market has a hope to move on, stop falling and revive, this hope lays only on the hands of the serious professionals. Who will inspire trust to the foreigner, who will respect Romanians and foreigners, who will ask and receive their fees based on their work.

Punish the crooks, but appreciate the serious professionals

Instead of discussing about the same things all the time, we should draw a line and move forward. There is a 20% of serious people in the market today. You can raise it up to 30% or lower it down to 10%, this does not change the substance. Whenever you find someone serious, a real professional, respect his work, treat him as you should do to anyone else you find important. Show him that you are here to do long term business with him, respect his effort to bring you the result you expected.

I do not state that all people are bad or crooks. What I believe though is that we have to punish all these ones, by ignoring them, avoiding to deal with them or rejecting their manners and their (usually) funny "rules" and "conditions". We should focus to serious, real professionals, who exist in the Romanian Real Estate market and now it is THEIR turn to take over the control of the market. In big or small companies, simple people or professors of university, there are plenty, of all kinds, enough for everyone to choose.

During this year of turbulence, we have no excuse for mistakes. The "relics" of the past must be left aside. This is the first problem to solve and AFTER when to discuss about when the prices will rise again. If we don't grab the opportunity now, it will be too late in the future…