A lot of industries are affected by the long pandemic crisis, pushing down sales, shutting down doors, and stopping work in factories and plants. This is also the same with the real estate industry, where major developers have experienced, for the first time, “red” numbers, a total 180-degree turn from years of profit and expansion. But this is not the case for one developer who has projects in Laguna and Quezon province.
Pammy Olivares-Vital, president of Ovialand, Inc., shares to Manila Bulletin Lifestyle that they, like other businesses, faced numerous challenges at the start of the ECQ lockdown. This downturn, however, challenged her to think quickly. Instead of having a wait-and-see attitude, she decided to immediately adapt to the situation at hand.
One of the first adjustments that Ovialand did was to go digital in its processes and communications. The sales team converted their presentations to become online friendly, sales kits were turned to digital visual aids complete with photo galleries and videos, while Zoom sessions were set with clients instead of personal meetings.
“Due to these immediate adjustments, we did not feel the pinch of dwindling sales because we adapted to online selling. In fact, our sellers continued to thrive with their incentives and commissions,” she says. Since June, they were already back to pre-pandemic sales performances, even showing a 15 percent increase, bucking the downward trend felt by other similar companies.
“We also found out that the market, no matter the situation, still wants a better and beautiful home. Despite the uncertainty, our clients didn’t hesitate to purchase homes from us as they’ve seen our finished projects and ongoing developments that we would deliver as promised.”
The digital adjustment was also Ovialand’s way to ensure that each and every employee is safe.
“We made the decision to split our team permanently until December—60 percent are working from home, while the rest are considered as frontliners. The WFH team is no longer measured by time but by output, and we have equipped them with the tools they need. The frontliners, meanwhile, are provided private shuttles and convenient staff houses, as their safety is prioritized. Cutting down the constant travelling from home to work would also limit the exposure of employees to health risks,” she explains.
Pammy was also glad that her team was also supportive of the changes, even noting that the pandemic encouraged each member to “work together like clockwork and respond to the needs of each other without hindrance, bureaucracy, or miscommunication.”
“This renewed vigor was felt by our clients and partners as we were able to immediately respond and adjust to the reality of the pandemic, while at the same time moving toward our goals,” Pammy says. “We can help restart the economy and do it in a safe and convenient manner. We take this role seriously!”
This same concern for employees is also seen in the way Ovialand takes care of its communities. Aside from observing strict health protocols and reminding residents to stay at home, practice physical distancing, and to do regular handwashing, the company also regularly sanitizes shared spaces such as the entryway and guardhouse, the clubhouse, plus the streets and gardens. It is to give residents the peace of mind that they are living in a safe and secured community.
“The center of Ovialand is our residents and clients. We believe that a home is a family’s most prized possession. The moment you decided to purchase a home with us, you had already given us your trust. In return, we work on giving you ‘Premier’ㅡin terms of service, product, and community,” says Pammy. “More than ever, we are conscious about our contributions to helping restart the economy. As we maneuver around this new normal, we look forward to a stronger return, one that is greater than before the pandemic.”