Margi Petit has been a Realtor with Lifestyles Realtors for two years. She specializes in oceanfront and anything within three blocks of the ocean.
BEFORE LIFESTYLES?
She was in sales and management with Xerox for 20 years. “I sold outsourcing solutions. For example, a company would want to do their custom marketing materials. We would come onsite, set that all up and provide the people to run it.”
HOW DID SHE GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
She left Xerox to take a year off and really didn’t know what she wanted to do. She met Mike Bugg, the broker of Lifestyles Realtors. “I had no intention of getting into real estate. When I met Mike, I decided I truly would follow him to sell anything. There was something very special about him. If I was going to switch to a whole new career, I wanted a mentor and his mind is so far ahead of everyone else.”
AREA SHE CONCENTRATES ON?
Atlantic to Ponte Vedra Beach. The only area she farms is Atlantic Beach because she lives there.
PRICE POINT?
She works with high priced properties and investors.
FAMOUS PEOPLE
“I just listed Rocco Mediate’s house; he’s one of the top golfers in the United States.” Mediate is moving to Naples.
WHAT DOES SHE LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“I love real estate. I love that every transaction is different. I love the energy of what’s going on. In order to sell the hot properties, you need to be on top of what is going on. To me, it has been a fun job. When I entered it, I wanted to be part-time. I really thought I could be at home more with the children, but I probably work about 80 hours a week. I love working with people and I love the emotional side of it. I like staying abreast of what’s current and getting it while it’s hot.”
HOW DOES SHE MEET CLIENTS?
During her run or bike ride in the morning. “That’s how I initially got my listings. That was the way that I met people. I’m just persistent and I think after the first nine months it was mostly referrals.”
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU MOST TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
“My energy level and working smart.”
ADVICE FOR NEW AGENTS?
“Focus on one neighborhood. I focused on Atlantic Beach and I made a name for myself in Atlantic Beach. From that it trickled out to the other beaches and that’s how the referrals started to come. You need to create a name for yourself and have a niche market. Be willing in that first year to sacrifice everything in order to get started. Stay focused and know your inventory. That has been the key to my success, is knowing my inventory.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“Not to overprice a house. Price the house according to what the market will bear. If you overprice it, you won’t sell it. Be honest with the customer about what condition their house needs to be in. If it smells like a dog, tell them.”
GETTING SOME HELP?
She is hiring a full-time business manager to help her with her business.
WORKING WITH BUILDERS?
She works with Michael Sones of Ocean Boulevard Development and Fabio Fasanelli of Fasanelli Development, who build small unique residential developments at the beach. She is currently listing The Cottages at Atlantic Beach and Ihla Bella Townhomes in South Jacksonville Beach.
HOMETOWN
New York.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
After college she moved to Connecticut for 14 years and was transferred to Jacksonville nine years ago with Xerox to start the outsourcing division for them here.
COLLEGE
She has a bachelor’s degree in communication with a focus in news and public affairs from Marist College in New York.
FAMILY
She is married to Steve, a personal sports trainer at World Gym. She has two children, Haley, 11 and Ryan, 6.
WHAT DOES SHE LIKE TO DO WHEN SHE IS NOT WORKING?
Running, exercising and spending time with her family.
CHURCH
Community Presbyterian in Atlantic Beach.
FAVORITES
A movie she saw recently and would recommend is “Love Actually.” When relaxing at home, she enjoys tuning into “Law and Order.” When traveling, she enjoys Boston. A new restaurant she recommends is “Ocean 60” in Atlantic Beach.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis