He has been a site agent with Southern Grove Condominiums located in Southside on Beach Boulevard since last March.
WHERE WAS HE BEFORE?
He worked for ProHome Warranty Management in Seattle before he was transferred to Jacksonville a year and a half ago.
WHAT DID HE DO?
“We took care of multiple warranty work for builders. I had about 15 builders who I oversaw on a weekly basis. I would walk through houses and talk to the owners about their warranty and about homeowner maintenance. On a weekly basis, I would report back to the builder and if there were issues that needed to be taken care of, I would assign it out to subcontractors and make sure it was taken care of.”
HAVE YOU EVER DONE SALES BEFORE NOW?
Yes, he worked for Kline Development in Clarkesville, Ind. before moving to Seattle. “I worked for a small builder who built 35-40 homes a year. I started as a gofer who did whatever needed to be done. They’d go out and play golf and leave me to take care of everything and things progressed from there. I worked mainly with the building part and I liked it, but I would see these sales agents come in who weren’t very educated, but who were making very good money. I decided I should get into sales.” The builder also owned a real estate company, so Watkins got his real estate license and started selling real estate.
HOW DID HE GET THE JOB WITH SOUTHERN GROVE?
He was working with ProHome and had met several builders and site agents in Jacksonville. “I had talked with some site agents and was considering getting back into sales when I was introduced to Judy Watterson. She has this project and interviewed me for it. My license wouldn’t transfer so I went back to school and got my broker’s license this time.”
WHAT MADE HIM CHOOSE SITE SALES?
“Because I know new construction. I thought I would do well taking the buyer from the groundwork to everything they need to know about construction. I can walk someone through when the building is just framed up and show them exactly where things will be. I can explain the entire process to the buyer.”
WHY DID HE MOVE TO JACKSONVILLE?
“I couldn’t handle the Seattle weather any more. Here, there is sunshine and there I can guarantee it’s rainy and cloudy there right now.”
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW SITE AGENTS?
“Try to work with someone who has a lot of years experience in site sales. My partner, Rhetta Dean, and the sales manager, Judy Watterson, both have a lot of experience. So I am set between two very educated women and I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut and my ears open. Also, you really need to know your product inside and out. If you know it and you get involved in every aspect of it from marketing materials to actual construction materials, then you will be a good sales person.”
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH?
Right now he lives in an apartment near Hodges Boulevard until his condominium is ready in April. “I practice what I preach. At first I wasn’t thinking that I wanted a condominium, but I work a lot of hours. The more I was preaching to people the benefits of owning a condominium, I started thinking maybe this was something I should be doing.”
BIRTHPLACE
Louisville, Ky.
HOBBIES
He enjoys fishing and cruising around Jacksonville in his 21-foot boat. “It’s nothing fancy, but it floats.” He also would like to find more time to play golf.
FAMILY
He is single, but has a three-year-old German Shepherd, Rocky, to keep him company. “He’s my partner in crime.”
FAVORITES
He is into motivational books and recently read, “Success is a Choice: Ten Steps to Overachieving in Business and Life” by Rick Pitino. His favorite movies are “Gladiator” and “Braveheart.” He gets a kick out of the character Dennis Finch, so he really enjoys tuning into “Just Shoot Me.” When dining out he enjoys Carrabba’s. “They have a chicken Marsala which is to die for. It is the best.” He recently took a trip to the Keys and cites that as his favorite place to visit.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis