She has been a real estate agent with New World Realty and Property Management, Inc. in St. Augustine for six years.
HOW DID SHE GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
“My husband, Bert Hodge, was in property management with another firm and I had been co-managing a Home Depot.” When she retired from Home Depot, Marcus Wally of New World Realty approached she and her husband to come over to his company as a team. She became a real estate agent while her husband took over the property management department.
TIPS ON HOW TO BE A TOP PRODUCER?
“Be a good listener. Be patient. Buying or selling a home can be intimidating for many people. Never promise anything unless you are sure you can deliver. Deliver what you promise. Don’t be emotionally attached to the outcome. Keep an open mind and never stop acquiring information. Set aside time for yourself or you’ll be a very tired top producer.”
BIRTHPLACE?
Mexico City.
COMING TO AMERICA?
When she was six months old.
CROSSING THE LANGUAGE BARRIER
She speaks fluent Russian, but said it hasn’t proved very effective because there are not very many Russians in St. Johns County.
“We are opening an office in Palm Coast and I hope to be of service there to help with interpreting or translating. My mother’s side of the family is from Russian and my first language was Russian. English was my second. It’s one of those things where if you don’t use it, you lose it, so I am definitely looking forward to using it.”
FAVORITE THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“I am very detailed oriented. I like being able to provide the information that people need to make an informed decision about their real estate. That way there is a greater chance of finding the perfect match which is what this is all about.”
AREAS SHE WORKS?
In St. Augustine, but she also works in Vilano Beach and St. Augustine Beach as well. “I believe in picking your area of concentration and then learning all you can about it.”
ADVICE TO
NEW AGENTS?
“Training and education is everything. You get out of real estate school and you have this tremendous amount of information with no practical application. You need to pick a company that will train you. Go to all the courses that are offered by your local board. Pick a senior person in the company and be their shadow.”
WHAT IS CHALLENGING ABOUT BEING A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
“Time management is probably the most challenging thing because I have trouble saying no.”
CHALLENGES SELLING IN ST. AUGUSTINE?
“About 60 percent of what is within the city limits was built at least 50 years ago. There are recent insurance challenges will make resales even harder. Florida is a really tricky place when it comes to insurance. People come to downtown and they are absolutely charmed and you want them to understand what it means to own such an old home. You have to be able to explain what makes the area so charming can also make it frustrating to people who do not understand the zoning rules or why they are there.”
SPECIALITY?
About 60 percent of her business deals with older properties
FAMILY
She has been married Bert for 12 years, but they’ve been together for 22. They have a female Dalmatian, Kody.
RESIDES
In St. Augustine in a 1918 Mediterranean Home.
—by Michele Newbern Gillis