Sherry Faircloth has been the manager of Watson Realty’s Orange Park office for three years. She had been the manager of Watson’s 103rd Street office.
HOW LONG HAS SHE BEEN A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
Six and a half years. She was with Prudential Network Realty before Watson.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She owned and operated child care centers for about 16 years.
WHAT MADE HER GET OUT OF THE DAY CARE BUSINESS?
“I got way too attached to the children and there was an awful lot of neglect and abuse [in their home life]. It was hard on the heart. The children were great, but the parents were difficult.”
WHAT MADE HER GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
“I have always wanted to but I was definitely one of those moms who would not leave her children, so I went to work in the child care center so I could take my child with me. I just never felt timing was right.” Over the years, she had bought, rehabilitated and sold many properties. “After 16 years, it came time for a change. My children had gotten older and I felt like I was in a a position to do what I wanted to do, which was real estate.”
HOW DID SHE GET INTO MANAGEMENT?
“I truly love to be around people and that was one of the things I loved the most was that I could meet lots of people. I started working at Prudential and my first year, I had a very good year. Midway through my second year, Watson Realty approached me and the rest is history.”
FAVORITE THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“The unlimited income. I am a very competitive person and it’s always a challenge every day. It is really nice to put that young couple in their first home or the elderly couple in their retirement home.”
DOES SHE STILL LIST AND SELL?
“Absolutely. I would say a majority of the managers don’t, but for me that’s my favorite part of the business. I just feel like I can better understand what my associates are going through because I’m out there too. I still get the door slammed in my face once in a while.”
AREA SHE WORKS?
Her office focuses mainly on Orange Park but they take listings all over the city.
ADVICE FOR
NEW AGENTS?
“Training first and prospecting always. They just have to put themselves in front of people and treat this as a business. I see people all the time who leave because they were not successful and they say they want to get a real job. This is a real job, but you have to put the hours into it. You have to be trying and you have to prospect always and listings are the way.”
ASSOCIATIONS SHE BELONGS TO?
Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS®, NEFAR’s Southwest Council and Women’s Council of REALTORS®.
BIRTHPLACE
Tennessee, but she grew up in West Jacksonville.
HIGH SCHOOL
Forrest.
RESIDES
Orange Park.
FAMILY
She has two children, Charles Boyett, 23, who is with Watson Mortgage, and Megan, 17, who wants to be a real estate agent.
HOBBIES
She still buys and rehabilitates houses and has some rental properties. “There is nothing I like better than to be home because I never get a chance to be home. I love to work in the yard.”
FAVORITES
Her favorite movie is “Gone With the Wind” and her favorite book is “Scarlet,” by Alexandra Ripley. When watching television, her favorite all-time shows are “I Love Lucy” and “Andy Griffith.” A recent show she likes is “Will and Grace.” Her favorite place to visit is Vancouver and her favorite restaurant is Sakura Japanese Restaurant.
—by Michele Newbern Gillis