Anita Kelly has been a site agent for a year and a half with North Florida Builders in the Pablo Bay community located on San Pablo Road. She is also the Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Tram (“SAM Tram”) chair for the second year in a row.
PARTNERS?
She partners with Marge VanDeBoe to sell the homes in Pablo Bay. “She is my best buddy in the world.”
WHERE WAS SHE BEFORE NORTH FLORIDA BUILDERS?
She was in general real estate with Prudential Network Realty in Ponte Vedra Beach for five years.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
At home raising her children. She had taken the real estate course 21 years ago and before she could take the test, she found out she was pregnant, so she decided to stay home and raise her family.
FINALLY DECIDED TO TAKE THE PLUNGE
“I eventually got into real estate when I could be a cell phone call away. I think my children were in middle school when I started with Prudential.”
WHY DID SHE GO INTO SITE SALES?
“They come to your product because they want to. In general real estate, a lot of people like to be driven around and they never make up their mind. General real estate is very hard and you are not given enough credit in general real estate.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“I love it. I love my partner and I love the hours, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The hours are awesome. I never in my wildest dreams thought I could make a living doing this.”
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU MOST TO GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
“My husband. He is very supportive.”
ADVICE FOR NEW
SITE AGENTS?
Kelly said that it is a great opportunity to get in a model, love your product and love your builder. “It’s show and tell. You are showing and telling. I don’t sell things, people buy from me because they want to.”
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?
“You need to know your product from the ground up. You need to know about clearing the property and if trees can be saved. You need to know the build time — usually, from slab time, it’s seven months out. You need to know the options available. You really need to know your product inside and out.”
TELL ME ABOUT
PABLO BAY?
Pablo Bay will have a total of 450 homes. Cornerstone and Coppenbarger Homes are building on the smaller lots and Richard R. Dostie New Home Collection, Classic American Homes and North Florida Builders are building on the estate lots. “North Florida Builders only has 16 lots left because it is just a great location. We are close to the beach, Mayo Clinic and J. Turner Butler.” Prices range from $200,000 and up. The community has a pool and a spray pool for the children. There is also a tennis court and a large multi-purpose outside area where soccer games can be played or people can run their dogs.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council, Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
WHY BE THE SAM
TRAM CHAIR?
“Linda Mathis (current SMC president and sales manager and vice president of North Florida Builders) came up to me and said ‘Hey, I have something for you to do.” And I said ‘OK, what is it?’ And she just pulled me on board. I’m a doer. I can network and get people to help me. I’m also good at delegating. I don’t need to do it all myself and I don’t need to get all the credit. The more people you can get in to help you, the better off you are.”
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH?
Kelly hopes to bring the SAM Tram back alive. “With everything that is happening in Jacksonville, they need to get on the SAM Tram and go see it for $10. It’s a no-brainer that you can get some breakfast and some lunch and drive around and see everything.”
HOMETOWN
Jacksonville.
FAMILY
She is married to Michael, who owns Northeast Florida Heating and Air. They have two sons, Michael II, 19 and Philip, 18.
WHAT DOES SHE LIKE TO DO WHEN SHE’S NOT WORKING?
Lay in the sun, go to the beach and putt around on their 17-foot Seapro boat.
LIVING IN A LEGEND?
Her 100-year old home was moved from its original location in the Clifton area and floated to the Palm Valley area on the Intracoastal. It has only had four owners.
FAVORITES
Not much of a book reader or television watcher, Kelly cites several movies that have kept her interest including “The Fifth Element, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Practical Magic” and the “Star Wars” trilogy. When relaxing at home, she enjoys tuning into “Survivor.” When traveling, she enjoys the Abaco Islands and when dining out, she enjoys Lulu’s Waterfront Grille.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis