Marie “Terry” Brand has been a Realtor with Marsh Landing Realty since January.
WHERE WAS SHE BEFORE?
Coldwell Banker Walter Williams Realty, Inc. for 10 months. “I’m new to the business, but I have had my real estate license since 1992. I just didn’t use it.”
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She worked at BellSouth in Miami for 21 years. “My last job was assistant to the president, but I have done everything in my BellSouth career from being an operator to a manager.”
WHAT MADE HER DECIDE TO GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
Brand had been retired from BellSouth for seven years and said the stock market killed her financial situation. She moved to Jacksonville in 1999 and found that she needed to go back to work, so she chose real estate since she already had her license. “I saw people being very successful, so I decided to try it.”
HOW DID SHE END UP AT MARSH LANDING?
When she moved to Jacksonville, she bought a home in Marsh Landing and when she decided to get into real estate, she didn’t even consider Marsh Landing Realty because she didn’t think they would take a new person, but she was wrong. After 10 months with her first company, she met Michelle Floyd of Marsh Landing Realty who said she needed to join their company.
HOW’S IT GOING?
“Very good. Since January, I have closed on almost $2 million worth of real estate.”
AREA SHE SELLS?
Predominately in Marsh Landing, but also all over the beaches area.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN MARSH LANDING?
“There is very little new construction, it is pretty much built out now. So, our market is mostly resales. There are also homes being renovated that were built in the 1980’s.”
WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE BUY IN MARSH LANDING?
“It is such a varied market.” She said they have retirees, families and people who are being transferred to Jacksonville. “You can’t point to any one type of person.”
ASSOCIATIONS?
She is getting her GRI designation and she has joined the Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council and Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“That I learn something new every day. Every closing is different and every customer is different.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“I thought it was more of a marketing job, but it’s more of a customer service job. It’s a hands-on type of thing. You have to treat your customers with respect and modify your way of doing things because each customer is different. Some of my customers are very needy and others buy the first house they see.”
FIRST SALE?
“I took my very first customer to one property and he bought it. I thought, this is great! This is the business I need to be in!”
WHERE DOES SHE
GET CUSTOMERS?
“Since I’m new, I have been doing a lot of floor duty and open houses, because I don’t really have a sphere of influence yet.”
ADVICE FOR OTHER NEW AGENTS?
Brand said to pick someone that you want to emulate, a mentor, and learn from them. “Do as much floor time and as many open houses as you can to get your feet wet. Learn about the customers and different homes in the area. That was my biggest thing. I lived in Marsh Landing, but I had no idea about the differences in the different neighborhoods.”
HOMETOWN
She was born in California, but was raised all over because her father was in the Army.
WHAT DOES SHE DO WHEN SHE IS NOT WORKING?
She enjoys walking on the beach, fishing and any type of water activities.
HIGHER EDUCATION?
She has a bachelor’s degree in business from Barry University.
FAMILY
She has been married to Brent Wettlaufer, a car dealer and a boat racer, since last June. Together they have three children, Charles, 17; Savannah, 11, and Braunson, 8.
WHY IS SHE
CALLED TERRY?
He parents named her Marie Terez, but they always called her Terry, so it stuck.
CHURCH
St. Paul’s Catholic Church.
FAVORITES
Her favorite restaurant is Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and her favorite place to visit is her second home in Helen, Ga. She cites “To Kill a Mockingbird,” as her favorite movie and “The Client,” by John Grisham as her favorite book. Since she was an Army brat, she enjoys tuning into JAG in the evenings.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis