Sue Richerson has been a Realtor with Thompson Bailey Baker Realty, Inc. since October 2003.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
Lists and sells residential and some commercial real estate.
COMPANY HISTORY?
Prior to October, Thompson Bailey Baker was mainly a commercial and development real estate company. They hired three agents to get the residential part of the company started up again. The company has been open since 1925.
WHERE WAS SHE BEFORE?
New World Realty for a little over a year.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She owned Forecasters, Inc., an outdoor lifestyle store in St. Augustine for three years. “I was in the clothing industry. I owned a store, was a wholesale manufacturers representative, a buyer, a merchandiser, you name it.”
HOW DID SHE GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
“My college boyfriend’s mother always said I would be great at real estate. Since then I always thought about it. After the store closed, I knew I wanted to do something different but wasn’t sure what. I ran into Jerry Leach, one of the owners of New World Realty at the bank, and he asked me what I was doing now and I said I was thinking of going into real estate. He told me to call Marcus Wally, the broker, that day, so I did. Marcus told me which classes to take and how to go about it.”
WHAT IS UNIQUE IN ST. AUGUSTINE?
“Dealing with the historic properties. I have fun researching, looking at the history of the properties and marketing that.”
WHO BUYS?
“My customers are very varied. I have everything from first-time buyers and single parents to retirees. It’s all over the board. Right now it seems like people from everywhere are interested in St. Augustine. I am working with people from Virginia, Indiana and Reno. I have people scattered all over the place. I have a lot of relocation business.”
INVOLVEMENT IN ST. AUGUSTINE BOARD OF REALTORS
She is a director on the St. Augustine/St. Johns County Board of Realtors. She has been involved with the board on the affiliate and entertainment committees since she became a Realtor.
IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED?
“You stay informed about what is going on with who, what and where, which is just so important to do. You have to stay in the loop if you are going to service your customers well. You have to know what projects are coming online. You go to the meetings and people are talking. It’s a great way to network and find out who is doing what.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
The freedom.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW AGENTS?
Richerson said to take every class about real estate that you can possibly take. “I really don’t feel like I started real estate until about six months ago because I gave my first year to taking every class I could. I probably have enough credits to get me through the next 30 years. Also, remember that you are a Realtor. You are not a attorney or a tax accountant, so surround yourself with top notch people who are.”
WHAT HAS HELPED HER MOST TO GET HER WHERE SHE IS TODAY?
“I’m always looking for a new challenge. In real estate, there is a new challenge every day.”
PET PEEVES?
“Probably my biggest pet peeve is people who don’t call you back.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
Richerson said she learned that she has to try to get customers to understand how Realtors work. “I like to educate them about the whole process of the transaction and how everyone needs to work together on it. It’s not just us and them.”
HOMETOWN
Cape Cod, Mass.
MOVED TO ST. AUGUSTINE?
Eight years ago.
WHAT DOES SHE LIKE TO DO WHEN NOT WORKING?
Richerson likes to cook and drink wine. She belongs to a group called “Women Who Wine.” “It meets the first Wednesday of every month at Cortesse’s Bistro & Flamingo Room from 5 p.m. until whenever. “There are no rules, no committees and no agenda. You just come, take time out for yourself and meet other women. We all have so many commitments that it is a really nice way to stay connected to other women.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
St. Augustine/St. Johns County Board of Realtors.
RESIDES
Davis Shores.
CHURCH
Memorial Presbyterian.
FAMILY
She has been married to Jimmy for seven years. Together they have two children, Sibley, 20 and Mary Stewart, 14.
FAVORITES
The last movie she saw and would recommend is “Cold Mountain.” “It was really gory, but I loved the authenticity of the costumes. It was just fantastic.” Even though she reads at least three books a week, a book she read recently and would recommend is “The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw. When relaxing at home, she enjoys tuning into The Weather Channel. When dining out, she enjoys Le Pavillion. “I’ve been going there since I was a little girl and it is consistently good.” When traveling, she likes the British Isles.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis