Virginia Miliusis has been the marketing representative and account executive for First American Title for eight months.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
She markets titles and the different products that First American Title offers to Realtors and lenders.
WHERE WAS SHE BEFORE?
She was in the home warranty business with American Home Shield for 10 years.
WHY SWITCH OVER TO TITLES?
“The opportunity to market the different products that First American Title offers. First American Title also sells home warranty products, so it gave me the opportunity to do home warranty as well as all the other products we have here.”
HOW DO YOU LIKE THE JOB?
“I love it. I’ve been in this business selling support products for the real estate industry for about 30 years.
OVER LAST 30 YEARS?
She was the education director at the Northeast Florida Association Realtors before it was NEFAR, sold real estate advertising for about 12 years and did marketing and public relations for a national real estate company.
WHAT CAN REALTORS DO TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER?
“Probably just make sure we get everything that we need prior to the closing, make sure that their clients are well informed about the whole process and that everything is done prior to closing. Once we actually get to the closing, everything will go very smooth provided that everything is in place. If the Realtors do their job and the lenders do their job than our jobs become fairly easy.”
HOW HAS YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELPED YOU IN YOUR NEW POSITION?
Miliusis said having the contacts and the fact that she has been in the business for so long and a member of the Realtor association has helped her. “I go back a long way. The biggest thing in this business is contacts and follow-up. Just being there, getting the name recognition and marketing yourself is something that I have always done. Unless someone is really new in the business, just about everyone knows who I am.”
HOW HAS REAL ESTATE CHANGED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS?
Miliusis said Realtors used to just list and sell. The biggest change she has seen has been in the documentation, the way they do their transaction and representation. “Things used to be fairly simple. Now, I think it is more competitive field because of technology and all of the things the real estate agents need to know. I think it will just continue to change and grow.”
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“The most challenging thing is that the business is so highly competitive because there are a lot of title companies and closing attorneys in the marketplace. I think the hardest thing is the competition. We have a great product. When you have a great product, you are confident in the product that you represent and the people that do the job to get you where you need to be for that closing. I’m only as good as my product.”
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU MOST TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
“Perseverance and constant follow-up. I had someone tell me a long time ago to never forget where I came from. Thirty years ago I came from going door-to-door and cold calling. When you make a commitment, fulfill that commitment and follow-up.”
HOMETOWN?
Jacksonville.
RESIDES
East Arlington.
WHAT DOES SHE DO WHEN NOT WORKING?
Miliusis enjoys cooking, baking, traveling, going to the beach, all sporting events and scrapbooking.
FAMILY
She is single and has three children, Laura, 35; Tony, 28 and Ginny, 25.
FAVORITES
Two movies that Miliusis loves are “Top Gun” and “Bridges of Madison County.” When dining out, she enjoys Santioni’s at Ponte Vedra. When relaxing at home, she enjoys tuning into sporting events. “I’m a huge Florida Gator fan.” When traveling, she likes Hawaii or Europe.
-by Michele Newbern Gillis