by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
In the hustle and bustle of everyday real estate, one couple decided to take a step back and open their own company where they can do more of what they want - service customers their own way.
Jan and Bob Howard opened Howard Realty Group, Inc. in July 2003.
“We wanted to take control over our own lives,” said Bob, who is the broker. “We have our own little niche which involves our past clients, real estate investors, realty management for our personal friends and investing in real estate.”
Since they decided to zone in on very specific types of real estate, they also decided to lower their overhead by working from home.
“We can certainly do it out of our home,” said Bob. “We both have offices in our home, computers and all of the support that comes along with the computers and a great phone system. Really, we don’t need any other support from any other entity other than ourselves. Plus it’s a lot cheaper. We take care of our friends and our friends take care of us.”
The Howards don’t do a lot of advertising; they live off of past clients and their reputation.
Let’s meet them:
Bob was in the Navy for 27 years.
He started his real estate career as a site agent for Panitz Homes. He then went to Orange Park Country Club as a site agent before joining Re/Max on Park Avenue in 1990. He left Re/Max for a couple of years to be the sales manager/broker at Eagle Harbor before returning to Re/Max on Park Avenue.
Jan, who is the sales person in the company, previously worked as a special projects director for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and at the Clay County Economic Development Council.
Prior to real estate, Jan worked as marketing and membership director at Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club.
She started with Vanguard GMAC Real Estate in 1995 until she met Bob, who brought her over to Re/Max on Park Avenue.
The two were there when they decided to open their own company.
“I like it very much,” said Jan. “I had my license for a long time. I did use my license for buying and selling my own real estate before I was actually in the business.”
In any partner situation, each offers a certain set of strengths to make the partnership work.
“My forte is that I have a passion for the business,” said Bob. “I really enjoy it. It’s not work to me. I enjoy helping people out. It sounds kind of corny, but I try to treat them better than anyone else could. I treat them like I would treat myself if I were buying from myself. I spend a lot of time educating myself by going to various seminars and conventions.”
Bob believes in traveling to hear speakers all over the country to help educate himself about marketing and motivational skills.
Jan’s forte is her listening skills and sensitivity to the client’s list of priorities and specifications. Other strengths include marketing and property management.
“We also have a property management division and I basically run that,” she said. “I started that because I had sold several homes to people that live in foreign countries who only come here for a small portion of the year. I manage those homes. I have also sold homes to people who don’t plan to live in the home for three or four years. I manage those and keep them rented.”
They also own several houses and condominiums that they rent out to clients and manage under their company.
Most of their business is done in Orange Park. They also get a lot of national business from their website, www.bobandjansell.com.
“Bob gives the best service to his clients,” said Jan. “He is tenacious as a bulldog about getting what is right for them.”
Bob has a real estate license, a broker’s license, a mortgage loan officer’s license and is involved with a title company.
“I want to be able to do everything that I possibly can to take a person through the whole process,” he said.
Bob works their loans through Fidelity Home Lending, Inc., where he is a mortgage loan officer.
Bob and Jan have been married for seven years. Together they have a two sons, Scott, 12 and David 9. When they are not working, they spend time with their children, play golf and are very involved with their church, the Orange Park United Methodist Church.