Robert Novey has been a commercial real estate agent/business consultant with Watson Realty’s Commercial Investment Division for nine months.
WHAT DOES HE DO?
Novey brokers small businesses, lists and sells commercial real estate and land. “If you have a store to sell, call me. We will sell your property, too, along with the transaction if needed.”
SPECIALITY?
Brokering businesses. “I use the term business consultant because I have 35 years of very good straightforward business experience. I’ve been selling businesses in this field for six years.”
WHY DO YOU PREFER TO SELL BUSINESSES?
“Because I understand business. I have 35 years in business. I’ve been president of companies, vice president of
companies, manager of
various companies and
I owned my own factory,
where I employed 250
people.”
MOST BUSINESSES YOU SELL?
“In this business, restaurants are the biggest thing to sell. I can do anything. My true forte is manufacturing, but there aren’t any in town. I work with any type of business.”
WHAT’S GOING ON IN JACKSONVILLE?
“I think this is a fantastic market. It is growing beautifully and it’s under control. There’s money in town and there are organizations to work with business buyers to help with financing. There are a lot of people coming here. There are a lot of people retiring here, but others are here to build a life.”
BEFORE WATSON?
He spent six years in the business-brokering field. Prior to that he was in the restaurant management business and the manufacturing business. “I used to manage Compton’s Restaurant.”
HOW DID YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP YOU IN REAL ESTATE?
“If you are properly experienced and have had hands-on experience, there isn’t a company that you can’t understand quickly. This is enormously helpful. If you are out with a customer and you can comprehend what they are trying to find out, you can answer them very quickly without a lot of research.”
COLLEGE
He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from the University of Miami. He also has a master’s in business administration from the University of Bridgeport.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“Understanding the business and working with the customer.”
WHY DO PEOPLE SELL BUSINESSES?
Novey said they sell because they are getting older and want to cash in their chips or are getting divorced.
HOW DID HE GET INTO SELLING REAL ESTATE?
“My background lent itself to this profession best. I wanted something different. I had come out of many years of top management positions and frankly I was just sick of it. I wanted to be an independent contractor. I have more free time than perhaps most people and this gives me a great deal of flexibility.”
AREA HE CONCENTRATES ON?
Southside.
MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“I like dealing with people and businesses. If there is a challenge, it is people that don’t have it together.”
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU MOST TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
“Stubbornness and a sense of humor.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“Enjoy people.”
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO YOUR LINE OF WORK?
“Get some good solid experience behind you. Don’t get into it and expect to learn. You have to have a good understanding of business, people and your market so you can speak intelligently with people.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Florida Business Brokers.
HOMETOWN
Stratford, Conn.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
In 1973 to be president of a company.
RESIDES
Ponte Vedra Beach.
FAMILY
He has three children, Louise, Sarah and Rob, and six grandchildren. He also has two greyhounds, Audra and Connor.
WHAT DOES HE LIKE TO DO WHEN NOT WORKING?
He is a member of the Ponte Vedra Club. “I enjoy swimming, working out and socializing.”
CHURCH
Christ Episcopal.
FAVORITES
His favorite movie is “War and Peace” and he cites his favorite book as the Bible. When relaxing at home, he enjoys any show on the History Channel. When traveling, he likes Europe. His favorite restaurant is the Ponte Vedra Club.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis