Linda McInnis has been a Realtor with Realty Executives of Jacksonville since 2001.
WHERE WAS SHE BEFORE?
She was with Century 21 Harris and Associates since 1986.
WHAT MADE HER GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
“I really don’t know, because I hate math. I thought I would just try it.” She and her husband transferred around a lot with his job and her past experience with Realtors was not pleasant so it prompted her to get a real estate license. “That is what led me to get into real estate because I knew I could do better.”
AREA SHE COVERS?
“My farming area is in Mandarin, but I do as much in Argyle as I do over here.” Basically, she covers most of Duval County.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She was in the textile industry working for Burlington Industries for seven years in Greensboro, N.C. She also worked at a few mortgage companies when her husband was transferred to Savannah.
SPECIALIZE IN?
New construction and first-time homebuyers. “But, most of my first-time homebuyers are not typical first-time homebuyers. Most of them are young executives who buy an average house for $150,000 and up. So, they are not typical first-time homebuyers.”
PET PEEVES
“I know what I don’t like. I just think agents should respect one another when it comes to certain things.” She explained that sometimes when she calls an office to show a property, the selling agent isn’t always honest up front as to how many or if any contracts are on the property. “That bothers me. If you have contracts, you have contracts. If you don’t, don’t say you don’t.”
WHAT’S HELPED?
McInnis said being consistent and always learning. “I take a lot of classes. You can never learn enough.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“Meeting new people.”
ADVICE TO A NEW AGENT?
“Don’t just get your license and go to work. Get your license, go to work and get some more education. Some only take the classes that they have to, but you have to take all related classes.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
McInnis said she has learned to outline on the contract exactly what is supposed to transpire in the sale. “I’ve learned to specify on the contract that the appliances the buyers see in the house are what they are going to get. I had to buy a refrigerator before because the sellers took their refrigerator out and put a small one in. I was the listing agent so I had to buy the refrigerator. That’s a hard lesson I learned. I’ve also learned that when I have a vacant property listed to continue to check it on a regular basis after I get a contract on it. I’ve had other agents let people move in a vacant house that I had a contract on.”
HOMETOWN
Greenville, S.C.
RESIDES
Mandarin.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Women’s Council of Realtors, Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council, Council of Residential Specialists, Real Estate Buyers Agent Council and the Jacksonville Housing Partnership.
WHAT DOES SHE DO WHEN SHE IS NOT WORKING?
She handles the real estate for her church, First Baptist of Mandarin, on a pro bono basis. “Not for the members, but for the church itself.” She also enjoys shopping and walking.
CHURCH INVOLVEMENT?
She teaches a women’s Sunday school class and she is a member of the board of trustees at her church.
FAMILY
She has been married to Charles, a director for CSX, for 27 years.
FAVORITES
A movie she saw recently and would recommend is “The Passion of the Christ.” A book she has read and would recommend is “A Purpose Driven Life,” by Rick Warren. When relaxing at home, she enjoys tuning into “Judging Amy.” Though she doesn’t have a favorite place to visit, he favorite thing to do to unwind is to take a cruise and relax. She enjoys seafood and cites The Flagship in Myrtle Beach as her favorite restaurant. Locally, she enjoys either the Tree Steakhouse or Outback Steakhouse.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis