Addie Carswell has been a Realtor with Omni Home Realty Corp. in Southside since 2001.
BEFORE THERE?
She started her real estate career with Better Homes and Gardens Palm Coast Realty in 1988. After taking a break for a few years to raise her children, she decided to get back into real estate with Watson Realty, where she stayed for two years before joining Omni Home Realty Corp.
WHAT MADE HER GO INTO REAL ESTATE?
“As a result of having worked in traditionally male roles including a welder at the shipyards, driving a UPS truck and bartending, I wanted to get into a career where I had the opportunity to wear high heels. I had been wearing steel-toed boots and hard hats for many years. I came up with a process of elimination that led me to real estate. I wanted a job where I had a desk, but I didn’t want to stay behind it all day. I wanted a job where I could wear high heels and I wanted to be free and that spelled real estate. I started studying for the exam and became an agent in 1988.”
HOW DOES YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP YOU IN REAL ESTATE?
“With UPS, it helped me learn how to get around town and bartending helped me with customer service. I’m good with people and that helps me a lot. I work with people and help them out and that is the same thing with bartending.”
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED FROM A CO-WORKER?
“Keep working and the business will come.”
ADVICE FOR A NEW AGENT?
“Make a decision that this is the business you want to be in and stick with it. Do what is necessary to get things done.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
Northeast Florida Association of Realtors and Women’s Council of Realtors.
LESSONS LEARNED?
“I’ve learned to trust myself rather than trusting what others say as far as no one is going to do this business for me.”
PET PEEVES?
“I’ve found that if you treat people right, people generally treat you right in return. I haven’t had too many negative experiences and, if I did, they were easily overcome by treating people right.”
SPECIALITY?
Residential and commercial on a small scale.
AREA SHE COVERS?
Southside, Arlington and Ponte Vedra Beach.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE SOUTHSIDE MARKET?
“Business is great. The prices are essentially exploding. It seems that the prices on houses are unbelievable.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“I love real estate. I love working with the buyers who really don’t think they can buy. Those are the people I like working with, because they really need my help.”
HOMETOWN?
Jacksonville.
CHURCH
Christian Faith Assembly, where her husband is the pastor.
RESIDES
Hidden Hills.
PERSONAL SIDE?
She has been married to Wayne for 12 years. They have six children between them and eight grandchildren and one on the way. When she is not working, she enjoys doing yard work, shopping and reading. When traveling, she enjoys visiting South Carolina.
When relaxing at home, she enjoys tuning into “Bernie Mac.” A movie she would recommend is “Quest of Fire.” “It was a movie where people didn’t talk. It was set in prehistoric times and was just wonderful.” Her favorite book to read is the Bible. When dining out, she enjoys Marker 32.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis