Kristan Cloud-Malin has been a Realtor with Watson Realty’s Neptune Beach office since August 2004.
WHAT DID SHE DO BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
After college, she taught middle and high school in Fernandina Beach for three years. She then worked at JM Family Enterprises as a buyer’s assistant for six years. After that, she was a pharmaceutical representative for a little over seven years. She was a specialty representative for diabetes and sold endocrinology drugs.
WHY GO INTO
REAL ESTATE?
Malin said a friend suggested that she might be good at it, so she researched the field and decided it was for her. “I found a mentor, Guy Jennings (formerly a branch manager of Watson Realty,) and decided I wanted to give it chance. I have really loved it and enjoyed it since the day I got into it.” Malin has been doing very well and even though she’s only been there since August, she is No. 3 in her office at last count.
COLLEGE
She has a bachelor’s degree in education from North East Missouri State University.
ANGIE’S SUBS
Anyone driving to or from the beaches will pass the popular Angie’s Subs on Beach Boulevard near Penman Road and it so happens that Malin and her husband Ed own the restaurant. They have owned it for six years and Malin said it has really helped her in her new venture into real estate. “It really has helped with marketing my properties because I put the flyers out where all the customers can see them and my cards are at the cash register. It also has been nice with all the people that come in that my husband knows and the friends and relationships we have made here over the years.” Angie’s Subs has been in business for almost 30 years.
AREA SHE COVERS?
Malin said she is focusing on the beaches area, but will go anywhere the customers need her to.
WHERE IS SHE GETTING CUSTOMERS FROM?
She said she gets customers from her past job as a pharmaceutical representative and from her connections at the restaurant. “I have friends from all of my past careers that have called me. I get most of my customers from my networking.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“I like a lot of things about real estate. I love owning your own business and being in control of how you market yourself and what you do on a daily basis. If you want to make a change in your marketing or the way you are handling things, then you make a change. It’s not a corporate situation. You don’t have to get approval for every little thing. I love the independence. I also love that if you work hard, you do well.”
PAST EXPERIENCE HELPING YOU
IN REAL ESTATE?
Malin said her teaching, time with JM Family Enterprises and pharmaceutical sales all help her now in real estate. “They both helped me to be good with people and selling. At JM Family, I learned a lot from having vendors call on me so I can recognize what makes a good salesperson. I think it’s a great combination of all the things that I used to do. Now, I get to do them and make money.”
COMMUNICATION
THE KEY?
“You definitely need to work well with the listing agent if you are the buying agent and letting them know exactly the things that are expected. You need to make sure you have communicated well. The hardest part of the job is to make sure that after the home inspection is done and the repairs are made that the customer is happy with the repairs and that they are done well.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“Keeping track of details is very important and pay attention to your instincts.”
HOMETOWN?
Keokuk, Iowa.
MOVED TO FLORIDA?
She moved to Fernandina Beach to teach in 1986 and relocated to the beaches area in 1990.
RESIDES
Ponte Vedra Beach.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
PERSONAL SIDE
She has been married to Ed for seven years. They have four dogs and two pigs. When she is not working, she enjoys going to the beach, jogging and bike riding. The last movie she saw and would recommend is “Titanic.” A book she read recently and would recommend is “Stop Telling and Start Selling,” by Linda Richardson. When relaxing at home, she enjoys tuning into “Seinfeld” re-runs. When traveling, she likes the Keys and if money were not an option, her favorite place to dine is Dwights.
-by Michele Newbern Gillis