Randy Martin has been a Realtor with Watson Realty’s Mandarin South office since 2002.
BEFORE WATSON?
Martin was in the health care industry as an area director of a home care agency for 30 years. “I got tired of the corporate world and I saw an advertisement in the paper from Watson Realty that said ‘Are you tired of the corporate world?’ I went and met with them and started the class the next Monday.”
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?
Martin won the Rookie of the Year award from Watson Realty in 2003.
“I was excited and surprised.”
HOW DID YOU DO SO WELL YOUR FIRST YEAR?
“It was my first year here. I just worked hard. I was used to being in the office at 6 a.m. and staying until 6 or 7 p.m. in the corporate world, so that’s exactly what I did. I was up every morning in the office getting my marketing materials together, developing them and literally starting knocking on doors. I held Easter egg hunts for the community, mailing out fliers and letters with my name on it introducing that I was in real estate. I like to treat people the way I like to be treated. If I’m right I’m right. If I’m wrong I’m wrong and I’ll make up for it. That’s the way I decided to do my business. I got a lot of referrals from my neighbors.”
HOW HAS YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP IN REAL ESTATE?
“Obviously working with people helped. I was in a service industry. Part of my job was to grow the business as an area director so that helps me grow my business here.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“It’s addicting. I was warned about that. It can become an obsession where you live it 24 hours a day and seven days a week. I’m at the point now where I have to watch that because all I want to do is real estate. It’s because you are doing something different every day, no one is making you get out of bed to do it, you have a choice to do it or not do it, you are meeting new people every day and not a day goes by where I don’t learn something new.”
PET PEEVES?
Martin said his biggest pet peeve is Realtors who aren’t really honest and upfront. “You get paid a hefty sum to do a job and you need to do it right. I see some Realtors more focused on the commission check than they are the service.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“Patience is the biggest one. Everyone has different needs and things that they value and don’t value, so you really need to listen to them.”
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?
“It can be an addictive career. You need to take time for yourself and your family to keep from burning out.”
TIPS FOR NEW REALTORS?
Martin said that to be successful you need to work hard. “Ask anybody and everybody that you run into ‘What did you do to be successful?’ Collect as much information as you can and try to take that information and make it better.”
TIPS FOR DEALING WITH LOAN OFFICERS?
“Keep the communication lines open. The biggest is regular communication.”
AREA of FOCUS?
Though he sells all over, he is focusing on St. Johns County and Clay County.
WHAT’S GOING
ON THERE?
“Tremendous growth, both commercially and residentially. There are new developments, townhouses, restaurants, strip malls, condominiums and shopping centers. It’s just growth, growth, growth.”
HOMETOWN?
Beckley, W.Va.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
He moved to the area in 1970 to attend Jacksonville University. He had a scholarship in music and played the piano, but decided to switch his major to health care and became a registered nurse.
CHURCH?
He plays piano at his church, Francis Baptist in Palatka.
PERSONAL SIDE?
He lives in Julington Creek Plantation with his wife of 12 years, Melanie. They have three children, Danna, Chad and Brandon and two grandchildren, Ansley, 10 and Isabelle, 3. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, going to the movies or to the beach. A movie he saw recently and would recommend is “Meet the Parents.” His favorite book is The Bible. When relaxing at home, he enjoys tuning into “CSI.” When traveling, he enjoys Argentina. When dining out, he likes Le Pavillon in St. Augustine.
-by Michele Newbern Gillis