Tina Scrudato has been a Realtor with John T. Ferreira & Son Inc. in Fernandina Beach for two years.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
She lists and sells real estate as the assistant to her mother, Grace Lipman, past president of the Amelia Island/Nassau County Association of Realtors.
HOW DID SHE COME TO WORK FOR LIPMAN?
“She really needed the help at the time and she needed someone that was licensed. She had an administrative assistant to do marketing, but she really needed someone to go out and sell and write up contracts and you can’t do that if you are not licensed. I really didn’t understand the business even though I should have, since she has been doing it most of my life. I really didn’t know so it was a good way for me to transition into real estate rather than going out on my own without the money, resources or experience. It really has worked out well for us. I have been working with her to learn the business.”
“The assistant part for me is more of a technicality. We are really more of a team. You will probably see more in the next few years us as ‘The Grace Lipman Team’ as opposed to my being her assistant.”
WHAT DID SHE DO BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She was a territory sales manager for Philip Morris USA for three years. “I managed the territory, sales, marketing and promotions. I interned there while in college and went right to work when I graduated.”
WHY GO INTO REAL ESTATE?
Scrudato said she didn’t see a lot of growth in her position at Philip Morris USA and it wasn’t a very female-friendly company. “I just felt like real estate has treated my mom very well and it’s very female-friendly. I kind of wanted to have my own schedule. I did get a lot of criticism on my last job because it was selling cigarettes, but now I am excited because someone’s getting a house. It’s been good.”
ADVICE FOR NEW AGENTS?
“I would recommend anyone go work under a successful agent before going out on their own.”
COLLEGE?
She has a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Florida.
AREA SHE CONCENTRATES ON?
“We do the whole county, but specialize on Amelia Island.”
HOW IS IT WORKING WITH YOUR MOTHER?
“In the beginning it was hard, but it was good because I was excited to get to see her everyday. It has evolved to where I think we both really respect each other’s opinions. I think it is hard for a mother or father to have their child work for them because you see them in a different light. But, now it is good.”
what do you LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“The people. I like meeting them, making them happy and exceeding their expectations.”
HOW HAS YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP YOU NOW?
“I dealt with a lot of people that were not from America, so I really had to learn to adapt to different cultures. I worked in the second poorest county in Florida and here I go, arecent graduate with my computer and a company car, and I had to totally change the way I approached them. It taught me a lot of versatility on how to talk with different types of people. It was great experience.”
HARDEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
Scrudato said there are so many people involved in getting a transaction complete that you lose some control. “You want to get it done and taken care of, but there are so many things that could go wrong that are out of your control. I think that is my least favorite part, getting to the closing. Making sure everything is taken care of and things do not go wrong.”
ADVICE FOR LOAN OFFICERS DEALING WITH REALTORS?
“One of my biggest pet peeves is that there is a lack of communication sometimes. It is important for an agent to seek a good loan officer that will keep in touch with you and make sure the transaction closes.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
Scrudato said she has learned that real estate is a lot harder than she ever thought it was, but at the same time it can be very rewarding.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
“Don’t be attached to the outcome or commission because you won’t be helping whoever you are representing in the right way. If things don’t work out, you can just move on to the next buyer or seller.”
PERSONAL
Scrudato owns her own house on Amelia Island and she has a boyfriend, Bill, a Naval officer stationed on the USS Louisiana. When she is not working, she enjoys playing tennis and watching football and spending time with her dog, Ginger. Her favorite movie is “Mona Lisa Smile.” Two books she recommends are “American Evita: Hillary Clinton’s Path to Power” by Christopher Andersen and “How to Talk to a Liberal (If you Must)” by Ann Coulter. Two of her favorite restaurants are T-Rays and PLAE. When traveling, she likes Chicago. When relaxing at home, she enjoys tuning into “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives.”
-by Michele Newbern Gillis