Patti Martin has been a Realtor with Ponte Vedra Club Realty for a year and a half.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She was a mom and a housewife.
WHY GO INTO
REAL ESTATE?
“I was working on my degree when I decided to go into real estate. My cousin called and said she was going to take the real estate course and did I want to take it as well. I had been in sales all my life. The last sales job I had was selling fine wine, which was quite interesting. I had always been in sales and then I took time out to be a mom and did volunteer work. Once I took the real estate course I decided this is what I want to do. I love it.”
HOMETOWN GIRL?
Martin grew up in Arlington, so she feels she has a certain expertise about the area. “I feel like I am very fortunate. I know Jacksonville well and I don’t just limit myself to the beaches. People move here from all over and I feel very bless that I know Jacksonville so well and that I can point people in the right direction.”
LIKE ABOUT
REAL ESTATE?
“I like the people. I am really a people person. The key thing about real estate for me is to try to make it fun experience. It can be very stressful and people are dealing with a lot of stress as it is. Buying a home is a very stressful experience, so I try to make it enjoyable and fun and take the stress out of it. I like to take the responsibility for the stressful items like the inspection. I love negotiations. That is probably my favorite part of sales.”
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP IN REAL ESTATE?
“I think my past experience helps me to stay focused. I stay with what the root thing is, what is the main focus and what are they really looking for. I like to find out what a person’s wish list is and then stay focused on that.”
ADVICE FOR
NEW AGENTS?
Though Martin is still new herself, she wanted to share some advice for new agents. “Whatever you do, you need to count on the other agents. Have a good relationship with the other agents and do your end of the job. If you do your end of the job and they do their end of the job, that’s makes them happy. They will really help you build your business.”
COMPETITION
A FACTOR?
Martin says no. She said no one person’s circle of friends or influence is identical. “That’s why even though every one knows a Realtor, we all have a circle of friends that are our personal friends, whether it be our children’s school or the places we frequent. I don’t feel that any of those really overlap or could be duplicated. I think there is enough business out there for everybody.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
Martin said she has learned that every person you deal with is different and every deal you come across is different.
PET PEEVES
“There are a lot of people involved in making the deal happen and happen smoothly. That’s really the key. It seems that there are too many hands in the pot. But you have to have all those people involved. I don’t mind it; I just think it really complicates the situation. As long as everyone does his or her part it goes smoothly. You really need to build a good team of people including mortgage brokers, inspectors and lenders.”
HOW’D SHE GET
THE JOB AT
PV CLUB REALTY?
Martin just walked through their door and said she wanted to work there. Since they didn’t have any available desk space at the time, she started working for them from home. But, with the branch office opening, now she has her own office.
PERSONAL SIDE
She lives in Old Ponte Vedra Beach with her son Alexander, 12. When she is not working, she is very involved in her church, Ocean Park Baptist.
-by Michele Newbern Gillis