Rebate Realty Network is a new company at 12412 San Jose Boulevard in Mandarin.
WHO IS THE BROKER/OWNER?
Michael Paull is the broker/owner and started the company last August.
WHAT DOES HE DO?
“Right now, I wear a lot of hats. I handle the marketing, assist in training even though we have a formal trainer, handle the day-to-day training of the agents and go on all their appointments with them and hire agents.”
NEW COMPANY?
“I started it from scratch.” Paull started his career with Prudential Network Realty in 1996 after getting out of the Navy where he had been a jet engine mechanic for 10 years. He stayed with Prudential for seven years and then went into a partnership with an Assist-2-Sell franchise for a short time. “It was a very good experience for me because I got to see both sides. I learned from both experiences and wanted to create a company which I consider the ‘place to be’ as far as a commission structure. Our commission structure is such that it is at four percent. You have Prudential at one place and Assist-2-Sell at another. What I feel I’ve done is to find a middle ground in the market. I feel it is a fair commission to charge the consumer for what we do and we do a lot.”
OTHER MARKETING EXPERIENCE?
While he was working with Prudential, Paull was the Realtor on a show called “Before you Buy That House”. He also did the Realtor Minute on “New Homes and Design”, and was the real estate expert on “The Countdown to Kickoff” leading up to the Super Bowl. “I did it to build relationships with builders and I didn’t know what direction I was going to go.”
NAME?
Paull said his concept includes a cash rebate for buyers and sellers are charged four percent with full Multiple Listing Service. His logo is a frog that says “rebate, rebate,” hence the name Rebate Realty Network. “The branding side of it is really critical. It’s kind of what Aflac has done with the duck and Geico has done with the gecko. It’s been very effective. We target our market towards women since our research shows that women make 80 to 85 percent of the buying decisions on everything. Our commercials are shown during ‘Dr. Phil’, ‘Good Morning America’, ‘Good Morning Jacksonville’ and we have a women’s corner on our website.”
WHO’S IN THE OFFICE?
Susanne Coldwell is a real estate counselor and a Senior Real Estate Specialist; Michelle Back and Robert Tuite are real estate counselors.
SENIORS?
Paull said a lot of their focus in on the senior community in Jacksonville. “We are in the process of putting together a seminar for seniors. It is essentially a seminar on their housing needs. The senior community is a growing segment of the population. We are going to put together some senior financial specialists who can really help them. HIRING AGENTS?
Paull is looking to expand his company. “I’m looking for someone with an open mind. In other words, someone who is open to our concept. Eventually, I’d like to get to where we have 15-20 agents maximum.”
WHY THE
MANDARIN AREA?
“It is a good central location. We are now in temporary space, but are building an office in Bartram Park on Old St. Augustine Road.”
AVERAGE PRICE OF A HOME IN THE AREA?
Their average sale has been around $250,000 to $275,000.
FRANCHISE?
“Yes, we are going to franchise, but not locally.” Each agent gets a laptop to work from their home so there are no desk fees. This allows them to pass that savings on to their customers.”
-by Michele Newbern Gillis