Bart Hinson has been a commercial real estate agent with Colliers Dickinson since 1991. He specializes in the leasing and sale of office and industrial properties, but he also does retail and investments.
TEAM APPROACH?
“We are a large firm and we have a team approach. So, if you have the contact, but not necessarily the experience in that field, we team up with an agent who is familiar either in that area or that discipline. Walter (Dickinson, the company’s founder) also invests a lot of dollars in market research. As a result, you don’t necessarily have to know the information, but you need to know where to find it.”
BEFORE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
He was a regional manager for a Corona Beer distributor for two years. Prior to that, he was in the surfing industry as a salesman at Sunrise Surf Shop and Aqua East. “Those were my fun days.”
HOW DID HE GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
His brother Jason worked at Colliers Dickinson and introduced him to Walter Dickinson. “I think my first job with Walter was shoveling horse manure at his farm. I cleaned his barn while I was going through college.” He started with Colliers Dickinson in 1991 and interned in various capacities. In 1993, he was appointed Director of Market Research. “I really enjoyed the market research aspect, but what it lacked was contact with the outside world.” He earned his real estate license in 1996 and joined the sales team in 1997. “With sales, I am able to get out, breathe fresh air and meet people.” In 2002, he was appointed Colliers Dickinson Industrial Task Leader.
COLLEGE
He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from The University of North Florida.
AREA HE CONCENTRATES ON?
Hinson said he works all over Jacksonville, but since he does industrial, he concentrates on certain areas for that. “There are four major pockets for industrial: downtown, the Westside, Northside and Orange Park.”
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Hinson said meeting people, flexibility and the variety. “On any given day you could meet or be working with a local mom-and-pop start-up company and the next day meet with a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. There is a lot of variety and everyone has a different story.”
MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
“I am a perfectionist by nature and there are just not enough hours in a day, so I always try to tell myself to strive for excellence, not perfection. I try to work smart and hard. Time management is important.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
He is a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and the International Council of Shopping Centers.
PET PEEVES
Hinson said individuals who are inconsiderate of his time schedule. “People who will call at the last minute to cancel a showing. You usually get the call when you are heading to the appointment.”
WORK A LOT?
Hinson said he works about 12 hours a day. “My New Year’s resolution is to try and get home earlier.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“Always keep a paper trail. Get it in writing and memorialize the moment.”
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A CO-WORKER?
Never confuse activity for productivity. “It’s real easy in this business to stay busy. It’s being profitable that is difficult. You never know when you are chasing a rainbow that it turns out to be shadows.”
BIRTHPLACE
Hinson was born in Baltimore. He was a Navy brat, so he lived all over until his father was stationed in Jacksonville in 1974.
RESIDES
Jacksonville Beach.
PERSONAL SIDE
He has been married to Shelley for six years. They have two children, Luke, 4 and Karah, 1. When he is not working, he enjoys surfing, fishing, bicycling and spending time with family. He is very involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and formed a team, Cody’s Challenge, to ride in the MS 150 to help find a cure to help his brother, Cody. Two movies he recommends are “The Perfect Storm” and “Forrest Gump.” When dining out he enjoys family time at Chik-Fil-A. Two books he would recommend are “Them Good Ole Days” by Ed Smith, a historical narrative of the beaches, and “Pioneer Family” by Michel Oesterreicher, a chronicle of two families that settled in Jacksonville at the turn of the century.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis