Cyvette Guerra is the owner of Assist-2-Sell Sellers & Buyers Realty on Fleming Island, just north of Green Cove Springs.
NEW COMPANY?
Yes, the company has been open for eight months. Her husband Gene Guerra is the broker of the company. She and her husband started out with Coldwell Banker Walter Williams Realty where they worked for a year, but were looking for more flexibility in commissions. “We were recruited by Vanguard Realty/GMAC Real Estate and we went with the ‘Business Without Boundaries’ plan, and it gave us tremendous flexibility. We really liked it.” They then saw the Assist-2-Sell opportunity and decided to open a franchise on Fleming Island. “We saw that it was going to be the wave of the future in real estate.” They have three agents other then themselves at the Fleming Island office and five more agents at their other office.
OTHER OFFICES?
They own 51 percent of the Assist 2 Sell First Choice Realty in Mandarin.
“We opened that one about a month after this one.”
WHY FLEMING ISLAND AND MANDARIN?
“We knew this would be a great spot.” Guerra said she is fortunate to have the Fleming Island and the Mandarin offices because there are no more Assist 2 Sell franchises for sale in the area.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
Guerra and her husband owned two dry cleaners, Carriage Cleaners and Shretta’s, in the Mandarin area. Gene, who is a pastor, is currently helping to set up a church in the Fleming Island area as well as being involved in the real estate business.
WHY GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
They had decided to semi-retire and then decided that wasn’t much fun. “We were just too young. We moved back to the area and a friend of ours talked us into doing real estate. That was four years ago. We love it.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“Helping people. I was working with a first-time home buyer the other day and when we found the perfect home, she was just hugging me and just so excited.”
PAST EXPERIENCE HELP YOU NOW?
Guerra said her experience with owning previous businesses and dealing with people help her to be successful with her new company.
WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE AREA?
“There are a lot of new construction and re-sales in the area. A lot of people are heading this way because it has the beauty of the trees and the open areas. It’s just not as congested on this end of the island.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“It’s a real eye opener when you get in the real estate business.” Guerra said some agents will do incredible things to get listings, including listing a home at a price they know it won’t sell for. She has learned that is not the way to do things because the home will not appraise for an amount it is not worth.
“People are not going to pay more than a house is worth. Our policy is honesty, whether you like what we say or not. We don’t like to list homes that we can’t sell. Our focus is selling homes.”
ADVICE SHE HAS FOR A NEW REALTOR?
Guerra said to really work your sphere of influence. If you go to work for a company like Assist 2 Sell, they will provide all of your leads, but not charge you.
PET PEEVES.
“Not following through. Trying to push a buyer into buying without seeing what is really on the market.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
Northeast Florida Association of Realtors and Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.
HOMETOWN
Jacksonville Beach.
RESIDES
Mandarin.
PERSONAL SIDE
Guerra enjoys tennis, fishing, writing and spending time with family when she is not working. She is married to Gene and has three children, Travis, Thad and Bobby and nine grandchildren. When traveling, she enjoys visiting the mountains. She has had two books published, “When the Apple Turns Red” and “The Joy Robbers.” “They are Christian motivational books. And I have a few screenplays that I have written; they are family-oriented movies.” When dining out, she prefers The Tree Steakhouse. Her favorite books of all time are “The Egg and I” by Betty MacDonald and “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom. Movies she has seen and would recommend are “Two Weeks Notice,” “Miss Congeniality,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “City Slickers.”
-by Michele Newbern Gillis